A collection of four original hand-drawn and painted concept designs by celebrated artist Hans Bacher, created during the early development of Disney's Academy Award-winning animated feature Beauty and the Beast.
Hans Bacher, a renowned production designer and visual development artist, contributed extensively to some of Disney's greatest animated achievements, including Mulan, Aladdin, Hercules, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. For Beauty and the Beast, Bacher served as a production consultant and visual development artist, helping shape the film's visual atmosphere and emotional tone. Rarely do such treasures from Disney's "Renaissance" period surface on the open market, original pre-production artworks of this calibre are fiercely sought after and represent an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a piece of Beauty and the Beast's creative journey.
This lot includes a hand-painted full character study of Mrs. Potts in her human form dressed in a period costume (dated "4/20/89"); a concept storyboard sheet featuring four different scenic compositions (dated "April 7, 90"); a dual-concept design (one rendered in cold blues and another in earth-toned detail) atmospheric forest settings (dated "3/22/90" and an architectural study of the castle gardens and staircase leading to the fountain (dated "3.90). Each piece is signed and dated by Hans Bacher, and the storyboard sheet features an official Walt Disney Pictures Production Design development stamp.
The use of vibrant colour blocking, expressive linework, and mood-driven layouts highlight Bacher's extraordinary ability to influence the atmosphere and pacing long before animation began. These works are not just production artefacts but the foundations of the film's emotional and visual DNA. The lot exhibits some minor marks. Dimensions (largest sheet): 30.5 cm x 21.5 cm (12" x 8.5")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Buyer's Guide.