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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!seismo!tanida
From: tanida@beno.css.gov (Tom Tanida)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: rec.arts.disney FAQ, part 1a
Followup-To: rec.arts.disney
Date: 22 Nov 1993 19:06:10 GMT
Organization: FDC Headquarters, ToonTown
Lines: 632
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
Message-ID: <2cr2j2$q4c@seismo.CSS.GOV>
Reply-To: tanida@gso.saic.com (Tom Tanida)
NNTP-Posting-Host: beno.css.gov
Summary: FAQ for rec.arts.disney
Keywords: FAQ, disney
Originator: tanida@beno.CSS.GOV
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.arts.disney:26036 rec.answers:3074 news.answers:14975
Archive-name: disney-faq/part1a
Last-modified: 21 Nov 1993
Frequently Asked Questions List For rec.arts.disney, part 1
Version 2.5, last revised November 21, 1993
This document is Copyright (c) 1993, by Tom Tanida. It is intended
for public use, and may be redistributed freely in its original form.
This is part one of the FAQ file for rec.arts.disney. I have tried to
include the questions and threads which arise most often, as well as some
interesting facts. Most of the information came from articles posted to
rec.arts.disney since July 1990, about the time the group was started,
although I'm missing quite a few articles from early on. Other information
came from various books and magazines. Your input to this list is highly
appreciated.
The purpose of this list is to reduce the number of redundant
questions posted to rec.arts.disney and to provide a source of information
to Disney fans worldwide. Personally, however, I would invite discussion
of questions included in this list if this list is not complete enough.
For example, one of the questions lists the voices of popular Disney
characters and where to find more info, but if the character is not listed
here, I would still encourage you to post and ask, especially if the
character is more obscure. Also, I couldn't possibly write the "complete
guide to taking kids to the Disney Theme Parks" because there is no truly
complete guide (not to mention the fact that there are many good guide
books out there). So although I have offered some information and advice
in part two of this list (the information which is most commonly
suggested), I would still welcome discussion of the topic since everybody
has their own opinions about what rides to go on, what to see, when to go,
what restaurants to eat at in the area, etc.
Again, I hope that this list will reduce the amount of redundant
information posted to the net. Even more strongly, I hope this list will
provide a unified source of information about Disney related material and
provide a valuable reference for all.
This is part one of the list, consisting of general topics and
questions, as well as some time critical information. Part two of the
list, which is contained in a separate article, contains topics and
questions related to the theme parks, as well as miscellaneous trivia.
There are three sections:
I. A list of the questions in this part
II. Answers to General Questions
III. Answers to Questions with Time-critical
Information
Send comments, corrections, suggestions, and inside information to:
tanida@gso.saic.com. I am sure that no matter how long I work on this that
it will never be perfect, but it doesn't hurt to try. :-) If you prefer
Compuserve access, I'm at 76655,344. On Prodigy I'm xgsn74a. On America
Online, I'm TomTanida. On the Sierra Network, I'm at mailbox 2173. If you
would like to reach me by phone, my day number is (619)-546-6118. The most
reliable way to reach me is via Internet, then Compuserve (especially if
the date on this document is many months old).
If you would like a PostScript version of this document, which has
much better formatting, feel free to send me a request; I can either mail
it to you, or we can find a mutual FTP site. The standard text version of
this FAQ, like all FAQs cross-posted to news.answers, is archived at
rtfm.mit.edu. For information regarding how to FTP to rtfm.mit.edu, send
me e-mail; I've written a quick tutorial. This document is maintained in
MS Word For Windows 6.0.
Note: the Disneyland FAQ is available from me or its maintainer, Walt
Hoffman (whoffman@ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov), and via FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in
pub/usenet/news.answers/disney-faq.
Section I- Questions
General questions:
0) Some information about rec.arts.disney
1) What are the Disney animated feature films? Which of the films have
been released on videocassette?
2) Where can I get a copy of {Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, other hard to
find video(s)}?
