The NeverEnding Story (Warner Bros., 1984), Original Comp Design Art. ...

Description

The NeverEnding Story (Warner Bros., 1984), Original Comp Design Art. Original comp design artwork for the German family fantasy film The NeverEnding Story, accomplished in airbrush on 30" x 40" foamboard with bright pink, blues, purple, green, and orange hues that read almost neon and portray the central creatures of the loveable film including Falkor, the luckdragon, Artax the white horse, Sleepy Bat, and Racing Snail. Painted image occupies a central area of the foamboard with open white space on either side and background, and is overlaid with a similarly-sized acrylic sheet with lithographed text including the film's title on the bottom and the tagline, "Come into a land of miracles and magic. / There's a place for you." on the top. The acrylic is laid over the foamboard to create a complete image. Ultimately an alternate version of this design was selected as the Style A poster art for the film's release, a recognizable blue-hued depiction of the night sky with Falkor prominently at the center, along with a different tagline. The present artwork, then, occupies the liminal space between concept and execution, a thoughtful, studio-made comp that very well may be the only remaining example of this particular design. Unsigned and with sticker on the verso reading, "This art work has to be returned to New York Studio West" presumably the fabrication studio behind the design. Exhibits signs of production wear and age, with acrylic layer in place but not firmly affixed to foamboard and showing residue from prior attachment as well as some smudge marks on the acrylic from the airbrushed paint. Foamboard shows corner bumps and curls not affecting central artwork. Unframed. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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