Dayton Disneyana Here We Come!

Start saving your pennies, we'll be exhibiting at Dayton Disneyana again this year.  Show is earlier this time, June 14,15 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 31 Prestige Plaza Dr., Miamisburg, Ohio 45342. Come on down!

Animation Model Sheet 657-1131 - Alice Cleanup Suggestions

And last but not least, another Alice, but it is a conundrum.  A cleanup model sheet, but date coded June 1957?  Why?

The style of the model sheet is correct for '57, as it has the dark gray background whereas in '50 they had white backgrounds.  Also, all 1950 model sheets list the production number (2069) for Alice, and this one does not.  Was this perhaps used for an educational film, a commercial, or some other project?  We may never know.  But all the images are from the feature, so no new art.

Animation Model Sheet 1150-8008 - Carpenter Cleanup

This Carpenter cleanup model sheet is the last of the model sheets from 1950 - but not the last model sheet.

As with the Dodo cleanup, there are way too many images on here!  But lots of fun ones with him juggling tools, food, and dishes.

Animation Model Sheet 950-8037 - Dodo Cleanup

There are so many images on this Dodo cleanup model sheet it is practically blinding.  I'm not sure why there are so many, but there it is.

Animation Model Sheet 650-164 - King of Hearts

And the King.  This is another odd sheet in that it is vertical, just like the Caterpillar.  But great images.

This model sheet is also the only one I have in both sizes - 14x17 and 11x14.

As with all the model sheets we've seen so far, these are photostats, an old duplication process that was essentially a photograph exposed directly by the camera onto photographic paper.  It was replaced as we all know by the Xerographic process in the 1960s.  But these old photostats have a great feel to them, much more substantial than newer Xeroxes.

Animation Model Sheet 650-163 - Queen of Hearts

The Queen!  Very nice cleanup model sheet featuring many classic images.  The upper right image in particular has been used many times.

Interesting choice showing a model image of the Queen's bloomers...

Animation Model Sheet 650-162 - Caterpillar

Finally, a Caterpillar!  The was one of the very last model sheets I acquired, and is an oddity as it is vertical rather than horizontal.

I can't really see a good reason why the layout change, but I've only seen one other in this orientation, and it is another in the Alice set, coming up soon.

Animation Model Sheet 650-96 - Cheshire Cat

The model sheet eluded me for may many years, and no wonder because it is pretty amazing.

Every image on this sheet has been used many many times on every imaginable thing.  A rock star of a model sheet.

25 Years of Collecting Alice - How is That Even Possible?

We interrupt our model sheet series for this special announcement.

Dude, seriously?  I've been doing this for 25 years?!  That just can't be right.  That would make me ... ok, let's not go there just yet.

So yeah, been at this for 25 years now, and it has certainly been a ride.  Instead of just posting some random items from the collection I thought I'd give you a tour of the Tulgey Wood - virtually of course.  I took these photos with my phone nearly six years ago, so they are slightly out of date, but the Tulgey Wood is not currently in photo-ready condition, so these will have to do.

Just outside the Tulgey Wood is this barrister bookcase filled with all sorts of breakable goodies.  This has now been replaced by two shorter barrister cases so I don't have to reach on tip toes to get to the top shelf.  This case contains the Regal, Goebel, Hagen-Renaker, Weetman, Shaw, MCP, Enesco, Galligani, Zaccagnini, Leeds, Pales, Cuernavaca, and a variety of other currently unknown  makers. Its good not living in Southern California for this case alone.

 As we step inside the Tulgey wood and turn immediately to our left, a very narrow strip of wall features some frames art including cels, dye transfers, a rotoscope enlargement, and some pins.  All of the frames pin sets have since been sold.  Gotta stay focused :-)

 The door.  Behind this door lives the vast array of tubs and tubes featuring things that are not currently on display.  Hopefully they will see the light of day sometime, at least on the blog.

As we move clockwise around the room we now have the contemporary figures like WDCC, some foreign feves, and some other limited edition things.  On the very top is an old Disney Store display prop of the White Rabbits costume and a White Rabbit big fig.

Continuing around the room we have a prototype Cheshire Cat mirror, a one-sheet, and a limited edition cel.

Next begins the wide array of bookcases courtesy of Ikea.  Thanks Billy!  Along the top are various contemporary cookie jars which have all since been sold, an Elisabeth Gomes tea set, some Japanese tea sets, and on the bottom some vintage cookie jars.

