The Witch of Walpurgis is one of the ghosts haunting the Haunted Mansion.
Description[]
The witch of Walpurgis is presented in her portrait as a skinny woman with long dark hair, a black cat and a purple dress. She stands in a cave filled with skulls stabbed in the scalp by knives and a design on the wall.
Effects[]
Much like the other Sinister 11 portraits the Witch of Walpurgis's portrait features the "staring-eyes" effect which was accomplished by painting pupils on ping-pong balls cut in half. The eyes were cut out and the balls were set behind the portrait and lit, giving guests the impression that they are moving. Originally she was going to be a changing portrait where she would transform into a goat woman.
Trivia[]
- Like the Couple, the Ogre, Count Dracula and the Arsonist she was originally intended to be a changing portrait who transformed her head into that of a goat. Similar to the demon Baphomet who is often depicted as a goat and has the powers of the occult
- In the original Marc Davis concept art her portrait also featured a small demon, a hand of glory, a wooden pitchfork.
- In the background there is a pentacle for conjuring infernal spirits.
- She gets her name from the April 30th celebration Walpurgis Night also known as the Witches Night.
- Disney also used Walpurgis in the Fantasia (1940) short A Night on Bald Mountain which also inspired one of the graveyard scene effects.