2b) Can I get Song of the South in the US? Why doesn't Disney release this
in the US?
3) Where can I get Disney-related GIF (JPEG, etc.) pictures?
4) What are serigraph cels? Are they "real" cels?
5) What art galleries sell Disney cels?
6) To what degree are computers being used in Disney animated films today?
6b) Since computers are being used quite a bit in Disney films now, does
that mean there are no "genuine" cels from the movies?
7) I heard that Walt Disney is in cryogenic suspension. Is this true?
8) Who did the voice of {Ariel, Belle, my favorite Disney character}?
9) How do I get a job working for Disney?
10) Is Goofy a dog, a horse, or what?
11) How can I get the song lyrics to {The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the
Beast, etc.}?
12) What are the Magic Kingdom Club benefits?
13) What are the stockholder benefits?
14) What is Club 33?
15) What are the names of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid?
16) What are the Disney Stores?
17) Who are the "nine old men"?
18) Who are the current Disney animators?
19) Where can I get the movie poster for {Beauty and the Beast, other
Disney movie}?
20) Where can I find a particular Disney book? How can I find an original
version of a book that Disney adapted into a movie?
21) I remember a scene from Peter Pan where Tinkerbell is dying (having
borne the brunt of the explosion from Captain Hook's trick present to
Peter), and the audience is asked to clap to bring her back to life.
Why isn't it on the Disney video?
22) What was the first Disney film ever to receive a PG rating?
23) What are some "in-jokes" in the Disney films?
24) Commonly used Disney terms and abbreviations on the Internet
25) Who does the voice of the singing merchant at the beginning of the film
Aladdin?
99) Where can I get more Disney info?
- Includes books, publications, computer services, phone numbers, and
addresses
Timely information:
1) What Disney shows/auctions/events are coming up?
2) What are some of the upcoming movie and video releases from the Walt
Disney Studios?
Section II - Answers to General Questions
0) Some information about rec.arts.disney
rec.arts.disney is a Usenet newsgroup, distributed via the Internet
worldwide to an estimated 64,000 readers. It is for the discussion of all
things Disney-related, including the movies, the theme parks, books, and
television shows. The group was created around May 1990, and the traffic
has gradually increased to around 3.6 Mb of articles per month. Some
related newsgroups would include: rec.parks.theme, rec.arts.animation, and
possibly rec.arts.movies.
1) What are the Disney animated feature films? Which of the films have
been released on videocassette?
Here is the *official* list, numbered and listed in chronological
order. Other notable Disney films with Disney animation are included after
the list. The factors in what constitutes an "animated feature film" are
the amount of screen time with animation on it, the total length of the
film, the quality of the animation, and what kind of a mood the person at
the Disney studios is in when they make the decision. With each film, I
have made some notes regarding video release, Academy Awards, and other
trivia.
1) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (12/21/1937) - Granted a special Academy
Award for screen innovation in 1938. This is going to be
re-released into the theaters in the U.S. in the summer of 1993.
This film also has the distinction of being the only animated
feature film owned by Walt Disney's family, not by the Company,
which could impede its release on video.
2) Pinocchio (02/07/1940) - Released on video (US) in 1986, and re-released
in the US in early 1993. Won the Oscar for Best Song ("When You
Wish Upon a Star"), and Best Original Score.
3) Fantasia (11/13/1940) - Released on video and LaserDisc (US) in 1991 and
will not be re-released on video in its original form. The
Academy granted a special award to Leopold Stokowski for
"widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as
an art form" in 1941. The music was conducted by Leopold
Stokowski, and the narrator was Deems Taylor. Fantasia was
re-released in 1982 with an Irwin Kostal conducted soundtrack and
narration by Hugh Douglas, but was subsequently restored.
4) Dumbo (10/23/1941) - Released on video (US) in 1986. Based upon the
serial number on the cassette, this was the first of the animated
films to have been released on video. It was originally released
in 1980 for rental (as opposed to sell-through). It won an Oscar
for "Scoring of a Musical Picture" in 1941.
