Original Production Animation Cel of Ichabod Crane from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Section of "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," 1949
Original hand inked and hand painted production animation cel of Ichabod Crane set on a lithographic background from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" section of "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," 1949, Walt Disney Studios; Size - Ichabod Crane & Packages: 7 1/2 x 4 1/2", Image 9 3/4 x 11 1/2"; Unframed.
"Oh, Katrina, my love. Who can resist your grace, your charm? And who can resist your father's farm?" - Narrator (Bing Crosby)
“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” (1949) is an animated package film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film features two segments: the first adapts “The Wind in the Willows,” the 1908 children’s novel by British author Kenneth Grahame, while the second brings to life “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the 1820 short story by American author Washington Irving. Celebrated American singer and actor Bing Crosby narrates the Sleepy Hollow segment and provides the voices of Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones.
Set in October 1790, the story follows Ichabod Crane, a lanky, gluttonous, and deeply superstitious yet charming man who arrives in Sleepy Hollow, New York, to become the village’s new schoolmaster. Despite his peculiar habits and awkward appearance, Ichabod quickly wins the admiration of the local women. His popularity irritates Brom Bones, the boisterous town hero, whose attempts to intimidate the schoolmaster are largely met with cheerful indifference. Their rivalry intensifies when Ichabod becomes enamored with Katrina Van Tassel, the beautiful daughter and only child of Baltus Van Tassel, the wealthiest man in Sleepy Hollow. Brom also hopes to win Katrina’s affection, but Ichabod repeatedly manages to outmaneuver him. Unbeknownst to the schoolmaster, Katrina enjoys encouraging his attention to make Brom jealous.
Both men attend the Van Tassels’ annual Halloween party, where Brom discovers Ichabod’s susceptibility to superstition and treats the guests to the terrifying legend of the Headless Horseman. According to the tale, the phantom lost his head during the Revolutionary War and rides each Halloween night in search of a replacement. The only means of escaping his pursuit is to cross the covered bridge, beyond which the Horseman cannot follow.
Riding home alone after the festivities, Ichabod becomes increasingly unnerved by the sounds and shadows of the dark woods. When an ominous noise proves to be nothing more than cattails knocking against a hollow log, he and his horse dissolve into relieved, hysterical laughter. Their amusement abruptly ends when a third, sinister laugh joins their own. Turning slowly, they discover the Headless Horseman looming behind them, sword in hand. A frantic chase follows as Ichabod races toward the covered bridge with the laughing specter close behind. Although he narrowly reaches the other side, his relief is fleeting: the Horseman’s black steed rears, and the phantom hurls a flaming jack-o’-lantern directly at the terrified schoolmaster. The following morning, Ichabod’s hat is discovered beside a shattered pumpkin, but Ichabod himself has vanished.
Presented here is a rare and wonderful original hand-inked and hand-painted production cel of Ichabod Crane. The exceptionally large, lively image captures the schoolmaster with his eyes open and a broad smile as he carries a stack of packages for his romantic interest, Katrina Van Tassel. His animated pose and unmistakable silhouette beautifully convey the character’s eager, awkward charm. Original production artwork from Disney’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is scarce on the market, making this expressive cel a standout addition to any animation art collection.
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