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A framed original production cel featuring Figaro, Geppetto's mischievous but endearing cat, from Walt Disney's Pinocchio (1940). The cel captures a large, central Figaro seated upright with a wonderful, beaming expression.
Figaro was animated primarily by Eric Larson, one of Disney's famed "Nine Old Men," whose sensitivity to movement and expression brought a human warmth to the animal characters. Larson's work on Figaro, Cleo, and Geppetto elevated Pinocchio beyond fantasy, giving it a domestic heart that balanced the darker narrative themes.
Although Figaro appears in only a handful of sequences, his popularity rivalled that of Pinocchio himself. Few cels featuring Figaro were ever produced, and even fewer survive today. This example captures the perfect mid-expression pose, central, large, and full of charm.
The cel is placed on a fine art presentation background incorporating the scene's original elements. This moment appears just after Geppetto leaves the workshop in search of Pinocchio, warning, "No one takes a bite until I return." Left alone, Figaro immediately prepares to pounce for his supper, but Cleo, the fish, with its wagging fin and loud bubbles, stops him.
Rendered in vibrant colours, the cel displays both the hand-inked linework on the surface and the wonderfully textured hand-rendering on his fur, as well as the reverse-painted cel-vinyl typical of Disney's pre-war production methods on nitrate celluloid. This frame is part of a brief but beautifully timed comic sequence that shows the animators' mastery of character animation, giving Figaro the expressive personality that would make him one of Disney's most beloved animal companions.
A rare and exquisite artefact from one of Disney's most accomplished animated features. Dimensions (framed): 39 cm x 45.5 cm x 2.5 cm (15.25" x 17.75" x 1")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £2,500 - 5,000 M
View all lots from PINOCCHIO (1947)