This delicate image of Sleeping Beauty as Briar Rose is a rare animation art cel signed by Mark Davis, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson. They are all considered Disney legends and they were three of what became known as Disney’s Nine Old Men. These nine were the Walt Disney Company’s core of animators. They were responsible for most of the great work done on the Disney films from the 1920’s on.
Marc Davis animated the evil Maleficent along with her pet raven Diablo, some Prince Phillip and other scenes. Davis also designed countless other Disney characters and many of the rides at Disneyland. Frank and Ollie animated the three fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather.
Sleeping Beauty was always comfortable and at one with the forest creatures who befriended her.