Fred Moore: Mickey Mouse Contrite

An animation drawing by Fred Moore was sold earlier this month at Heritage Auctions. It is a strong image of Mickey Mouse in his greatest roll as the Sorcerer's Apprentice in "Fantasia" (1940). Although this is not a production drawing, Mickey is apparently expressing to Yen Sid, the sorcerer, that he regrets his overreach as an apprentice. Well done, Mickey.

Fred Moore
Heritage sale of August 11, 2025

https://comics.ha.com/itm/animation-art/production-drawing/fantasia-the-sorcerer-s-apprentice-mickey-mouse-animation-drawing-by-fred-moore-walt-disney-1940-/a/7398-20100.s?ic2=mytracked-lotspage-lotlinks-12202013&tab=MyTrackedLots-101116#

Note:  If you want to know why the animators called the sorcerer Yen Sid, just read his name backwards.

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Ward Kimball: The Sorcerer's Apprentice for Bill Blair

Animator Ward Kimball (1914-2002) was one of Walt Disney's legendary Nine Old Men. Kimball's full-figure sketch of Mickey Mouse shows him in his most iconic role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia (1940). It was listed just the other day by Schulson Autographs, Ltd., of Millburn. It has already found a new owner.

Ward Kimball
AbeBooks listing accessed April 27, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Mickey-Mouse-Original-Drawing-Signed-KIMBALL/31168419988/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

Disney Family Album:  Ward Kimball

April 30, 2022 Update:  Animation expert and Ward Kimball biographer Amid Amidi expresses some doubt about this piece:

https://twitter.com/wardkimball/status/1520528997532246020

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Mickey Mouse Dreams of Power as the Sorcerer's Apprentice

Here he is, Mickey Mouse in his greatest role, the Sorcerer's Apprentice from Walt Disney's "Fantasia" (1940). Furthermore, this is his most glorious moment, when he dreams he has the power to command the heavens. Or is it? Well, not quite. The cel is actually from the moment when Mickey just begins to dream, a few seconds before he ascends to the rocky summit where the non-production background has him standing.

This is an original production cel on a Courvoisier Gallery background with a painted overlay of the stars. The whole set-up is meant to make the cel appear to be from the scene maybe ten or twenty seconds later. There is a small tear in the celluloid at Mickey's feet. Even so, it doesn't get much better than this.

This will be sold on February 21 at Heritage. Even today, though, it will take at least $20,000 to get you into the game.

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice Production Cel, "Fantasia," 1940

As stated above, the corresponding video still really occurs at the very beginning of the apprentice's dream, before he has ascended to the crag from which he commands the stars:

Mickey begins to dream in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," Video Still 4:20.

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Walt Disney's "Fantasia" (1940)

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice Production Cel with Matte, "Fantasia," 1940

Heritage Auctions

February 21, 2013

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7052&lotIdNo=29003#94589458738

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice Production Cel, "Fantasia," 1940

Heritage Auctions

February 21, 2013

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7052&lotIdNo=29003#94589458738

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice Production Cel, "Fantasia," 1940

Heritage Auctions

February 21, 2013

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7052&lotIdNo=29003#94589458738

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice Production Cel, "Fantasia," 1940

Heritage Auctions

February 21, 2013

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7052&lotIdNo=29003#94589458738

February 21, 2012 Update: Sold for: $26,290.00 (includes BP)

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My New iPhone Case

First the bad news: I didn't get to join my family in Disneyland this summer. Yes, life occasionally has a few bitter disappointments.

I did receive a cool souvenir, though. My iPhone 4S now sits securely in a Disney case featuring Mickey Mouse in perhaps his greatest role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. It is not a classic image from Fantasia, but rather one of those modern airbrushed images Disney has become so fond of. Siri, it's time to remember the magic!

My new iPhone case featuring Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's
Apprentice from Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940)

It's available from the Disney Store.

http://www.disneystore.com/electronics-sorcerer-mickey-mouse-iphone-4-case/mp/1301733/1000206/?LSID=2687457%7C10676026%7C0f4477fe3c8348da9451ef334d6c65fe

September 25, 2015 Update:  They're gone!

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The Sorcerer's Apprentice

I've previously shown a quintessential flag painting by Jasper Johns from the collection of the late author Michael Crichton. Crichton also owned some animation art of superlative quality. Here is a great cel from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence of Walt Disney's "Fantasia (1940) mounted on a Courvoisier Gallery background. Crichton could collect both high-concept Pop Art and outstanding Disney animation art—my kind of guy.

Walt Disney Studios

Images

ENLARGE & ZOOM

Price Realized

• £6,000
• ($9,468)
• Price includes buyer's premium

Estimate

£2,000 - £2,500
• ($3,164 - $3,955)

Sale Information

Sale 5570 
Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment 
25 November 2010
London, South Kensington

• Overview
• Features

Lot Description

Walt Disney Studios
Fantasia, 1940
Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice greeting a broom carrying two buckets of water, gouache on celluloid applied to a watercolour production background, framed, accompanied by an originalWalt Disney Productions certificate
Image: Mickey: 5½x5¾in. (14x14.5cm.) Broom: 5x2in. (13x5cm.)
Overall: 18½x16½in. (47x42cm.)

Special Notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.

Saleroom Notice

Please note this cel is applied to a Courvoisier airbrush background and not a production background as stated in the catalogue 

Pre-Lot Text

WORKS FROM THE COLLECTION OF MICHAEL CRICHTON

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5374866&sid=ae1f5587-be81-4705-97b2-7cc348dd7bd6

November 8, 2015 Update:

"Fantasia," 1940

Walt Disney

"Fantasia" Still 26:50
A match for Mickey, but not for the broom

Christie's Sale 5570, November 25, 2010

Note:  My most recent post on Disney animation art is here.

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