The Disney Film That Never Was part 1 ( or A Pitch For Another High Fantasy Adaptation)

In 1972, during an era when two of the middle earth books were in a public domain loophole (1960's and 1970's),

before Ralph Bakshi and Rankin/Bass ventured into Middle Earth
Disney unofficially considered doing an adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit 

These drawings were done by veteran Disney storyman Vance Gerry. One of these character designs look like Don Bluth’s Stanley the Troll. 

                                                     and the draft was written by Frank Thomas,

Well the Disney animated feature of The Hobbit was never greenlit pass the pitch.

Image Source: formerly Howard Lowery