5) Bambi (08/13/1942) - Released on video (US) in 1988. Also released on
LaserDisc. (This is the animated with the fewest lines of
dialog.)
6) Saludos Amigos (02/06/1943)
7) The Three Caballeros (02/03/1945) - Released on video (US) in 1988 (?).
This is somewhat of a sequel to Saludos Amigos.
8) Make Mine Music (08/15/1946) - Almost like a second Fantasia, but
featuring more popular music in 10 shorter sequences, which lack
the depth that Fantasia had. The excellent 'Clair De Lune'
sequence in this film was originally intended to be included in
Fantasia. It also included "Casey at the Bat." Parts of this
film have been released separately on video, under the titles
"Willie, the Operatic Whale" and "Peter and the Wolf". This film
was never reissued in its original form.
9) Fun and Fancy Free (09/27/1947) - Contained the two stories "Mickey and
the Beanstalk" and "Bongo," each of which have been recently
released on video. This will air on the Disney Channel in
October and November 1993 (see also the Disney Film Availability
List).
10) Melody Time (05/27/1948) - Some miscellaneous stories, including: a
story based on Johnny Appleseed; "Little Toot" (a tugboat);
"Blame It On the Samba", featuring Donald Duck and Jose Carioca
from The Three Caballeros; and "Bumble-Boogie," a jazz version of
Flight of the Bumblebee. This film was somewhat of a sequel to
Make Mine Music, and also was never re-released in its original
form.
11) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (10/05/1949) - Released on video
as separate short films, under the titles "The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow" and "The Wind in the Willows."
12) Cinderella (02/15/1950) - Released on video (US) in 1988. It has been
said that this was Walt Disney's favorite film.
13) Alice in Wonderland (07/28/1951) - Released on video (US) for
sell-through in 1988, and for rental only in 1980 (like Dumbo).
Also released on LD, in an original and a digitally restored
form.
14) Peter Pan (02/05/1953) - Released on video (US) in 1989. Also released
on LD.
15) Lady and the Tramp (06/22/1955) - Released on video (US) in 1987.
16) Sleeping Beauty (01/29/1959) - Released on video (US) in 1987.
17) 101 Dalmatians (01/25/1961) - Released on video (US) in April, 1992.
18) The Sword in the Stone (12/25/1963) - Released on video (US) in 1988
(?).
19) The Jungle Book (10/18/1967) - Released on video (US) in 1991. Also
released on LD. This was the last film that Walt Disney worked
on, as he died prior to its release.
20) The Aristocats (12/24/1970)- Never released on video.
21) Robin Hood (11/08/1973) - Released on video (US) in 1986; re-released
on video and LD in 1991.
22) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (03/11/1977) - This was a
compilation of the three stories "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey
Tree" (1966), "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" (1969), and
"Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too" (1974). All of these have been
individually released on video.
23) The Rescuers (06/22/1977)- This film was the last that was developed by
the original (Walt) generation of Disney lead animators. It was
very successful in Europe during it's initial release. It is
currently available on video, and should be out on LD
(non-letterboxed) shortly.
24) The Fox and the Hound (07/10/1981)- At one time the film was stated by
Disney publicists to be the 20th, then the 25th animated feature
film. The first major effort by the "new generation" of Disney
artists.
25) The Black Cauldron (07/24/1985)- This was the first film to be released
in 70mm since Sleeping Beauty. Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew,
returned to the studios to contribute to the screenplay. The
film suffered from delays and a then record-cost of $25 million.
26) The Great Mouse Detective (07/02/1986) - Score by Henry Mancini. This
was released on video during the summer of 1992.
27) Oliver and Company (11/18/1988)- Made $54M in it's initial release,
which at the time was the highest box-office gross of any
animated film in its first theatrical run.
28) The Little Mermaid (11/17/1989) - Released on video (US) in 1990; also
available on LD. Won the Academy Awards for Best Original Score,
and Best Song ("Under the Sea"). Grossed $89M in its initial US
release.
