Disney Animation Collection

If you have ever wanted to own Disney classic animated films without the engaging Leonard Maltin introductions, without the behind-the-scenes footage, without the original trailers, without the remastered film and audio, without the bonus footage, without the….well, I’m not sure why, but here it is -  The Walt Disney Animation Collection – Classic Short Films.

From a marketing standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Collector series are for collectors. Mind you, there are plenty of Disney collectors in the world who are willing to spend a significant portion of their income on Disney history gems (guilty as charged), but a larger market unwilling to splurge for the ‘editions’, and ‘tins’ is out there, and for God sakes, they just want to show their family the video.
 

Rumors of the demise of the Disney DVD Treasure Series are rampant, and despite the no-frills approach of this new Animation Collection Series, I am glad that the vault is still open. Historical and cultural significance not withstanding, these films are still very entertaining, if not always timeless.
 

So a new Disney DVD series embarks, and the shelf clearing begins in anticipation. As I write this, there are six of these mini-anthologies available:

 

DisneySpeak: Embark on magical adventures in this Disney Animation Collection DVD, part of an exciting series of classic Disney short films! Your Favorite Disney characters star in Mickey And The Beanstalk, the imaginative telling of a beloved storybook tale. Based on the timeless adventures of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Mickey, Donald and Goofy climb a fantastic beanstalk up into the sky to a place where everything is huge – the food, the castle and the fearsome giant named Willy who guards a beautiful golden harp. Will Mickey and his friends outwit the giant and make safely back home?
 

Mickey And The Beanstalk (29:27)(9.27.1947) One segment of the package feature ‘Fun And Fancy Free’, this ‘Beanstalk’ tale is narrated by Edgar Bergen, and includes Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as they climb the beanstalk to rescue the harp and encounter the giant.
 

The Brave Little Tailor (9:00)(9.23.1938) The tailor is mistaken as a giant killer, and braves the task to win the hand of Princess Minnie in this Mickey Mouse Cartoon.
 

Gulliver Mickey (7:56)(5.19.1934) A b&w Mickey Mouse Cartoon. Mickey tells his nephews the story of his adventure as Gulliver, captured by the Lilliputians.
 

Thru The Mirror (8:57)(5.30.1936) My favorite Mickey Mouse Cartoon of all time. In true ‘Alice’ fashion, Mikey steps thru his bedroom mirror and enters a land where the household objects come to life. Includes some of the best dance animation of all time.
 

Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip (17:07)(11.1.1940) Mickey Mouse Cartoon nemesis ‘Train Conductor Pete’ (aka ‘Bootleg Pete’, ‘Putrid Pete’, ‘Tough Pete’, ‘Pegleg Pete’) wants to throw Mickey off the train for attempting to sneak Pluto on board.

 

DisneySpeak: Experience a unique telling of one of your favorite storybook tales in this Disney Animation Collection DVD, part of an adventure-filled series of classic Disney short films! Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? “Not I!” answer the first two brothers as they build their new homes – one made of straw and the other of sticks. But when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down their houses, the brothers seek protection in the third pig’s house, very wisely made of bricks. Will the three little pigs finally be safe once and for all?
 

Included Films:
 

Three Little Pigs (8:51)(5.27.1933) In this Silly Symphony Cartoon, the Big Bad Wolf menaces Fifer Pig, Fiddler Pig, and Practical Pig, where he meets his match. The importance of this film can never be understated. Walt’s involvement in the film was as all-inclusive as any film before or after, and he claimed that it was the first cartoon to ever achieve true personality in its characters. If only Leonard Maltin were here to tell the entire story…
 

The Big Bad Wolf (9:30)(4.14.1934) Walt was known to voice his regret at being convinced to do sequels to the enormously popular ‘Three Little Pigs’. Their popularity and perhaps story quality faded so fast, that the third sequel, ‘the Practical Pig’ is not even included in this series.
 

Three Little Wolves (9:30)(4.14.1936) Saved by a ‘Wolf Pacifier’? Really? (See ‘The Big Bad Wolf’ above).
 

Lambert The Sheepish Lion (8:26)(2.8.1952) An ugly duckling type tale of a lion mistakenly raised by sheep.
 

Chicken Little (8:56)(12.17.1943) Foxey Loxey dupes the chickens into believing that the cave is their only sky-falling sanctuary. This ‘evil wins’ tale loses its impact when all Nazi connotations were removed prior to release.
 

