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An original production cel featuring Michael Darling from Peter Pan (1953), presented on a printed presentation background. Released in 1953, Peter Pan was the fourteenth Disney animated feature and the final production to feature all nine of Walt's master animators working together.
The animation of Michael was overseen by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, two of Walt Disney's legendary "Nine Old Men". Johnston, in particular, was known for his gentle, humanistic approach to character performance, and his touch is unmistakable here, the sense of balance, weight, and emotion rendered through minimal yet expressive movement.
This beautifully hand-painted, large image captures the youngest of the Darling children mid-gesture, his soft expression and body language perfectly embodying the innocence and curiosity at the heart of the film. The artwork measures 15.25 cm x 18.5 cm (6" x 7.25")
This cel exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship of the pre-xerographic era, when every outline was hand-inked directly onto the surface using a variety of coloured inks to achieve tonal definition. The multicoloured linework seen here, particularly around the face, hair, and pyjamas, is a hallmark of Disney's most refined production period, creating warmth and depth that later techniques could rarely replicate.
Michael's depiction here is unusually large for a character generally shown in relation to his siblings or to Peter, as he holds Wendy's hand, making this an especially striking and displayable image. The combination of scale, pose, and delicately observed expression encapsulates the film's central theme, the wonder and tenderness of childhood. Dimensions: 26 cm x 32.5 cm (10.25" x 12.75")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £500 - 1,000 Ω
View all lots from PETER PAN (1953)