29) The Rescuers Down Under (11/10/1990) - Nationally released on 11/23/90.
Released on video and LD (US) in 1991. Disney's first official
animated sequel. Grossed around $28M in its initial US release.
30) Beauty and the Beast (11/15/1991) - Was nationally released on 11/23/91
and was released on video in the US at the end of October, 1992.
Cost $30 million to produce. It won the Academy Awards for Best
Original Score, and Best Song (title track), and was the first
animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. In the first 42
weeks of its US release, this film grossed $144.725 million, and
sold 1 million copies of the video nationwide by the end of its
first day of release (10/30/92). A letterboxed LD version of
this is due September 25, 1993.
31) Aladdin (11/11/1992). Was nationally released on 11/25/92. This
features songs by the late Howard Ashman. The score was done by
Alan Menken. Since Ashman passed away before this film was
completed, Tony Award winner Tim Rice was hired to complete some
songs for the film. Ashman wrote the lyrics to the songs Arabian
Nights, Friend Like Me, and Prince Ali. Rice wrote the lyrics to
One Jump Ahead, A Whole New World, and Prince Ali (reprise).
This film reportedly cost $35 million to produce. Aladdin won
two Academy Awards, one for Best Song (A Whole New World) and one
for Best Original Score.
32) The Lion King (summer 1994)- Tim Rice and Elton John are working on the
soundtrack for this film, set in Africa and telling the story of
a young lion cub who finds himself awkwardly thrown into a new
role as "king" of the jungle.
33) Pocahontas (late 1994)- Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are working on
the soundtrack for this film.
Here are some notable films and shorts that didn't make the Disney studio's
official list. Because of space constraints, many shorts have been
omitted.
Ferdinand the Bull (1938) - Released on video with "Willie, the Operatic
Whale."
The Reluctant Dragon (06/20/1941) - Released on video. This title was
originally conceived and released as a feature length film with a
combination of live-action and animated sequences including a
short story called "Baby Weems." The video version includes just
the sequences related to the Reluctant Dragon story.
Victory Through Air Power (07/17/1943)
Song of the South (11/02/1946) - This has been released on video in Europe
and Japan. It won an Oscar for Best Song ("Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah").
In addition, a special award was given to James Baskett for his
role as Uncle Remus.
So Dear To My Heart (01/19/49) - Features Bobby Driscoll, who was the child
actor in Song of the South, and who had provided the voice of
Peter Pan. Set in 1903, it has much of the style of Song of the
South in its mix of live-action and animation. It was released
on video in the US in early October, 1992.
Lambert, the Sheepish Lion (1952) - Released on video as a Mini-Classic
with "Willie, the Operatic Whale."
Mary Poppins (08/27/64) - Nominated for Best Picture. An interesting and
ironic story is that Julie Andrews originated the lead role in
the Broadway version of My Fair Lady, but lost the part to Audrey
Hepburn for the 1964 screen version. Andrews was subsequently
cast as the lead in Mary Poppins, her first movie, for which she
won Best Actress. Audrey Hepburn was not even nominated that
year, although My Fair Lady won 8 Oscars that year, including
Best Picture, beating out Mary Poppins for that award. Mary
Poppins also won for Best Song ("Chim-Chim-Cher-ee"), Best Score,
Film Editing, and Special Visual Effects. This was released on
video in 1986.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (10/07/71) - Won an Oscar for Special Visual
Effects. This has been released on video.
Pete's Dragon (11/03/77) - Released on video in 1991.
The Small One (1978) - A short film directed by Don Bluth.
Tron (1982)- Significant for its use of computer graphics and effects.
This was released to the rental markets on video some time ago
(early '80s).
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) - Available on video.
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983) - Available on video.
The Brave Little Toaster (1988) - Released on video in 1991. The animation
for this was done by Hyperion Pictures, not Disney.