Three Blind Mouseketeers (8:53)(9.26.1936) Silly Symphony film where the mice unwittingly outwit (it makes sense in the film) Captain Katt.
 

Elmer Elephant (8:43)(3.28.1936) A fire breaks out at Tilly Tiger’s treehouse during a birthday party in this Silly Symphony cartoon, and Elmers long elephant trunk becomes the hero, instead of the teased.

 

DisneySpeak: The legendary tale of The Prince And The Pauper gets a magical Disney makeover in this adventure-filled Disney Animation Collection DVD, part of a series of beloved classic short films! In a faraway kingdom, two boys who look exactly alike meet by chance and decide to switch places: a pauper named Mickey, who dreams about a life of luxury, and the Crown Prince, who wishes he could be as free as his subjects. Each boy faces extraordinary challenges in his new role, and together they must figure out how to save the kingdom from an evil Captain who wants the throne for himself!
 

Included Films:
 

The Prince And The Pauper (25:32)(11.16.1990) This featurette was originally released with the feature animated film ‘The Rescuers Down Under’, and follows a Prince and a pauper (Mickey) who switch identities, and the adventures with Donald, Goofy, and Pluto, that ensues.
 

The Pied Piper (7:37)(9.16.1933) When the Pied Piper is not paid the gold as promised for ridding the kingdom of rats, he lures away the children.
 

Old King Cole (7:33)(7.29.1933) A Silly Symphony where the King throws a Ball, and the Mother Goose characters emerge from their stories to attend.
 

A Knight For A Day (7:06)(3.8.1946) A Goofy Cartoon starring Goofy, Goofy, and more Goofy, as a jousting tournament squire accidentally wins the hand of Princess Esmerelda.
 

Ye Olden Days (8:25)(4.8.1933) Damsel in distress Minnie is locked in a tower, and it is up to Mickey to save the day. All to avoid marrying Prince Goofy. Poor dawg.

 

DisneySpeak: Walt Disney’s Academy Award®-winning adaptation of The Tortoise And The Hare (1934; Short Subject – Cartoons) is now part of the Disney Animation Collection series on DVD! Join the excitement as unlikely competitors Max Hare and Toby Tortoise challenge each other to a foot race. Max is so confident he will win, he takes time out to flirt with some cute bunnies, show off his skills in other sports and break for a nap. But when he hears the crowd roar for Toby, who has slowly and steadily kept to the course, Max must make a last-minute dash for victory. Will the ever-persistent Toby beat him across the finish line?
 

Included Films:
 

The Tortoise And The Hare (8:40)(1.5.1935) This Silly Symphony cartoon features the very confident Max Hare in a supposedly easy race with Toby Tortoise. Before you decide to skip this climatic finish, remember - it won an Oscar for Best Cartoon.
 

Babes In The Woods (7:45)(11.19.1932) Dwarfs to the rescue again! This time, it is the Hansel and Gretel story of children lured into the witches house.
 

The Saga Of Windwagon Smith (13:32)(3.16.1961) A windwagon, complete with sail, blows into town, and along with its owner, captures the heart of the mayors daughter. A fierce storm blow them both away, seen again only in the golden sunsets. Jasper and Horace make a cameo appearance from an animated feature released only a month or two before.
 

The Goddess Of Spring (9:36)(11.3.1934) Another historically important Silly Symphony short, as the animators are learning to conquer the difficulties of human animation of bride Persephone her devil groom, in preparation for the first full length animated feature film.
 

Toby Tortoise Returns (7:32)(8.22.1936) An again very confident Max Hare is in a prize fight with the underdog Toby Tortoise. How will it end?! (Yawn).
 

Paul Bunyan (17:07)(8.1.1958) Walt loved the classic folklore, and brings this tale of Paul Bunyan and his faithful ox Babe to life.

 

DisneySpeak: Experience the magic of Wind In The Willows in this extraordinary adaptation – now part of the Disney Animation Collection series of beloved classic short films. Join the adventures along the riverbanks as one of the most enchanting storybooks of all time comes to life with classic Disney animation. Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad has got himself into a bit of trouble – from buying fancy new cars and dealing with some weaselly weasels! Now his beloved home, Toad Manor, is at risk of being lost. It will take the help of his dear friends Ratty, Moley and Angus McBadger, and a promise to change his ways, for Mr. Toad.

