Technically this poster is for all of the Fantasyland dark rides, since the text mentions Snow White, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad (Alice's ride didn't open until 1958, and she got her very own poster). But it's the Peter Pan attraction that gets the star treatment here! What a beautiful design. The golden pirate ship (able to fly because it is covered in golden pixie dust) carries a father and two kids above a moonlit London. Only six colored inks were used in this one (ultramarine blue, light blue, pink, brown, light brown, and yellow/gold), with the white of the paper allowing for a seventh hue.
Just for the halibut, take a look at these variations on the Peter Pan poster. On the left you'll see updated artwork for Disneyland (scanned from a note card). The design and colors have been futzed with, not necessarily for the better. Why have a soft pink when you can go with a vibrant magenta? And darnit, make those people orange! Why is the pirate ship yellow? Everyone knows a pirate ship is brown!
Just for the halibut, take a look at these variations on the Peter Pan poster. On the left you'll see updated artwork for Disneyland (scanned from a note card). The design and colors have been futzed with, not necessarily for the better. Why have a soft pink when you can go with a vibrant magenta? And darnit, make those people orange! Why is the pirate ship yellow? Everyone knows a pirate ship is brown!
On the right is a version that was used at Euro Disneyland (nabbed from somewhere on the interwebs). A gradation has been added to the sky, along with some squishy Adobe Illustrator clouds. Neither version is terrible, but they don't beat the original either. Not that I'm biased or anything.
I technically ought to biased toward the Paris poster, but honestly I think it pales in comparison to both Disneyland versions! Why on Earth add those clouds?!
ReplyDeleteThe original is splendid.
ReplyDeleteThe others, not so much.
I am completely convinced that Disney has NO idea of the value of these old original works, not dollar value per se, but artistic value.
They are reductive, communicative, evocative works of high order and far exceed the standard of later efforts.
Comparisons like this make me question the competence of the modern day graphic teams responsible. Can they not see this?
Also, they could sell the "h3LL" out of the original designs with one of those interactive kiosks and direct shipping.
Thank you for the comparison Major. You are lucky to have such a prize, and we are lucky since you shared it with us.
JG
David G, I can only guess! They liked the original design enough to base the new poster on it, and yet the addition of those clouds weakens the impact (as does the gradation in the sky). Clouds = "way high up", but the problem is that the shapes are uninteresting; either make them shapes more appealing, or make them more subtle. That's my opinion, and 100 other people probably have 100 other opinions!
ReplyDeleteJG, I agree with you - those classic designs are hard to beat, and can't be improved with a few lame additions. Funnily enough, they have sold copies of the original posters over the years. Offset litho versions were created that were full-size and pretty good - some so good that from a distance I couldn't tell the difference. Others had color problems. The butter-yellow of the Skyway turned to ballpark-mustard yellow. They've also sold smaller versions, note cards, pins, and even "on demand" prints of many of the old designs.
And you're right, I AM lucky to have this!
Mmmm...ballpark mustard. Perfect for ballpark franks, ballpark pretzels, or ballpark frozen malt cups...
ReplyDeleteall pretty, but i agree that the original is the best for me ;)
ReplyDelete