More cookie jars here, some Kevin and Jody pieces, a very cool vintage English childs dish set, more contemporary tea sets.

In the final two cases we have a bunch of 1970-1990s figures, and some vintage tea sets, marionettes, tin trays, and soap!

Turning the corner we have a lot of puzzles, lots of books, some clocks, and some cast member items.

More puzzles, a bunch of Marx plastic, watches and more watches, and paper galore.  In the second case we have more Marx, Libbey glasses, an exceptionally cool English game, more paper, and Gund dolls.

Did I mention plush?  Lots of plush, vintage Lars, Gund, contemporary Disney Store, Japan and more.

Playsets, dolls, more dolls, still more dolls, and records.  And a flamingo prop from a Disneyland parade.

And that's it!  The Tulgey Wood (as it was in July of 2008).  Things have changed but this is still a good representation of what's in there, but cleaner ;-)  Perhaps I'll have updated photos for the 30th anniversary.

Animation Model Sheet 550-8007 - Dodo Suggestions

This Dodo suggestions ruff has something I've never seen on any other model sheet for any other character:  a reference image from another source.

In this case it is a John Tenniel illustration of the Dodo.

Animation Model Sheet 450-8001 - Wonderland Characters

We first saw this model sheet in a post about a Jaymar puzzle.  As a model sheet it is a little odd, but clearly it was meant as a size comparison reference.

This model sheet appears to be the only place this entire art can be seen; all of the merchandise crops at least some of it.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8034 - Dee & Dum

Last of the story art based model sheets from sequence 05, this time with Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

I really like their design on this model sheet, much more so than their final design.  It the film their faces look more sinister, these faces are friendlier.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8033 - Oysters

Baby Oysters!  How awesome is this model sheet?  I will admit that the two images in the lower left corner look more like denizens of a Tim Burton movie, but most are very close to their final depiction.

And there is even Mother Oyster with her pearl nose.  The comparative sizes seem a bit off, indicating that the Baby Oysters are half the height of the Carpenter.  Either he is really short or these oysters are jumbo size!

Animation Model Sheet 350-8032 - Carpenter

Companion to yesterday's Walrus is the Carpenter.

As with all the flowers and the Walrus, date coded March 1950 - must have been a good month for whichever story artist (Bill Peet?) did these, for they look to be all by the same artist.  Lots of great business in these images, and even a few oysters thrown in for good measure!

Animation Model Sheet 350-8031 - Walrus

I love this model sheet.  These ruff sheets with story art just have so much life and character to them, I wish there were more of them out there.

Again my untrained eye thinks of Bill Peet when it sees this art, but of course I could be wrong.

I had the very good fortune to see the original at the Montreal Disney exhibit Once Upon a Time in June of 2007 - now that was quite a drive!  The original was loaned by the ARL for the exhibit which toured exactly two cities:  Paris and Montreal.  But there is a catalog!

Animation Model Sheet 350-8023 - Flower Suggestions for the Red Rose

The last of the flowers, at least the ones of which I am aware, is the Red Rose.

Conductor and unofficial leader of the Garden of Live Flowers, she tries to keep everyone in line, even her outspoken son Bud.  Interesting that this sheet even has an image of the backside of the Red Rose.

40th Anniversary of the First Re-release of Alice in Wonderland - One-Sheet Poster

We interrupt our model sheet series to celebrate a notable Alice Anniversary.  Today marks the 40th anniversary of the first theatrical re-release (in the US) of Alice in Wonderland.  The 1974 re-release is notable for really only one thing - the (in my mind) hideous art they chose to adorn EVERYTHING!  And worst of all, it carried forward through the next release as well, and even to this day as the logotype from this release is used on Alice items galore.  A real low point.

But that being said, of course I still own things from that release, such as this one-sheet poster.  As I mentioned before, this exact art was used in 1981 for the one-sheet, so the only way you can tell them apart is by the copyright.  I do find it very odd that they chose to reuse this art in 1981 - by that time the psychedelic age was far in the past, and this art just looked dated even in 1981, let alone today.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8022 - Flower Suggestions for Iris & the White Rose

More flowers from March 22, 1950 in this Iris and White Rose model sheet.  There must have been a reason all these flowers were submitted on the same day.

The Iris is a great character, very haughty, and the business with her lorgnette is just great.  The White Rose only makes an appearance during the Golden Afternoon sequence, and only very briefly.  Perhaps her role was initially larger?

