(Walt Disney Studios, 1988) Amazing original production cel set-up featuring Roger and Jessica Rabbit, Baby Herman, and the entire cast of cartoon legends from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, including Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop, Koko the Clown, Dumbo, Daffy Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Yosemite Sam, Peter and the Wolf, Tweety Bird, Br'er Bear, Clarabelle Cow, Sylvester Cat, Spike the Dog, Foghorn Leghorn, Ferdinand the Bull, the Old Knight, and Reluctant Dragon—thirty characters from different animation studios, marking a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration. The cels are trimmed to image and placed on their airbrushed super panorama background, as prepared by Disney for their 'Art of Who Framed Roger Rabbit' sale at Sotheby's. The amazing total character image measures 38 x 11.5, with a mat opening of 39.5 x 9.5. Matted to an overall size of 47 x 17. The mat bears a blindstamped "The Art of Who Framed Roger Rabbit" auction seal to lower right. In fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Walt Disney Company. Provenance: The Art of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Lot #305, Sotheby's, June 28, 1989, where it sold for the princely sum of $33,000.
This is a historically significant piece as it represents a collaboration of multiple competing animation studios—Steven Spielberg convinced Warner Bros., Fleischer Studios, King Features Syndicate, Felix the Cat Productions, Turner Entertainment, and Universal Pictures/Walter Lantz Productions to 'lend' their characters to Disney for the film, which allowed all of these animated icons to appear together for the first time. For example, Disney's Donald Duck and Warner's Daffy Duck appear as equally talented dueling pianists, and Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny also share a scene. An absolutely magnificent piece of animation history.
