Five original sketches and one original cel of Woody Woodpecker and Buzz Buzzard

N.p. N.p., Circa 1984. Five sketches and one hand painted cel, executed by noted American animator Walter Lantz. The cel and four of the sketches show Woody Woodpecker, and one sketch shows Buzz Buzzard.

Born in New Rochelle in 1899, Walter Lantz began working as an animator for film studios on the east coast at the age of 16. Moving to Hollywood in 1927, Lantz caught his first break as the director for the "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" cartoon for Universal Studios. He created Woody Woodpecker for Universal in 1941, and the character became an overnight success, with his own series the same year. Initially voiced with manic aplomb by prolific voice actor Mel Blanc, the character would be voiced by Grace Stafford, Lantz's wife, starting in 1950, lending a friendlier quality to the character. Lantz received an honorary Academy Award in 1979, becoming the second animator (after Walt Disney) to receive the award.

All materials measure 12.5 x 10.5 inches. Very Good plus, with a few small scuffs and light offsetting from the cel on a few of the sketches. Cel and two sketches stapled together.

[Book #158408]