DuckTales: The Movie (1990) - Released on video. Although full length,
this isn't included because it did not meet "classic" animation
standards (it was produced/animated outside the Disney Studios),
and was released under the "Disney MovieToons" label.
The Prince and the Pauper (11/23/1990) - This was released in the theaters
with The Rescuers Down Under. It was released on video in 1991.
Many films have been released in Japan and elsewhere on LaserDisc, and
such versions can be obtained via US dealers. Films in this category
include: Lady and the Tramp, Song of the South, Dumbo, Sword in the Stone,
Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins (in letterboxed format). Here are a couple of
dealers who may carry these titles:
Laser Land
1035 S. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd.
Campbell, CA
(408)-253-3733 (San Francisco Bay Area)
Laser & Video
8780 Warner Avenue #9
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(800)-342-9715 (mention you're looking for an import disc)
Ken Crane's
(714)-892-2283
2) Where can I get a copy of {Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, other hard to
find video(s)}?
In general, the "premium" Disney animated feature films are released
for a limited time. Like The Little Mermaid, that "limited time" may be a
matter of two years and 8.5 million copies, but after Disney decides to
stop taking orders and all the copies are sold, they are not replenished.
The only way to get the videos are: to search smaller, more obscure video
stores that might have some left over; to buy from somebody who has one and
is willing to sell (check out your favorite Disneyana convention- there are
often sellers there); to buy one from a used video store where somebody, by
some offbeat chance, has sold it to the store; to buy one from a place that
rents videos, and has multiple copies of the video you want (you might have
to negotiate with the owner); or to rent it and keep it and take the
extraordinarily high charge and whatever other penalty video stores dole
out for people who don't return their videos. It might be hard to find a
good copy of an older film.
Films known to be out of print: Pinocchio (1984 edition), Robin Hood
(1985 edition), Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, Fantasia
(which is getting scarce), Peter Pan, and The Little Mermaid. The Jungle
Book, Beauty and the Beast, 101 Dalmatians, The Rescuers, The Rescuers Down
Under, and The Great Mouse Detective are also no longer being produced,
though you can still find these (in NTSC format).
In the January 22, 1993 issue of Entertainment Weekly, on page 65
there is an article about out of print cartoon videos. Mentioned in the
article is Norman Scherer, owner of the Video Oyster in New York, who finds
hard to find videos for you. He has a catalog; call (212)-480-2440. He is
quotes as saying that some parents paid up to $200 for a copy of The Little
Mermaid, and the article gives $85 as the going rate for Lady and the
Tramp. The Little Mermaid can be found at most Disneyana collectors shows
for around $50.
Will Disney re-release the movies? It's all up to speculation. Some
contemplate a video re-release every 7 years or so, like the movies
themselves into the theaters; I've heard "official" Disney sources say
"never again," but similar sources have said that Fantasia would never be
released onto video, and that became the best selling video and LaserDisc
of all time. Pinocchio has been re-released onto video after a seven to
eight year wait. Only time will tell.
2b) Can I get Song of the South in the US? Why doesn't Disney release this
in the US?
Song of the South is not available in standard, NTSC VHS format in the
US. You can obtain it in the US as a Japanese import LD from any LD dealer
that sells imported LDs, or as a PAL VHS tape overseas.
It is widely believed that the primary reason Disney will not release
the film in the US is their concern over the racial stereotyping of blacks
as slaves in the film. This policy could change in the future.
3) Where can I get Disney-related GIF (JPEG, etc.) pictures?
Disney considers it a violation of copyright to distribute images into
a publicly accessible place. It is legal, however, to create images for
your own personal use.
There are many Disney GIFs floating around, but there isn't any
official way to get them. Here are some common methods, however:
Internet FTP- There isn't any "official" site for Disney GIFs. Many GIFs
sites have some in their collection. tezuka.rest.ri.cmu.edu
(128.2.209.227) has quite a few GIFs dedicated to the Disney
Afternoon. garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (152.1.43.23; GIFs, Disney
related text files) is a good source for other Disney GIFs.
