THE RABBIT

Manuscript animation strip book. Graphite. Twenty-nine stapled leaves with a drawing to the recto of each, some with narrative text in ink to verso. Very good condition with an old punch hole to the upper right corner, the first and last three pages loose, and minor wear to the extremities. The drawings remain clean and bright.

A highly accomplished series of drawings, similar to the style of Disney, from the early days of British animation. Produced by a professional illustrator, it tells the story of an adventurous young rabbit called 'Whiskers' who strays from the warren and is then tricked into the home of 'Sly Fox', who plans to make him into his dinner. Along then comes 'villain of the piece no.2, Slippery Stoat', who has similar plans. A fight ensues between the two, during which Whiskers' father comes to his rescue. The manuscript appears to be a complete story in itself, although could potentially have continued for another page or two. An uncommon draft for an early British animation, the characterful drawings wonderfully convey the sense of movement of the finished cartoon.