THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER (1990) - Wilbur Original Production Cel on Hand-Painted Key Master Production Background, Framed

A fabulous original production cel of the wonderful Wilbur the Albatross on the original key master watercolour production background from The Rescuers Down Under, Walt Disney Productions, 1990.

When Bernard and Bianca need a flight to Australia, they find Wilbur in his hangar dancing alone to "Black Slacks" by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones, entirely in his own world, entirely convinced of his own brilliance. Voiced by the irrepressible John Candy, Wilbur is a fan and collector favourite.

The cel catches him mid-performance, beak open, wings spread, leather cap and green scarf, orange feet planted on the hangar floor with the full confidence of a creature who has never once doubted himself. Painted in gouache on 16-field celluloid, he sits on the original key watercolour background of that cluttered, atmospheric hangar interior, the arched structure falling away into shadow behind him, the green cooler to the left, light pooling on the wooden boards at his feet. The background annotation 0505//LK//Seq. 2.2//Sc20 places this precisely within the production record as Scene 20 of Sequence 2.2, Wilbur's introduction sequence.

The Rescuers Down Under occupies a specific and significant moment in Disney history. Released in 1990, it was the first Disney feature produced using the CAPS digital ink and paint system, developed in partnership with Pixar. It is worth being clear about what that means for a piece like this. Characters were still drawn and animated on paper in the traditional manner, and backgrounds were still painted by hand by Disney's background department, exactly as they had been since Snow White. What changed was colour and compositing, which moved into the digital realm for the first time.

This cel and its background are hand-painted originals from that transitional production, the traditional craft fully intact, the digital future already arriving. Because CAPS reduced the need to generate and handle physical cels at scale, the volume of original production artwork from this era is considerably lower than from earlier Disney features. A complete key setup, character cel on matching original painted background, from a principal scene in a major Disney feature, is a true treasure.

Wilbur was conceived as the comedic successor to Orville from the original Rescuers, and John Candy brought exactly the right combination of physical comedy and wounded dignity to the role. As is usual in his roles, he carries much of the film's warmth on his considerable shoulders. This cel catches him at his most Wilbur, which is to say, at his very best.

Presented framed, 20" x 16", cel image 121/2" x 16", with official Walt Disney Company authentication seal and title plaque.

Estimate: $1,500 - 3,000

See Online Here: https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/496/lot/193507?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F496%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dgrid%26cat%3D9230%252C13295%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dhighest%26xclosed%3D1%26featured%3D0