There are also a few at wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4),
although you might have to search. If you know of others, please
send me their name (and IP address, if you have it), and I'll
mention them here.
alt.binaries.pictures - This newsgroup will carry uuencoded versions of
GIFs. The biggest problem with finding and distributing via this
method is that not all news sites carry this group.
Compuserve- Compuserve has several graphics forums that carry Disney GIFs.
One is the FLORIDA forum, which has a couple of Disney-dedicated
sections. Use the Graphics File finder (go GRAPHFF) to find any
others in the Graphics forums. Connect time on Compuserve is
$8.00/hour at 2400 baud, and $16.00/hour at 9600 baud. Any
images on Compuserve must have approval from the Walt Disney
Company before they can be made available for download.
Disney Software has a section in GAMBPUB. In their library,
they have software demos and pictures.
America On-Line- On March 4, 1993, AOL pulled its Disney GIFs after being
contacted by a Disney representative.
The Disney Software BBS - The Disney Software bulletin board, run by
Disney. It's number is: (818)-567-4027. There are some images
and animations available there. This BBS is primarily for the
support of Disney Software, but also includes general Disney
info. Settings are N81, 300-9600 bps. It supports the ANSI BBS
protocol.
Some online contacts to Disney Software include:
America Online: DisneySoft
CompuServe: 71333,14
Delphi: DISNEYSOFT
Disney BBS: Disney SYSOP
FIDONet: Disney SYSOP (in the Disney Conference)
GEnie: DISNEY
Internet: DisneySoft@aol.com (effectively the America Online
address)
Prodigy: BWBF40A
4) What are serigraph cels? Are they "real" cels?
Serigraph cels (also called "sericels") are not "real" cels, meaning
that although they are printed on an acetate cel, they are not actually
used in the production of an animated film or short. The serigraph process
involves creating a master cel by hand, usually based on an image from a
film or from animator's drawings. A serigraph machine, which lays down the
colors, is then used to make copies. It is a normal art process (meaning
that serigraphs are truly "art"), but in general, I wouldn't invest in
serigraphs hoping to make huge amounts of money like those who deal with
actual production cels. In fact, the Dec/Jan 1993 issue of Storyboard
mentions that people who have tried to sell their serigraphs and other
limited editions find that galleries typically offer around half of the
original retail price. The current rate for Disney serigraphs is $250 for
"limited-editions" of 2500 pieces. They are generally unnumbered.
Disney has also released a line of hand-painted cels and backgrounds,
most around the price of $2000-3000 each. They have also released some in
the range of $4000-5000 each (e.g. the Beauty and the Beast ballroom scene,
at $3800, and the Seven Dwarfs image, at $5200). These too are not
production cels- they are painted by artists in the Disney Studio Art
Program. These are *numbered*- i.e. you can see a number on the cel that
looks like "322/500", which means that the one you are looking at is number
322 out of an edition size of 500. Some of the releases in this program
include: a scene from Fantasia (Ben Ali Gator holding the Hyacinth Hippo
aloft); a excellent Lady and the Tramp (Lady and the Tramp at the spaghetti
table); a scene from Pinocchio (the Blue Fairy looking at both Jiminy
Cricket and Pinocchio on Gepetto's bench); a scene from 101 Dalmatians
(Pongo, Perdita, and puppies watching TV). Only the cels are hand-painted;
the backgrounds are lithographed (reproduced). There are others as well.
The Walt Disney Company is also selling cels directly from the
following movies: The Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company, The Great Mouse
Detective, The Black Cauldron, The Fox and the Hound, and The Rescuers.
You should also be able to find cels from most, if not all, of the
television series.
Here is a description of the different cel types sold by the Disney
Art Program taken from a brochure on Disney animation art from the
Disneyana store on Main Street at Disneyland:
Production Cels - Original production cels are colorful paintings on
acetate, created by studio artists, then photographed and actually used in
a film or television program action sequence. Disney Art Editions offers
these one-of-a-kind cels taken from more recent feature films and
television programs.
