Most of us grew up with the influence of Disney animation and its images reproduced in books, posters and on TV. Most likely, we experienced these movies as childhood entertainment, the stuff of romantic fantasies not of art. Yet behind every Disney cartoon there were teams of illustrators conceiving scenarios, creating “concept art” or pre-production design, and, ultimately, drawing hundreds of thousands of images for each film. (Unbeknownst to most kids and adults who watched these features, many Disney illustrators were bonefide artists themselves, creating their own fine art in their spare time.) While most of these concept pieces have been stashed in boxes or stored in attics, many are being unearthed by sleuthful collectors and scavengers known as “pickers.” Nearly a dozen of these concept illustrations are on display in “Disney Production Art.”
Viewing these illustrations, often referred to as cels, reveals deft illustration chops, harmonious designs and creatively conceived and drawn figures. “Bella Notte,” from the 1955 film “Lady and the Tramp,” is compelling for its mandolin-playing chef beaming broadly as the two youthful dogs enjoy their spaghetti dinner. A cel from the 1930s “Three Little Pigs” features a gleefully mischievous, anthropomorphic wolf, a character that children and adults related to for generations as a stand-in for the Great Depression and later for Hitler. Other cels include Mickey Mouse as the sorcerer’s apprentice from the 1940 ”Fantasia” and Snow White from the 1937 film of the same name. A departure from the film cels in this show is long time Disney artist Mary Blair’s concept art for the popular Disneyland ride, “It’s a Small World.” Originally conceived for inclusion at the 1964 NYC World’s Fair, this piece features buildings from a fantasy medieval world. Blair, a prolific artist outside of her Disney work, has other paintings included in this museum’s permanent collection, so we may see her in a future exhibition here — and within a whole separate context.
