United Film Production (UPA) was established by former
Disney animators John Hubley, Zack Schwartz, Dave Hilberman and
Steve Bosustow after the animation strike against Disney in 941.
Their mission was founded in the belief that animation was an
artistic form of expression that didn't necessarily have to follow
the Disney model of "The Illusion of Life", but instead
could be more graphic and experimental in the design of characters,
layouts and backgrounds. Their first production was a cartoon
called "Hell Bent for Election" designed to help re-elect
Franklin D. Roosevelt, and directed by Chuck Jones. Columbia Studios
quickly gave them a contract for the production and distribution
of theatrical shorts, the first of which won a Nomination for
the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Subject of 1948 , "Robin
Hoodlum." The following year UPA introduced their most successful
character, Mister Magoo, in "The Ragtime Bear", which
lead to a series of Magoo cartoons , each highly stylized and
distinctly different than the Disney look, two of which won Academy
Awards for Best Animated Short Subject, "When Magoo Flew"
(1953) and "Magoo's Puddle Jumper" (1955). But their
most critically acclaimed character arrived in 1951, the title
character of "Gerald McBoing-Boing", based on a story
by children's author Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, and
which once again snagged the Academy Award . UPA's golden age
came to a sad and abrupt end in 1952 when Hubley fell victim to
the McCarthy era blacklisting. Upon his release (at Columbia's
insistence) dozens of artists followed him out the door, and the
studio was sold to Henry G. Saperstein. What followed was never
quite as inspired as the brilliantly graphic and so-called "limited"
style of animation that influenced the industry for decades to
come (as evidenced in the work of Chuck Jones at Warner Bros.
and even at Disney in films like "101 Dalmatians" and
"The Sword in the Stone.") After two final high-water-mark
accomplishments ,the 1963 "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol"
produced for television, and the Abe Levitow directed and Chuck
Jones written "Gay Purr-ee" for theatres - the studio
eventually stopped producing original animation altogether and
became a film distributor of such Japanese films as Godzilla ,thus
bringing to a sad end the once brilliant and progressive animation
unit that changed the face of animation.
Please be sure to register in our GUEST
BOOK. We are constantly searching out
new artwork, and it takes us a while to get everything onto the
web site, so if you do not see what you are looking for listed
below, please E-Mail
or call us at 800-599-3693 or 818-788-2357.
Below is a partial list of UPA artwork we have in
stock. Click on the Links below, or scroll down to browse.
MR. MAGOO
UPA's most well known creation.
Great
Original Production Background and Cel set up from this Trouble
Indemnity (1950). The background measures 10.5" x 15"
and the cel of Magoo and passenger in their car on the Ferris
Wheel measures 10.5"x 12.5", with an image of 7.5"x
12.5"...$900 (25magoo01)
Geat Original Production Cel SetUp of Magoo and the
Bear from "Ragtime Bear (1949), the first Magoo Short Produced.
The cel have been placed on a color copy of the matching background.
The reflections are from the protective bag the art is stored
in. The untrimmed cels measure 10.25" x 12.5" and the
character image area measures 6.5" x 7.5"...$600 (23magoo01)
Excellent
Production Cels and matching background from "Love Comes
To Magoo" (1958). The piece has several layers, including
a hand-painted background of the paper, Actual newpaper , a cel
of the headlines and Magoo's picture and a cel of the hands. The
entire piece measures 10.5" X 13"...$500 (#01magoo19)
Rare
production cels from "The Famous Adventures Of Mr. Magoo:
Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series. The untrimmed cels measures
10.5" X 12.5". The total image size is 6" X 8"...$350
(#01tracy11)
Excellent
Matching Cel and Master Background from the 1955 Academy Award
Winning Short, "When Magoo Flew". This was the first
Magoo short to win an Academy Award. The Background and Cel measure
10.5" X 12.5". Some minor restoration is needed, which
is included in the price...$900 (#01magoo05)
Nice
Production Cel of Magoo from "Merry Minstrel Magoo"
(1959). The untrimmed Animation Cel measures 10.5" X 12.5".
Magoo's image size is 3.5" X 2.5"...$100 (#01magoo21)
Great
Production Cel (and matching drawing) of Flattop from "The
Famous Adventures Of Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series.
The untrimmed cels measures 10.5" X 12.5". The total
image size is 4" X 5"...$200 (#01tracy06)
Fantastic
Matching Cels and Pan Master Background from the 1956 Academy
Award Winning Short, "Magoo's Puddle Jumper". This short
is one of the most well known in the Magoo series. The Pan Master
Background measures 11" X 20"...$1500 (#01magoo09)
Excellent Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo"
TV series (1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5"
X 12.5". Total image size is 8" X 9.5"...$60 (#01magoo12)
Great
Production Cel of Pruneface from "The Famous Adventures Of
Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series. The untrimmed cel
measures 10.5" X 12.5". The total image size is 4"
X 5"...$150 (#01tracy05)
Excellent
Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo" TV series
(1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5" X 12.5".
