Defending Walt Disney's Classic, Bambi

By Nick

Why am I writing an article defending my love of Bambi, a true Disney classic, and one of my favorite animated movies of all time? I'm asking myself that very question to be perfectly honest. I'm only too happy to do so, as it deserves praise, but I'm just shocked I have to.

If you've listened to Episode 11 of The Disney Exchange, (If you haven't, you should, it's great, but, really, they all are.) then please go ahead and do so, and then come on back here.

Back? Good, then you heard Dave and Lisa criticize my choice for favorite Disney film pre my birth year, Bambi.

Were you as surprised as me to hear it being described as "cheesy?"

I chose Bambi for a few reasons.

It was my first movie, or at least the first movie I remember clearly. I can picture very distinctly Bambi and Thumper's banter, Bambi's father telling him "Your mother can't be with you anymore,"  the forest fire, and Bambi's standing on a cliff with his father at the end. (Excuse me a moment, I need to compose myself. -sniff-)

Bambi is a very well balanced film of beauty and darkness, with happiness, sadness, laughter, and love.

It's beautifully animated. In the early 90's, I had the opportunity to work at an Animation Art Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. I got to see some of the inspirational art by Tyrus Wong, as well as animation sketches and production work. I am, in fact, the proud owner of an animated sketch of Bambi, from the "twitterpated" sequence, and a Sericel of Thumper.

A lot of Tyrus' work, along with many works from other animation legends can be found in the excellent book "Walt Disney's Bambi, The Story and the Film" by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Walt's "Nine Old Men."

Believe me, if I could afford it, I would have many more animated pieces from this wonderful movie.
I do have many collectibles around the home representing Bambi, however, such as several Walt Disney Classics Collection pieces.

What are your thoughts on Bambi? Please leave a comment telling why you enjoy it, or just tell Lisa and David they are wrong, either is fine.

This article was originally posted on The Disney Exchange, a blog and podcast which write and co-host with Lisa Green and David Hodges.

The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters

By Nick

Back when I was a kid, I had to walk to school, uphill, both ways. Television? We had 3 networks and PBS. That's it. And we had to get information out of things called books. For instance, if I wanted to know something about a favorite animated Disney character, such as Humphrey, instead of Googling, I'd open up this wonderful tome.

The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters by John Grant was purchased at the Disney Store I was a Cast Member at back in 1993. There is a forward by Disney Archivist Dave Smith, as well as a special forward from Roy E. Disney for this Second Edition.

With the dust jacket off.

This book is a wealth of knowledge, starting way back with the Laugh-O-Grams, The Alice Comedies, and Oswald, and going through to Aladdin, with a description of every character from every short, animated feature, and television series in between.

Oh, and another thing about television, to change the channel, we had to get up, walk way over to the 13 inch TV screen and do it ourselves!

Mostly Spoiler Free Review of Big Hero 6

By Nick

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Big Hero 6. I knew it was based on a Marvel comic, and that was the extent of my knowledge of the source material. From the previews, I expected a cute and fun movie I'd enjoy, but I wound up really loving it.

The opening cartoon short, Feast, was worth the price of admission. It is sweet and funny, as is the feature film that follows.

To be honest, I was a little nervous in the beginning. It started off with a bit of action, but got somewhat slow, which was necessary to move the story along, but it had many of the children at our matinee show very fidgety.

But then, with the extended appearance of Baymax, the robot pictured above, the movie finds both it's true heart, as well as fun and excitement. I'm not exaggerating when I say Baymax is now one of my favorite Disney characters. Ever. I enjoyed every moment he was on screen. There are many laugh out loud moments, that had adults and children cracking up together.

The film moves very quickly when it finally gets going and there are several exciting action sequences, as well as moving moments. The animation is superb. The visuals are stunning.

There are some predictable plot points, but this didn't detract from  my enjoyment of the film at all. I wanted to see it again immediately after it ended.

Speaking of endings, stick around through the credits for a surprise cameo.

Disney's Frozen : A Mostly Spoiler Free Review

By: Nick

Disney's newest animated feature film, Frozen, was released this weekend.
I went into this wanting to love it, and, well, I really, really liked it.
It's absolutely beautiful to look at.
The music is wonderful, the best in a long time. However, I was hoping for more songs featuring Idina Menzel, who played Elphaba in Wicked. Speaking of Wicked, there are several things that reminded me of that tremendous musical, in a good way. I also got a vibe that the song-writers were channeling other musicals, including Avenue Q, which was co-written by one of the Frozen's soundtrack's writers, Robert Lopez.
Olaf the Snowman is maybe one of the funniest Disney characters. Ever. As much as I wanted more Idina Menzel, I wanted even more Olaf.
Looking back, that may be my biggest issue, if you can even call it that: I wanted more of everything!

The story has many twists that I wish I could say I didn't expect, but, as I'd reviewed the Frozen Deluxe Storybook App , these surprises were spoiled, which may have contributed to my initial feelings.
I say initial feelings, because we bought the soundtrack when we got home, and listening to it has brought back just how terrific the movie really is.
I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

By: Barbie

Since I had no preconceived notions going into this movie, I have to say I was blown away! I mean, wow, I wanted to stay and see the next showing, but you have to reserve your seats in advance at the theater we went to. The cartoon short at the beginning of the movie featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Get a Horse, well, I won't ruin it for you, but my mouth was on the floor it was so amazing, the 3D effects so well done I was on the edge of my seat, I didn't want to miss a thing.

The visuals and storyline to Frozen: awesome, as was the character development. I think the songs were the strongest and most memorable I've heard in a Disney movie since The Lion King.

