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An exquisite original production cel of Pinocchio paired with a hand-painted production background from Walt Disney's 1940 masterpiece, Pinocchio.
This remarkable setup depicts the title character in the iconic "I've Got No Strings" sequence, moments after his debut performance before Stromboli's audience. Rendered on celluloid and set against a luminous, richly textured stage backdrop, this image captures one of the most enduring and emotionally charged moments in Disney animation.
The "I've Got No Strings" scene was animated under the supervision of Ward Kimball and Frank Thomas, two of Disney's celebrated Nine Old Men. Kimball, known for his flair for rhythm and personality animation, helped define the elasticity and confidence of Pinocchio's movements as he finds his feet, literally, on stage. Thomas, meanwhile, infused the performance with warmth and vulnerability, subtly showing the boy's pride giving way to unease as he begins to realise that freedom is not yet his. This blend of technical mastery and emotional precision is what makes the sequence one of Disney's most studied examples of character animation.
Released in 1940, Pinocchio represented the pinnacle of the studio's early Golden Age, building upon the innovations of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with even greater artistic ambition. The production pushed the boundaries of depth, lighting, and realism through the pioneering use of the multiplane camera and advanced inking techniques.
Each cel, such as the one seen here, was meticulously hand-inked on its front surface and painted on the reverse, a process that demanded patience, precision, and consistency across thousands of frames. The accompanying background, hand-painted in tempera and watercolour on board, exemplifies Disney's cinematic approach to environment design, evoking the atmosphere of theatrical light cascading across a wooden stage.
Cels and backgrounds that survived together from Pinocchio are exceptionally rare. During production, most were separated, reused, or destroyed once photography was complete. To find both elements united in such pristine condition is extraordinary. The harmony between cel and background here, the soft gradations of the curtain, the glow of reflected stage light, and the tender innocence in Pinocchio's expression, speaks to the holistic artistry of Disney's 1940 studio, where painters, animators, and technicians worked in seamless collaboration.
Pinocchio was not only a technical triumph but also a profound moral fable about honesty, courage, and the human spirit. This piece encapsulates the heart of that message: the boy marionette's wonder, uncertainty, and yearning for approval. For collectors, it represents more than a beautiful piece of film history, it is a rare union of cel and background from one of the most artistically accomplished animated films ever made. Dimensions: 49 cm x 45 cm x 3 cm (19.25" x 17.75" x 1.25")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £10,000 - 20,000 Ω
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