“We Will Not Harm You” — The Taming of Gollum
“We Will Not Harm You” — The Taming of Gollum
Original Production Cel Setup
Featuring Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and Gollum
From The Lord of the Rings
Hand-painted cel (ink & paint on acetate) over painted background
Approx. 12-field animation formatSequence: N. S
Scene: 30
Cel: #57 2 cels
Size: 11" x 13"
- Original Hand Drawn, Hand Painted Animation Production Cel on acetate used in the 1978 Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings.
- This Original Animation Production Cel is an actual frame in the feature film and is an historical piece of art. By acquiring this art you agree to be the caretaker of a significant piece of animation history for future generations to experience.
- This exact cel is THE ONLY ONE IN EXISTENCE IN THE WORLD. It is NOT a reproduction.
- Paired with a laser Background from the film.
- Ralph Bakshi Signs for proof of authenticity from Bakshi Private Archives.
In this charged and pivotal scene, Frodo and Sam confront the creature Gollum, capturing him in the wild as he stalks them through the desolate landscape on the edge of Mordor. Suspended between menace and submission, Gollum twists uneasily between the two hobbits—his body contorted, his glowing eyes revealing both fear and cunning.
This moment marks a profound shift in the journey. Where Sam sees only danger, Frodo recognizes something deeper—a reflection of what the Ring can do to a soul. Choosing mercy over destruction, Frodo spares Gollum, binding him instead to guide them forward. It is a decision rooted not in trust, but in understanding.
Bakshi renders Gollum with unsettling physicality—thin, distorted, and almost spectral—contrasting sharply with the grounded presence of the hobbits. The background, abstract and painterly, reinforces the psychological tension of the scene, placing the characters in a world that feels increasingly unstable and otherworldly.
For collectors, this is a highly significant narrative moment, capturing the introduction of one of the story’s most complex and iconic figures. It is also one of the clearest visual expressions of Frodo’s evolving character—his compassion, his burden, and his growing connection to the Ring’s influence.
Technically, the piece exemplifies Bakshi’s fusion of traditional cel animation with expressive, non-literal backgrounds, heightening both mood and meaning.
A powerful and symbolic image, this work captures the moment mercy alters the course of the quest—binding fate, danger, and destiny together in a single fragile alliance.

