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Writer's picture Untitled Art Gallery

Original Production Animation Cels of Si and Am Siamese Cats from "Lady and the Tramp," 1955



Original hand inked and hand painted production animation cels of Si and Am Siamese Cats set on a lithographic background from "Lady and the Tramp," 1955; Walt Disney Studios; Size - Si and Am: 4 3/4 x 8, Image 7 1/4 x 11 1/4"; Unframed.


"We are Siamese if you please. We are Siamese if you don't please." - Si and Am


"Lady and the Tramp" (released on June 22, 1955) is a full length featured animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Buena Vista Distribution. The film was the 15th in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, and it was the first animated feature filmed in with the CinemaScope widescreen film process. The film was based on the story "Happy Dan, The Whistling Dog" by Ward Greene and tells the story of a female American Cocker Spaniel named Lady who lives with a refined, upper-middle-class family. Lady meets a male stray mutt named Tramp and they embark on many exciting and romantic adventures.


Si and Am account for a very large amount of Villain merchandise sold by Walt Disney Studios. The cats were only in the film "Lady and the Tramp" for a very short amount of time; however their film time is very much remembered and loved. With their names combined, "Siam" is the former name of the Kingdom of Thailand, referencing the cats' heritage. Si and Am are a pair of identical twin seal-point Siamese cats and belong to Aunt Sarah. Their physical appearance is sleek, with cream colored coats, angular wedge-shaped faces, and large blue almond eyes. They have deep brown facial points with a darker, almost black muzzle with dark triangular ears; and their noses are black and small, and both have two middle incisors that hang over their lower lip. Si and Am have dark brown "stockings" on their front legs and shorter "socks" on their hind legs, with dark long winding tails.


The famed Disney animator Milt Kahl did the final character design for Si and Am; but the cats were animated beautifully by Bob Carlson, Bill Justice, and John Sibley. There is little doubt that a huge amount of the success of Si and Am goes to Peggy Lee and her performance of their signature song, "The Siamese Cat Song." Peggy Lee was an American pop and jazz singer, songwriter, and actress who provided the original speaking and singing voices of not only Si and Am; but Darling and Peg. She also composed the majority of the film's soundtrack with Sonny Burke; as well as performed "He's a Tramp", "La La Lu", "What Is a Baby?", and of course "The Siamese Cat Song"!


Original production animation cel of Si without the background.
Original production animation cel of Si without the background.

The cats story line is that while Aunt Sarah is upstairs, Si and Am perform their trademark musical number, "The Siamese Cat Song". During their song, the cats wreak havoc throughout the house, claiming it as their own, and even attempt to eat both the family fish and family bird! During the closure of their song, Lady ferociously chases after them upon hearing of their intentions to sample some of the newborn baby's milk. Lots of household damage ensues, and although the cats caused all the trouble, Si and Am feign injury in order to lay all the blame on Lady; who is then muzzled by Aunt Sarah.


Original production animation cel of Am without the background.
Original production animation cel of Am without the background.

Original production cels of Si and Am are extremely rare and this is a wonderful set of the wicked pair. I have never seen any production drawings of the cats on the market. In this two cel setup both cats are full figure and are already involved in wrecking havoc upon the home of Lady. An absolutely fantastic piece of vintage Walt Disney animation artwork, perfect for any collection!


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