“Cinderella” (シンデレラ姫), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster (1952) Ultra Rare B2 (approx. 51.5 × 72.8 cm) — Japan RKO Radio Films — Unrestored, Good (G)

A refined early 1952 Japanese first-release B2 for Disney’s Cinderella—the studio’s landmark return to feature-length fairy‑tale romance, issued for the film’s first Japanese theatrical engagement. The sheet is anchored by the period distribution credit 日本RKOラヂオ映画 配給 (“Distributed by Japan RKO Radio Films”) and the iconic RKO shield, placing it firmly within the coveted RKO‑era of Disney’s international theatrical campaigns.

This poster is over 7 decades old!

For collectors, this is a true post‑war Japanese Disney trophy: an unusually elegant, design‑forward composition (midnight‑blue “stage” image above a typographic title band), a lavish ornamental Japanese title treatment (シンデレラ姫), and carefully selected story vignettes that summarize the film’s romantic urgency and chase‑sequence tension. Original Japanese first-release Disney B2 sheets from this period are exceptionally elusive, and this example remains a highly desirable candidate for long-term collection and display.

Date & Japanese Theatrical Release

Cinderella premiered in the United States on 15 February 1950.

Japan’s first theatrical release followed in the early post‑war wave of Disney feature reintroductions: Japanese references record a Japanese opening on 7 March 1952, aligning with the poster’s Japan RKO distribution credit (日本RKOラヂオ映画 配給) and confirming this sheet as a first‑release Japanese campaign item.

The Film & Its Place in Disney’s Legacy

Produced by Walt Disney Productions, Cinderella is widely recognized as a defining film of Disney’s mid‑century canon—an ambitious Technicolor fairy‑tale feature that restored confidence in the studio’s animated feature program after a challenging period.

Directing is credited to Disney’s celebrated feature team—Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske—with the film’s musical identity becoming central to its legacy.

At the Academy Awards, Cinderella received three nominations (including recognition for its music and songs), underlining the film’s stature as a major prestige release in its era.

Disney, Japan RKO, and Post‑War Reception in Japan

This B2 belongs to the crucial post‑war period when Disney’s feature animations returned to Japanese cinemas as premium imported family entertainment—marketed not as “children’s cartoons,” but as event pictures with international prestige. Cinderella’s Japanese release timing (1952) sits squarely in that moment, and the poster’s 日本RKOラヂオ映画 配給 credit is a key historical fingerprint linking the sheet to the RKO distribution network active in Japan at the time.

Design Notes

A poster built for elegance and theatrical contrast: the composition is unusually sophisticated for a mid-century animation one-sheet—an expansive, velvety midnight-blue top image creates a “stage” for Cinderella’s luminous gown, while the lower band shifts to a warm, parchment-like field for title and credits. The result is poised, airy, and instantly readable once framed.

Iconic character staging: the top scene captures the film’s glamour and wit in a single tableau—Cinderella poised in her sparkling ball dress, balanced against the lively carriage group at left, creating a narrative “conversation” across negative space.

Typographic theatre: the Japanese title シンデレラ姫 (“Cinderella Princess”) is rendered in richly shaded red letterforms, led by a large ornamental initial “シ” framed with curling green filigree—an eye-catching, distinctly Japanese graphic flourish that elevates the sheet beyond standard studio-key art.

Story told through inset vignettes: the two lower panels act like miniature “chapters,” showcasing (i) the slipper-search urgency and (ii) Cinderella’s flight up the staircase—compressed, legible storytelling designed for a lobby glance.

Prestige bilingual branding retained: the classic English logotype “Walt Disney’s Cinderella” sits beneath the Japanese title, while the RKO shield and distribution line confirm the original campaign context for Japan.

Condition Report

Overall condition: Good (unrestored), with faults consistent with an original mid-century theatrical poster that was previously folded for distribution and storage.

Condition details: the sheet shows fold lines and associated wear, with tears along fold intersections and a more noticeable split/tear in the upper dark-blue field area. These tears have been repaired with archival tape on the verso, and the verso clearly documents the stabilization approach taken to date.

Presentation: despite the above, the poster presents very well once framed—the central imagery remains visually strong, and the title band reads cleanly at normal viewing distance. We have taken the condition into account when pricing.

Restoration potential: this is an excellent candidate for professional linen backing and restoration (to reinforce folds, flatten the sheet, and address tears seamlessly). We have intentionally left this decision to the customer; if desired, we are happy to introduce our preferred specialist for linen backing and conservation-grade restoration.

Please review the provided photos (front and back)—they show the exact poster offered.