Hand-Inked-Line Limited-Edition Cels - Since few production cels from
earlier animated features and shorts exist, Disney recreates cels of the
most classic moments in limited editions. Hand-inked-line cels are made
using traditional animation techniques, exactly as the production cels were
originally made for so many classic Disney films. This includes tracing an
animation drawing onto acetate by hand with different color inks and hand-
painting it with gum or acrylic-based colors formulated exclusively in
Disney laboratories. The work is done by a small cadre of Disney artists
who have kept this almost-forgotten art alive. Some hand-inked-line cels
are also combined with backgrounds.
Xerographic-Line Limited-Edition Cels - Xerographic-line cels, instead
of being hand-inked, are created by transferring the original animation
drawing to the acetate cels by a special six-step xerographic process, a
refinement pioneered by Walt Disney Studios in the late 1950s. 101
Dalmatians was the first feature film to be created entirely with this
revolutionary process. Many of the cels are then enhanced with hand-inked
lines before being painted with Disney colors and combined with a
lithographic background.
Serigraph Cels - Serigraph cels, or sericels, recreate images of
Disney's famed cast of characters. To produce a sericel, Disney artists
create a hand-inked, hand-colored painting or model of Disney characters,
which is then transferred to the acetate cel by a silk-screen printing
process known as serigraphy.
Notes from the brochure glossary:
Cel: An outline, or line drawing, of a character and sometimes
certain special effects, either hand-inked or xerographically transferred
onto a clear sheet of cellulose acetate. The image is then painted on the
back side of the sheet. Cels are mostly in two standard sizes: a 12-field,
about 12 by 10 inches; or 16-field, approximately 16 by 12 inches.
Background: A painting of a scene to be used as a background for the
animated action. Thousands of cels may be photographed over a single
background to create one scene in an animated film. A production
background is one actually used in a film.
Cel Set-Up: One or more cels overlaid on a background.
Animation Drawing: A pencil drawing on animation paper, created by
the animator and used as the basis for an image on a cel.
Storyboard Drawing: A drawing or story sketch made for the
storyboard, which conveys visually the original plot and action. The
storyboard serves as a preliminary guide for those working on the film.
Publicity Cel: A cel not actually used in a film, but created instead
solely for publicity or promotional purposes.
Limited-Edition Cel: A cel created specifically for the collector
market in a pre-determined quantity.
Model Sheets: Drawings of a grouping of characters or a single
character in a variety of attitudes and expressions, create as a reference
guide for animators.
5) What art galleries sell Disney cels?
Before I give you the list, I'll say a few words of advice about cel
collecting that echoes what many people have said on rec.arts.disney over
the years (or months): Buy only what you like. Don't get caught up in
"auction fever." Many cels may not be worth close to their asking price.
Make sure you check the condition of the cel closely. Cels that involve
popular scenes and characters, and have good views of the characters (e.g.
frontal view, both eyes showing) will be worth more. Buy only genuine
production cels if you are interested in investor value, otherwise forget
about the resale value and look for what you like. Shop around.
Negotiate.
There are several types of cel set-ups available (listed here in rough
order of cost, from cheapest to most expensive): Full reproductions (e.g.
serigraphs, or hand-painted reproductions, such as those discussed in
question #3); actual movie cels with no backgrounds; actual movie cels with
lithographed (reproduced backgrounds); and actual movie cels with real
backgrounds.
Some galleries also carry drawings, storyboards, etc.
There are actually quite a few galleries. Many are owned by people
who are simply interested in the field, like you and me; they're not
necessarily "big time" operations. Here is a list I've drawn up (by no
means complete). I've only listed phone numbers so that you can call and
get information regarding addresses/catalog pricing/etc. Many places have
free catalogs. I personally can't vouch for any of them, as I haven't
ordered anything except catalogs from any of these places (you might just
want to post to rec.arts.disney, and see what others who have had
experience buying cels might suggest). I welcome additions to this list.
