Scanned Concept Poster

I bought an old auction catalog off ebay recently and the artwork they
featured on the cover was a concept poster that was made just before the
final version.

I wonder where there original is now, and who might of paid the estimated
$10-$15k for it. But at least we have a picture of it. Check it out the color
scan, and read the B&W description too:

EDIT: Also, I just randomly came across this in a search engine.
Shows another, slightly more detailed concept sketch:
http://cowancollectionanimation.blogspot.com/2008/08/secret-of-nimh-1982-tim-hildebrandt-art.html

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[img="]http://premium1.uploadit.org/TimothyB/concept_nimh_poster.jpg[" alt=""/img]

Does anyone else notice that the general layout of this poster looks a lot like the final one for Star Wars? I think Tim Hildenbrandt must like this layout. Not that I am criticizing him about it in any way, both posters look very good. I think that one would have worked for NIMH just as well as the final one did.

Yeah, when I was posting this, getting a second look at the sketch layout I found it instantly reminded me of Star Wars. Looking at the original Star Wars poster now, it's eerie. Brisby reaching up towards the stone is a lot like Luke with his arms up holding the saber, with a glow that shoots up. But that part didn't bug me, it was the sketch where the layout has them offset to the right, just like Star Wars, where Brisby's pose really stands out.

EDIT: Oh wait, did this artist also do the Star Wars poster? I guess I should have read everything.

EDIT 2: Also, I just randomly came across this in a search engine. Shows another, slightly more detailed concept sketch: http://cowancollectionanimation.blogspot.com/2008/08/secret-of-nimh-1982-tim-hildebrandt-art.html

Yes indeed, it does look a lot like the Star Wars poster. Interesting.

What I also found interesting is how Nicodemus looks almost menacing in the colored poster. Anyone not familiar with the film would likely think he was a villain.

Boy it sure does a have a slight Star Wars look to it, it still looks fine!
Mr Ages and the Shrew kinda got got tucked away in to a corner slot of the poster.