This past Saturday was National Spaghetti Day, and The Walt Disney Family Museum shared something about “Lady and the Tramp” from The Sketchbook Series that may or may not have been known by Disney fans.
The iconic spaghetti scene was initially cut during the storyboard phase by Walt Disney himself! In a comment to the post on Facebook, The Walt Disney Family Museum said, “Walt cut the sequence after seeing the storyboards, but Disney Legend and animator Frank Thomas saw the potential, revived the sequence, and made it what it is today.”
Thomas’ philosophy on the importance of personality in animated characters is considered gospel. He once recalled, “I wanted believable character that the audience would care about.”
Thomas’ perseverance is also a great lesson that shows that collaboration, especially in the world of animation, is crucial to making the impossible a reality. One of the biggest names in entertainment nearly missed out on one of the studio’s most recognizable scenes because he didn’t believe in his animators to make it look as beautiful as it turned out.
“Lady and the Tramp” was originally released on June 22, 1955. It will be celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. “Lady and the Tramp” is available to stream on Disney+.
How different do you think “Lady and the Tramp” would have been without this classic scene? Are you a fan of “Lady and the Tramp?” Let us know in the comments.