Gallery Phone
All American (800)-872-8850 (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Collectibles
Animation Alley (800)-772-8666, (714)-776-8666 (Anaheim, CA)
Animation Art (215)-925-2009 (Philadelphia, PA)
Resources
The Animation (800)-223-5328 (La Jolla, CA)
Celection
Animation (818)-988-7706 (Los Angeles, CA)
Collectible
Center
Animation Source (203)-776-7111 (New Haven, CT)
ArtWorks (800)-535-5070 (Alexandria, VA)
C.A. Brooks (516)-487-3556 (New York, NY)
Animation Art
The Cartoon Art (800)-245-6633 (Indian Wells, CA)
Store
Cartoon Galleria (800)-767-0928 (Sacramento, CA)
Cartoon Kingdom (609)-243-9960 (Princeton, NJ)
The Cel Block (800)-334-8799 (New Hope, PA)
Cel Magic (510)-735-0119 (Danville, CA)
Circle Gallery (several branches, including the Disneyland Hotel
complex)
Cricket Gallery (800)-BUY-CELS (Atlanta, GA)
Collector's (818)-785-4080 (Studio City, CA)
Paradise
Film Art Galleries (516)-935-8493 (Old Bethpage, NY)
Gallery C (919)-828-3165 (Raleigh, NC)
Gallery In Motion (800)-788-0445 (Kansas City, MO)
Gallery Lainzberg (800)-553-9995 (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Gifted Images (800)-726-6708 (Rockville Centre, NY)
Howard Lowery (818)-972-9080 (Burbank, CA)
Leslie Brooks (718)-279-3861 (Little Neck, NY)
Lewis Gallery (805)-584-8462 (Simi Valley, CA)
Lynne Novick (609)-653-0770 (Linwood, NJ)
Magic Moments (603)-883-9770, (603)-888-3457 (Nashua, NH)
Marina Fine Arts (310)-305-7678 (Marina Del Rey, CA)
Mike Cluff's (805)-927-1250 (Cambria, CA)
M.j.Manfred (412)-561-6665 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Mostly Art (203)-348-6270 (Stamford, CT)
One-Of-A-Kind (404)-377-3333 (Decatur, GA)
Cartoon Art
Optimum Arts (707)-864-5709 (event recording), (707)-864-2132
(voice)
Phillips (212)-570-4830 (New York, NY)
Collectibles
Reel Characters (201)-628-8714 (Wayne, NJ)
Gallery
Russ Wolkoff (818)-752-1755 (Los Angeles, CA)
San Francisco (800)-8DAFFY8, (415)-441-8900 (S.F., CA)
Animated Art,
Inc.
Saturday Morning (518)-482-5405
Animation
Scott & Leslie's (714)-538-6893 (Orange, CA)
Seaside Art (919)-441-5418 (Nags Head, NC)
Silver Stone (310)-598-7600 (Long Beach, CA)
Gallery
Sir Issac Gallery (703)-834-1288 (Herndon, VA)
Stabur Corp. (800)-346-8940, (313)-425-7940 (Livonia, MI)
Stay Tooned Gallery (708)-382-2357 (Barrington, IL), (708)-234-3231
(Lake Forest, IL)
Suspended Animation (407)-934-7683 (Walt Disney World Vacation Village)
Sweatbox Art (408)-225-9698 (San Jose, CA)
Toon Dude (818)-883-9056 (Tarzana, CA)
Toys To Go (215)-649-2555, (215)-649-8444 (Ardmore, PA)
Vintage Animation (213)-393-8666 (Santa Monica, CA)
Gallery
Cels are also sold at the Disney theme parks. Serigraphs and cels are
sold at the Disney Stores (see question #14). The Disney Store has twice
offered a line of production cels with reproduced backgrounds from The
Little Mermaid. Each Disney Store should have a special order book that
will allow you to examine limited edition, production cel, and serigraph
images for purchase.