Total image size is 9.5" X 11"...$60 (#01magoo13)
Geat
Original Production Cel Set Up of Magoo and the Bear from "Ragtime
Bear (1949), the first Magoo Short Produced. The cels have been
placed on a color copy of the matching background. The untrimmed
cels measure 10.25" x 12.5". Magoo 2.5" x 2.5".
Th eBear measures 4" X 3"...$600 (23magoo25)
Excellent
Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo" TV series
(1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5" X 12.5".
Total image size is 8" X 7.5"...$60 (#01magoo14)
Great
Production Cel of Mumbles from "The Famous Adventures Of
Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series. The untrimmed cel
measures 10.5" X 12.5". The total image size is 6"
X 5"...$150 (#01tracy07)
Excellent
Original Model Drawing of Mumbles from "The Famous Adventures
Of Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series. The untrimmed
Animation Paper measures 10" X 12.5". There are several
creases and folds in the paper. Each image of Mumbles measures
about 4.5" X 3"...$60 (#01magoo15)
Nice
Original Production Cel and Background from a 1980s GE Lightbulb
commercial. The untrimmed cel and background measure 10.5"
X 12.5". Magoo's image size is 6.5" X 6"...$150
(#01magoo26)
Great
Production Cel of Dick Tracy (with the matching drawing) from
"The Famous Adventures Of Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964)
TV Series. The untrimmed cel measures 10.5" X 12.5".
The total image size is 7.5" X 9.5"...$250 (#01tracy02)
Great
Production Cel of Dick Tracy and Magoo from "The Famous Adventures
Of Mr. Magoo: Dick Tracy" (1964) TV Series. The untrimmed
cel measures 10.5" X 12.5". The total image size is
5" X 6"...$300 (#01tracy13)
Excellent
Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo" TV series
(1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5" X 12.5".
Total image size is 10" X 11"...$60 (#01magoo16)
Excellent
Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo" TV series
(1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5" X 12.5".
There is a tear visible in the upper right hand corner that has
been repaired by tape sometime in the past (the tape looks pretty
old) Total image size is 10" X 11.5"...$60 (#01magoo17)
Excellent
Original Model sheet from the "Uncle Sam Magoo" TV series
(1970). The untrimmed Animation Paper measures 10.5" X 12.5".
Total image size is 6.5" X 9.5"...$60 (#01magoo18)
Great
cel of Aladdin on his magic carpet from 1001 Arabian Nights (1959).
The cel has been slightly trimmed to 8" X 12". The image
size is 2.5" X 6.5" ...$40 (UPA10magoo3)
Nice production layout from a Mr. Magoo cartoon. The
untrimmed animation paper measures 10" X 12.5" The images
size is 8" X 11" ...$40 (UPAmagoo12)
Nice
background layout from a Mr. Magoo cartoon. The window has been
cut out at the studio, most likely for a cel to show through.
There is also some staining in the middle of the layout. The layout
is 9.5" X 12.5" The image is 9" X 12"...$40
(UPA10magoo18)
Nice background layout from a Mr. Magoo cartoon. There is also
some staining in the middle of the layout. The layout is 9.5"
X 12.5" The image is 9" X 12"...$40 (UPA10magoo19)
GERALD McBOING BOING
Artwork from this 1951 Academy Award Winning Short is
extremely Rare.
Rare original Production Cel from "Gerald McBoing Boing"
(1951). The untrimmed cel measures 10.5" X 12.5" and has
been placed on a color copy background. Gerald's image size is 3"
X 2"...$800 (#01ger01)
Rare
original Production Cels of Gerald and his Father from "Gerald
McBoing Boing" (1951). The untrimmed cel measures 10.5"
X 12.5" and has been placed on a color copy background. Gerald's
image size is 3" X 1.5". The Father measures 7" X
3"...$900 (#01ger02)
Excellent
pair of Production Cels featuring the Radio Station Owner and Gerald
from "Gerald McBoing Boing" (1951). The untrimmed cel
measures 10.5" X 12.5". The total image size is 8.5"
X 7"...$700 (#01ger03)
Excellent large image of Gerald from one of the later 19509s shorts.