 

Wind In The Willows (34:21)(10.5.1949 This segment of the film ‘The Adventures of Ichabod And Mr. Toad’ is a very popular ‘long short’ among Disneyfiles. From the book by Kenneth Grahame, we follow Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad as his unappeasable love of transportation causes him to lose his deed to Toad Hall.
 

The Ugly duckling (9:02)(4.7.1939) A misplaced duckling runs away from the chick family after a scolding, but returns to save the family. This is the final Silly Symphony film, and is a color remake of a 1931 Silly Symphony version of the Hans Christian Andersen story.
 

The Robber Kitten (7:50)(4.20.1935) Crime doesn’t pay (who knew??), and a kitten named Butch discovers this truth when he attempts a life of crime and it scares a life or two out of him.
 

The Grasshopper And The Ants (8:27)(2.10.34) Evidently the world doesn’t owe the grasshopper a livin’, and when the ants save him from a death of unpreparedness, he thanks them with song and dance.
 

The Wise Little Hen (7:44)(6.9.1934) The covenant film for Donald Duck fans, as the feisty fowl makes his first appearance here. Donald and his friend Peter Pig (it seems he was not destined for stardom) fake illness to avoid work, and then are unable to partake of the bounties.
 

The Golden Touch (10:06)(3.22.1935) A mediocre film, which is quite surprising, given the fact that Walt himself decided to direct it after he became irritated with the whining from the directing crew. King Midas learns that you can’t live on gold alone.

 

DisneySpeak: The Reluctant Dragon, a clever and entertaining short film, is now part of the Disney Animation Collection! This lighthearted story follows the adventures of a brave young boy who, emboldened by tales of brave knights, decides to pursue the horrible dragon that is terrifying the villagers. But what he discovers is a surprisingly friendly dragon that is more interested in reciting poetry and making music than devouring fair damsels. Will the boy be able to stop the local hero before he challenges the dragon to a fiery battle?

Included Films:
 

The Reluctant Dragon (20:38)(6.20.1941) Walt received many requests from people who wished to visit the studios. He considered the idea of a tour, but decided it would be too interrupting to the animators. ‘The Reluctant Dragon’ was a way to bring the studio to the masses. The full feature film covers the story of a visit to the studios by Robert Benchley, who hopes to convince Walt to produce the story about the Dragon that loves poetry over fighting. As he tours the studio and watches the animation process through various short films, he discovers that his project already exists, and has been finished. This segment provided as part of the Animation Collection is simply the finished ‘Reluctant Dragon’ cartoon portion.
 

Goliath II (15:07)(1.21.60) A beautifully rendered film with a few cameo appearances from various animated characters. We follow the life of an elephant that never grows more that a few inches tall. He is shunned by his fellow elephants, until he saves them from a frightening mouse. This is the first film to be animated from start to finish with the Xerox process.
 

Ferdinand The Bull (7:59)(11.25.1938) Ferdinand prefers the passive life among the flowers to the aggressive fighting the other bulls pride. When Ferdinand is stung by a bee, he is mistaken as a fierce bull and is sent to the bullfighting ring. His pacifism lands him right back in the pasture. The characters in the film are based on many of the characters behind the pencils, including Walt himself, whose is caricatured as the Matador (I am proud to say that I noticed this long before I knew it was fact).
 

Johnny Appleseed (18:41)(5.27.1948) One of seven short films that comprised the package feature film ‘Melody Time’, Johnny Appleseed tells the story of the apple planting pioneer who travels across the country. You will find many Mary Blair stylings in this film.

 

There are a few obligatory extras included in the sets, such as trailers for upcoming DVD BRD releases and films, Magic Code rewards points coupon, and a nice collectible litho print in each set (alas, though wrapped in it’s protective celophane, my ‘Reluctant Dragon’ lithograph was missing! (sob!) Can you say class-action?).

Do I have most of these films in my collection? Yep. Will I still collect this ‘Short Films’ series. Afraid so. What they might lack in originality is rewarded with nice packaging, easy menu’s, and a convenient straight forward approach.
 

No-frills is sometimes a friend.

 

Comments? You can reach Backlot Bob @ BacklotBob@gmail.com

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