Graphic Art and Animation Process Hergé Professor Calculus Model Drawing from Tintin Studio Production 1959

Tintin Comic Drawing

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Hergé (Georges Remi). Original animation production drawing of Professor Calculus from the Tintin series, circa 1959 to early 1960s, documents the adaptation of a central scientific character into early television animation during a period of heightened public interest in technological innovation and space exploration. Produced at Belvision Studios under the supervision of Hergé and collaborators including Ray Goossens and Greg, the drawing reflects the translation of the professor figure—known in French as Tryphon Tournesol—into a standardized animated form. As the inventor of key narrative technologies such as the lunar rocket in Destination Moon, the character embodies mid-twentieth-century cultural fascination with science and invention. The drawing supports research into animation history, comic-to-screen adaptation, and representations of scientific expertise in popular media.

Hergé (Georges Remi). Original animation production drawing of Professor Calculus. Belvision Studios, circa 1959 to early 1960s. Pencil and red grease pencil on studio animation sheet measuring approximately 12" x 10.5", with the figure drawing approximately 3" to 5". The image depicts Professor Calculus in work overalls, rendered in graphite with red pencil corrections and production annotations. A stamped instruction at the top reads “Held cels – trace carefully,” consistent with cel animation workflow. Additional notations include “P1” at the lower right, indicating character reference, and a production code “T12 / 34,” corresponding to studio filing and sequencing practices. The sheet represents an original working element used in the frame-by-frame construction of animated sequences.

Created during the first wave of Tintin television adaptations, initiated in 1959 and broadcast internationally beginning in the early 1960s, the drawing reflects the expansion of European comic characters into global media circulation, including distribution in North America and the United Kingdom. The inclusion of Professor Calculus as a central figure in these adaptations underscores the narrative emphasis on scientific invention during the era, particularly in stories connected to space exploration. Surviving production drawings from this process provide material evidence of animation techniques, including model standardization, iterative correction, and cross-studio collaboration involving European and American production teams. Light handling wear; annotations clear and legible; overall in very good condition.

Item #17047

Price: $550.00