Animation Artifacts &Bill Peckmann &Disney &Models &Story & Storyboards 17 Aug 2009 07:38 am

Peter Pan models à la 1940

- Peter Pan was floating around production in 1940. I was reminded of this when I went through the magnificent grab-bag of model sheets that Bill Peckmann has loaned me for this blog. Here are some stunning model sheets which showcase a completely different take on the story before the influence of Mary Blair and the animators


(Click any image to enlarge.)
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Surprise! A new character which was, fortunately, deleted.
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Here’s a short bit of 1940 storyboard.
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These drawings of Smee are loving and beautiful.
I’d like to know who did them.

And, in case you’ve forgotten, here’s how the final cast looked.


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Many thanks, again, to Bill Peckmann for the loan of these model sheets.


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9 Responses to “Peter Pan models à la 1940”

  1. on 17 Aug 2009 at 7:53 am 1.john canemaker said …

    Hi Mike,
    The ten PETER PAN model sheets were drawn by the extraordinary Jack (John Parr) Miller (1913-2004). You can find his initials “JM” on each sheet. He was the artist behind all the wonderful “Baby Weems” drawings in THE RELUCTANT DRAGON (1941).
    A number of story artists may have drawn the storyboard you posted, including Aurie Battaglia.
    For more info re Jack Miller, see my biographical essay “In Search of John Parr Miller,” in the ASIFA journal CARTOONS: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMATION, Vol. 2, issue 2, Winter 2006 and Vol. 3, issue 1, Spring 2007.

  2. on 17 Aug 2009 at 11:12 am 2.Dan Caylor said …

    Canemaker! You’re an encyclopedia man! I’m jealous.

    Funny how Peter and a few other look like Pinocchio at this point. Interesting models, thanks Michael :)

  3. on 17 Aug 2009 at 11:57 am 3.Eddie Fitzgerald said …

    Very Nice! Who drew Captain Hook? I’m guessing it was Jack Grimaldi.

  4. on 17 Aug 2009 at 9:05 pm 4.Jeff said …

    Thank you so much for keeping this magnificent blog. It’s so inspirational and interesting!

  5. on 18 Aug 2009 at 7:32 am 5.Stephen Macquignon said …

    Very nice thanks for posting them

  6. on 19 Aug 2009 at 12:25 pm 6.Tom Sito said …

    Thanks for posting these Mike. This post demonstrates a problem CG animation has yet to figure out.

    Traditional animators know the time needed to let a character design “breathe”, develop into it’s final form. In CG, once the initial designs are approved, it’s modeled and rigged and that’s it for development.

    I’ve seen many designs on the big screen that could have used a few more passes. Things that were too busy, and with a confused silohuette.

  7. on 05 Aug 2010 at 10:12 am 7.Marzia said …

    to mr Canemaker: did Aurelius Battaglia worked in Peter PAn?

  8. on 05 Aug 2010 at 10:53 am 8.Michael said …

    Mr. Canemaker has nothing to do with this site other than lending me artwork to post.

    Aurie Battaglia is not listed in any studio document as working on Peter Pan. He worked on Pinocchio and Dumbo, and that’s about it for Disney.

  9. on 25 Sep 2017 at 6:14 am 9.Matthew said …

    Battaglia also worked on Fantasia and some shorts for Disney. Check out his wikipedia page. I’ve added a ton of new information about Battaglia.

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