New and Cool: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Production Art Database

A new searchable treasure chest for researchers, students, and fans direct from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscar people). Access is free for all users. We hope AMPAS will continue to digitize and add material to it.

From AMPAS:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library today launched its latest online research tool, the Production Art Database. The database contains records for more than 5,300 items from the library’s collection, including motion picture costume and production design drawings, animation art, storyboards and paintings.  Nearly half of the records include images, making this an invaluable online resource for researchers interested in motion picture design.

The Production Art Database allows users to search, view and study motion picture design materials from the 1920s to the present.  One of the earliest items featured is a costume design drawing by Howard Greer for the 1923 film “The Spanish Dancer.”  Other notable pieces in the collection include a Hans Dreier production design drawing for “Wings” (1927), animation cels for the Pepe Le Pew cartoon “For Scent-Imental Reasons” (1949), Albert Whitlock’s matte painting study for “The Birds” (1963), Steven Spielberg’s rough storyboard sketches for “Poltergeist” (1982) and Jeannine Oppewall’s drawing of the Victory Motel for “L.A. Confidential” (1997).  The collection also includes materials on very recent films, including drawings by Academy Award nominee Eve Stewart for “The King’s Speech” (2010).

Search by:

• Keyword
• Title
• Film Year
• Designer/Artist

You can also limit to results with digitized images. Downloading of images is not possible directly from the site.

Direct to the Production Art Database

Learn More About the Margaret Herrick Library

Filed under: Awards, Libraries, Patrons and Users, Resources