The untrimmed Animation cel measures 10.5" X 12.5". Gerald's
image size is 5.5" X 4"...$600 (#01ger04)
MADELINE
Extremely
Rare Original Production Cels and Matching Production Background
from UPA's classic 1952 short "Madeline". The entire piece
measures 10" X 12.5"...$2500 (#01mad01)
PETE HOTHEAD
Excellent
Bill Hurtz Storyboard Panel from a 1950s Pete Hothead Short. The
entire panel measures 3.5" X 4.5"...$200 (#UPA2pete)
Excellent
Bill Hurtz Storyboard Panel from a 1950s Pete Hothead Short. The
entire panel measures 3.5" X 4.5"...$200 (#UPA2pete2)
Excellent
Bill Hurtz Storyboard Panel from a 1950s Pete Hothead Short. The
entire panel measures 4" X 5"...$250 (#UPA2pete4)
Excellent
Bill Hurtz Storyboard Panel from a 1950s Pete Hothead Short. The
entire panel measures 3.5" X 2.5"...$200 (UPApete4)
MAN ALIVE
This
excellent original storyboard of a man and his wife cruising along
in their car is from the 1950s "Man Alive." The image
is on untrimmed paper that measures 8" X 6" and the image
size is 7" X 4" ...$75 (UPApete8)
TREES AND JAMAICA DADDY
Fantastic
Original Production Cel from this Hilarious UPA Theatrical Short.
The untrimmed Animation Cel measures 10.5" X 12". The
total image size is 6.5" X 6"...$500 (#01trees02)
A Rare cel of the King from The Emperors New Clothes.
The image is on an untrimmed animation cel and the image size is
1.75" X 1.5"...$40 (UPAemp01)
A
Rare cel of the King from The Emperors New Clothes. The image is
on an untrimmed animation cel and the image size is 2.25" X
1.25"...$40 (UPAemp04)
A
Rare cel from The Emperors New Clothes. The image is on an untrimmed
animation cel and the image size is 6.25" X 5.75"...$75
(UPAemp05)
A
Rare cel from The Emperors New Clothes. The is some light cracking
in the paint and a small chip. The image is on an untrimmed animation
cel and the image size is 6 X 4.5"...$50 (UPAemp13)
.A
Rare cel from The Emperors New Clothes. The image is on an untrimmed
animation cel and the image size is 3" X 4.5"...$25 (UPAemp17)
A
Rare large cel from The Emperors New Clothes. The image is on an
untrimmed animation cel and the image size is 9" X 8.5"...$75
(UPAemp18)
Excellent pair of Production Cels featuring Jaune-Tom and Robespierre.
The untrimmed cels measure 10.5" X 12.5" and have been
placed on a color copy background. The total image size is 4.5"
X 7"...$500 (#01gay03)
Excellent
Production Cel featuring Robespierre. The untrimmed cel measures
10.5" X 12.5" and has been placed on a original pencil
layout.Robespierre's image size is 3.5" X 3"...$500 (#01gay05)
Excellent
Production Cels featuring Mewsette. The untrimmed cel measures 10.5"
X 12.5" and has been placed on a color copy background. Mewsette's
image size is 1.5" X 2"...$300 (#01gay10)
MISC PRODUCTIONS
GEORGIE & THE DRAGON - Charming pair of Production
Drawings of the Dragon and Georgie. Each on 10.5" x 12.5"
animation paper. The Dragon measures 3.75"x 2.5" and Georgie
measures 3" x 1.5"...$200 PAIR (#UPS-14drag01AB)
A
TALE OF TWO KITTIES...This excellent Storyboard features
two cute cats. The image size is 5.25" X7.5" and is on
paper that measures 10.5" X 7"...$75 (UPAtale03)
TALE
OF TWO KITTIES ...A great trimmed Thumbnail drawing.
The paper has been trimmed to 2.5" X 4" and the image
is 2" X 2.5 "...$20 (UPAtale11)
LETS
ALL SING...An excellent production drawing from "Let's
All Sing."" This great shot of a man flying through the
air is on animation paper that measures 10.5" X 12.5"
and the image is 4" X 4.5"...$75 (UpaLets01)
....A
very nice model drawing of a General and his aid from a Wartime
cartoon. The image is on an untrimmed piece of animation paper that
measures 10.5" X 12.5." The overall image size is 7.75"
X8.75"...$40 (Upawar05)
A
PILOT...A nice model drawing of a pilot from a Wartime
cartoon, pointing out where his plane touched down. The drawing
is on a piece of untrimmed paper that measures 10.5" X 12.5."
The overall image size is 3" X 2.75"...$25 (Upawar06)
LANDING
OFFICER...An excellent drawing of a man directing a plane
onto the carrier. The drawing is on a piece of untrimmed paper that
measures 10.5" X 12.5." The overall image size is 5"
X 8"...$25 (Upawar07)
LANDING
OFFICER...An
nice drawing of a man directing a plane onto the carrier. The Drawing
is on a piece of untrimmed paper that measures 10.5" X 12.5."
The overall image size is 4" X 4.5"...$25 (Upawar08)
...Great
production drawing from an unknown (probably Wartime) UPA production.
The untrimmed animation paper measures 10.5" X 12". There is a portion
of the paper missing in the right hand corner, but the image is
not affected. The total image size of the character is 4" X 4"...$60
(#UPA2plane)
We have several more UPA drawings, cels, and model sheets in
stock!! Give us a call at 818-788-2357, and let us know what you
are looking for.
|