Original hand painted and hand inked production cel of Thumper over a Courvoisier air brush background from "Bambi," 1942; WDP stamp lower right; Size - Thumper: 2 1/4 x 2 1/4", Image 4 3/4 x 4 3/4"; Frame 15 1/2 x 14 1/4"; Framed with a linen mat, black wood fillet, acid free under mat, a black and brown wood frame, and plexiglass.
"Bambi," 1942 is a full length animated film by Walt Disney Studios and based on the book "Bambi, A Life in the Woods" by Austrian author Felix Salten. The film was released by RKO Radio Pictures on August 13, 1942. "Bambi" received three Academy Award nominations: Best Sound (Sam Slyfield), Best Song (for "Love Is a Song" sung by Donald Novis), and Best Original Music Score. In June 2008, the American Film Institute presented a list of its "10 Top 10" (the best ten films in each of ten classic American film genres) and "Bambi" placed third in the animation category. In December 2011, "Bambi" was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
The story centers on Bambi, a white-tailed deer, his parents (the Great Prince of the forest and his unnamed mother), his animal friends Thumper (a pink-nosed rabbit), Flower (a skunk), and his childhood friend and future mate, a doe named Faline. Walt Disney wanted all of the animals to be more realistic and expressive than those in "Snow White". He had Rico LeBrun, a wildlife animal painter, come into the Disney Studios to lecture to the animators on the structure and movement of animals. The animators went on excursions to the Los Angeles Zoo and Walt Disney set up a small zoo at the Disney Animation Studio with animals such as rabbits, ducks, owls, skunks, and a pair of fawns aptly named Bambi and Faline; so that the artists could see first-hand animal movement. Animator Marc Davis created the final design of Bambi by incorporating LeBurn's realistic study of deer anatomy but exaggerating the character's face by making his proportions baby-like; including a short snout and big expressive eyes.
Thumper (whose name is derived from his common habit of thumping his hind left foot), is Bambi's first and closest friend. He is a young, comical rabbit; and a well-known inhabitant of the forest who takes Bambi "under his wings" and teaches him the ways of the forest. Thumper was voiced by 4-year-old Peter Behn. With Behn's voice added to the film; suddenly the vivacious bunny character was expanded from him having only minor role, to playing a much more significant lead. In addition, the film underwent a major plot change with the theme of friendship front and center. The character of Thumper was initially designed by animator Marc Davis and was brought to life by several animators including: Frank Thomas, Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, and Ollie Johnston. Thumper was not only voiced by Peter Behn (young Thumper), but by Tim Davis (young adult Thumper) and Sam Edwards (adult Thumper).
This is a wonderful and very expressive original production animation cel of Thumper, with his eyes and mouth open. He is full figure and framed with the original hand painted Courvoisier air brush background.
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