Nick and I immediately went home and bought the soundtrack to hear them again.

So would I recommend this movie? The answer is absolutely! Come out and see it with us! We will be seeing it again!

Disney Animation Collection 2: The Three Little Pigs

I confess, I was never a big Three Little Pigs fan. I knew the song of course, what Disney fan hasn't heard "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf'? But I never got it. Well, I thought I didn't. Then I read a terrific article in D23 magazine, which prompted me to watch it on YouTube. Then I downloaded it from iTunes!

This classic Academy Award winning Silly Symphony released in 1933 is one of the most famous Disney cartoons, and a leap forward for character development.

Watching it brought back a wave of nostalgia. I had seen this as a child, and the scenes with the Wolf blowing down Fifer and Fiddler Pig's homes was especially vivid.

On the right, the Wolf about to blow the house down. 

Photo taken at The Walt Disney Family Museum.

There are some edgier little visual gags, such as the picture of "Father" as a link of sausages, which hangs in Practical Pig's house, and the Wolf's disguises are especially funny.

I was happy to discover the Disney Animation Collection 2, available on Netflix, not only features the The Three Little Pigs, but 2 of it's 3 sequels (I'm not sure why all 3 aren't on this) along with 4 other shorts.

Following the Three Little Pigs is it's 1934 sequel, The Big Bad Wolf, which adds Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandma into the mix.
While this isn't as strong as a whole, I feel the animation is better. The edginess continues, with the Wolf dressing as Grandma and breaking the 4th wall by asking how he's doing at one point. There is even a moment which "dates" this, when the Wolf imitates Jimmy Durante at one point.

This is followed by another sequel, Three Little Wolves, from 1936. By now I started wondering why Practical Pig continued saving his ungrateful and lazy brothers. But save them he does with his "Wolf Pacifier". This is even edgier, and, well, a bit odd, when at one point the Wolf dressed as Little Bo Peep, locks Fifer and Fiddler in behind him, to which the Pigs reply with a blush, "Why, Bo Peep!"
It's interesting to see the progression in the skill of the animators from one short to the next, and while this is the weakest of the 3 cartoons, it's the strongest animation.

The next cartoon is a wonderful short from 1952, which I featured here on Disney Musings in the past, Lambert the Sheepish Lion about a lion cub who is mistakenly left with a flock of sheep by a stork.

I've used the word edgy several times in this post, and this next animated short is the edgiest of the bunch, if not one of the edgiest cartoons by Disney ever! Chicken Little, released in 1943, is obviously an allegory for World War II, and has a very dark, disturbing, and cautionary ending.

The next cartoon is a Silly Symphony I'd never seen, The Three Blind Mousketeers, from 1936, which takes the 3 blind mice and makes them swashbuckling Musketeers, fighting a tyrannical cat trying to keep them from feasting. It starts rather slow, but gets more enjoyable as it goes on.

Rounding out the set is another Silly Symophony I'd never a seen, even though I've seen the star several times. Elmer Elephant, from 1936, is invited to Tillie Tiger's birthday party. Tillie loves Elmer, but the other animals incessant teasing drives him off, until an emergency flares up, and Elmer saves the day, and Tillie reveals her love for our hero. This is a very sweet cartoon, and a nice way to end the set.

Disney's The Prince and the Pauper

 

Disney's The Prince and the Pauper is an animated short released in 1990, playing before The Rescuers Down Under. 

I watched it recently, along with the other shorts included on Disney Animation Collection 3.

The Prince and the Pauper stars Mickey Mouse in a dual role as, well, Mickey Mouse, a Pauper, as well as the role of the Prince.

The King is gravely ill, and the captain of the guard, Pete, takes this opportunity, along with his weasel guards, to rob the kingdom in the King's name.

Mickey and his faithful dog Pluto, and his best friend, Goofy, are peasants who dream of a better life.

Meanwhile, the Prince wishes to experience the fun of an ordinary citizen.

When Mickey stumbles into the castle courtyard in pursuit of an errant Pluto, the Prince seizes the opportunity to pull of a ruse. 

Mickey shall be pretend to be the Prince, while the Prince journeys out to walk among his subjects.

Both Mickey and the Prince discover that the other mouse's life is not all that it is cracked up to be.

Things go from bad to worse when their plot is discovered by Pete.

To complicate matters even further, the King passes while the Prince is away.

Mickey is to be crowned King, and his told he will do exactly as Pete says, and Pete holds Pluto captive to ensure Mickey is compliant.

The Prince is captured, and thrown in the dungeon with Donald, the Prince's Valet. 

Goofy manages a not so daring rescue, and they reveal Pete as the scoundrel he is.

The Prince is made the King, and Goofy and Mickey remain at his side, ruling justly.

This is a wonderful cartoon with fun, fast paced action, and even touching moments.

Also included on Disney Animation Collection 3 are Silly Symphonies from 1933, The Pied Piper and Old King Cole.

A Knight for a Day from 1946 stars Goofy. And Goofy. And, well, Goofy plays every part!

Ye Olden Days is a Mickey Mouse cartoon, also from 1933. This is a musical set in Medieval times with Mickey playing a wandering minstrel who saves the Princess, played by Minnie, from the Prince of Poopoopadoo, played by Goofy (who was still known as Dippy Dawg at that time). 

Back when I visited the Walt Disney Family Museum, this sketch from Ye Olden Days was so impressive, I had to photograph it.

I love Ye Olden Days. Walt voices Mickey, but also sings a couple of tunes in this beautifully animated classic.