Animation Model Sheet 350-8021 - Flower Suggestions for Daffodils, Lilies & Tulips

More flower suggestions in this model sheet date coded March 1950 with the same March 22, 1950 notation.

This time we get a peek at the dizzy Daffodils, Tulips, and Lilies (sound your A).  Still getting a strong Bill Peet vibe here, especially on the Daffodils.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8020 - Flower Suggestions for Rocking Horse Flies and Bread & Butter Flies

This is a repost from three years ago, but I hate to break up a series.

This is a very cool and unusual model sheet for Alice, a flower suggestions sheet that has no flowers, but rather insects!

Dated March 22, 1950 as most of the other Flowers sheets, this model sheet of Rocking Horse Flies and Bread & Butter Flies represent some of my favorite denizens of the Tulgey Wood and the Garden of Live Flowers.  I especially like the Heel.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8019 - Flower Suggestions for Pansies & Daisies

Next in the Flower Suggestions series is this of Pansies and Daisies, date coded March 1950, with the same March 22, 1950 notation as well..

In general the pansies are not that interesting, but the daisies have a bit more character.  These look more like images taken from story drawings, and they have the look of Bill Peet to me.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8018 - Flower Suggestions for Morning Glory, Violets, Dandelion, Tiger Lilies

Beginning a long series of flower model sheets, (mostly) all of which feature several flowers (or creatures).  To date I've only seen ruffs but one never knows.  First up is this illustrating suggestions for morning glories, violets, dandelions, and tiger lilies; date coded March 1950, and has an additional notation of March 22, 1950.

The Morning Glory is the star on this sheet, yawning just as she does in the Golden Afternoon sequence.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8006 - Mad Hatter Final

One of the few cleanup model sheets is this Final Model Sheet of the Mad Hatter, date coded March 1950.

This sheet, as with all other final model sheets, has been assembled from cleanup animation drawings actually used in the film.  While the drawing are very clean and finished, they don't have the life or character of the ruffs.

Animation Model Sheet 350-8002 - Ruff Rabbit

I love this model sheet, it shows the White Rabbit at his neurotic best, date coded March 1950..

I also love the way it is labeled as Ruff, just adds to the whimsy, as one should expect from Alice in Wonderland.

Animation Model Sheet 250-101 - Alice

The last of the Alice rough sheets, this one also date coded February 1950.  This has an additional stamp reading February 21, 1950.

Unlike the others we've seen thus far, this one is of the larger size.  Most model sheets are 11x14, but this one is larger at 14x17.  I don't know why there were two sizes, but there it is.  I did have the fortune to see the original of this, way back in the 1990s at an auction in Los Angeles.  It was purchased as I recall by a member of the band Crowded House.  Go figure.

Animation Model Sheet 250-9 - Alice

Thus continues the parade of Alice, this sheet is also date coded February 1950.

Unlike yesterday's sheet, this one is composed almost entirely of full figure images.  The image in the lower right is very familiar, we saw it on the CMD sheet.

Animation Model Sheet 250-8 - Alice

The first of several Alice model sheets - well second if you count the CMD sheet - is this rough date coded February 1950.

It features seven views of Alice, only one full figure, but a couple of which have been used quite frequently.  For example, the bottom image of Alice with her hand to her mouth looking surprised features prominently on those many Mad Tea Party puzzles we so recently saw.

Animation Model Sheet 1149-8014 - Ruff Card Suggestions

Well, since I had to get the model sheets out for yesterday's post, may as well post 'em all!  The oldest model sheet I have is this one, date coded November 1949 and features concept designs for the various card characters.

My personal favorite is the Headsman Card, whose art was the inspiration for the Headsman in the 1984 Alice attraction refresh at Disneyland and at Disneyland Paris

Character Merchandising Division Model Sheet - Alice A-1-50

In a comment a few posts back for one of the puzzles, I alluded to a model sheet used by the Character Merchandising Division, here is that model sheet.

Although it is labeled as Rough, and Not to be Used, we see these poses on Alice merchandise of the period quite frequently.  The full figure Alice in particular turns up all over the place.  The Alice with her head in her hands was very nicely rendered by a Tobler postcard that I posted back in the first year of the blog.

This is the only vintage CMD model sheet I've ever come across, dated January 1950 via the code A-1-50.  There certainly must be others for each of the main characters, but none have surfaced to my knowledge.  But, there are a whole lot of animation model sheets, at least 25 that I am aware of.  Stay tuned!