Fantasia - Not So Fantastic

I know you are all probably used to glowing reviews where I praise Disney’s work as if it were heaven sent, even after only two posts, but be warned that this will be a very different blog entry.  To put it simply, I really disliked Fantasia.  Maybe I am missing some “appreciation for sound and cinema” gene or maybe I like classical music a lot less than I thought I did, but this movie bored me to death.

I’m going to try my best to explain why I was so turned off by Fantasia, because I feel like I might be the only person in the world who is not completely in love with it. But honestly, I think that the likely scenario is that everyone decided to like Fantasia post-viewing, because I literally cannot imagine anyone sitting in rapture as they watch it. It isn’t anyone’s favorite Disney movie and it isn’t the type of movie you watch with your friends on a Friday night.  Can we agree on that?

Before I give my honest opinion of Fantasia, we should go over what this movie is about and what makes it different from other Disney films. Fantasia is a series of short animations set to different pieces of classical music.  The movie is hosted by radio personality Deems Taylor and the music is conducted by Leopold Stokowski and played by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Fantasia does not run like a regular film, but instead is more like a live concert.  Taylor introduces each piece and gives a short history lesson about the music while also explaining why Disney chose to animate each one the way they did. There are eight sequences, none of which connect with reoccurring characters or a continuous plotline.

Let’s start with the first of many issues I had with the film.  Unlike most of the sequences in Fantasia, which mostly feature a distinct story, the first segment (set to “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”) shows a few shots of the orchestra silhouetted against colorful backgrounds, but mostly just blobs of color on the screen.  In my opinion, this was the worst way to start an already offbeat movie.  If the point of Fantasia was to make audiences more interested in classical music by pairing it with beautiful animation, then they should not have begun with such a lackluster sequence.  I have never in my life seen something so completely “hipster” come out of the 1940’s.  I’d like to think that maybe my opinion of the film as a whole was influenced by my initial impression of “Toccata and Fugue,” but alas, there are even more reasons why this movie failed to impress me.

The middle chunk of Fantasia is just a mess of cartoons that I half remembered from childhood, but none of which were as remarkable as they needed to be to make this movie entertaining. “The Rite of Spring” depicts the formation of life, from a tiny amoeba to the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.  Basically, it is dinosaurs dying a fiery, dusty death. The most interesting part is that it must have been a direct influence for the dinosaur dioramas featured on the Disneyland Railroad here at Disneyland Park.

“The Pastoral Symphony” was, I admit, fun to watch, but also way too long. This piece revolves around centaur ladies who meet up with centaur men to set up a festival for Bacchus, the god of wine.  Their party is quickly interrupted by Zeus, who throws lightning bolts at them from the sky.  I think I enjoyed this segment more than others because it had more of a story, and more intriguing characters than the other shorts.  Not being able to enjoy art unless it contains a discernable story probably isn’t a great quality of mine, but I’d rather be honest with you guys about my opinions than blindly give good reviews of every Disney movie I see. I need a plot!

But now that we are through most of the nonsense that is Fantasia, we can talk about the two sequences that do make this movie memorable. The “climax” of this film (in quotes because there can be no real climax if there is no real story, right?) is accompanied by the piece “Night on Bald Mountain.”  In this short, the devil Chernabog summons the dead from their graves to praise him. Ghosts and demons ride to him only to be thrown into fire. This cartoon, made in 1940, is to this day one of the scariest cartoons ever made.  It is so iconic that it was chosen to be included in Disneyland’s “Fantasmic” show and even more recently in California Adventure’s “World of Color.”  People are still scared of Chernabog, or maybe just obsessed with him because we have somehow figured out his name even though it is clearly never mentioned in this dialogue-free film. If you watch “Night on Bald Mountain” you will see how un-Disney is it; its haunting atmosphere is something I’d expect to see from foreign animators and not from the creators of the loveable Mickey Mouse.

Chernabog featured in Fantasmic

Demons falling into a pit of fire

Speaking of Mickey, I know you all know the most memorable part of Fantasia. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is one of the most popular Mickey cartoons of all time. As someone who did not enjoy Fantasia, I can at least appreciate it for giving us all Sorcerer Mickey and the walking broomsticks.  It’s a classic, and Fantasia would not have been made without Walt’s dedication to making this short.  That is something I found out in my desperate attempt to find something that would make me feel differently about Fantasia.  After watching the film, I was eager to watch the DVD special features so I could hear why Walt wanted to make this movie and (hopefully) be inspired by the history of the film.  Unfortunately for me there were no such special features on my DVD.  So I hit the Internet for information and found out the real reason Fantasia was created. 

In the 30’s The Walt Disney Company experienced a decline in the popularity of their Mickey Mouse cartoons.  The original plan was to make an incredible Mickey Mouse short, one that combined the 1797 poem “Der Zauberlehrling,” the famous concert piece “L’apprenti sorcier” by Paul Dukas, and Mickey Mouse as the title role.  So much money was spent on the production of this short that Walt realized he would not be able to make back what was spent unless the piece was incorporated into a full-length feature.  And so Walt went about selecting other pieces of music for his animators to work with and Fantasia was born. What is hilarious to me is that Dopey was considered to be the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as well, but Walt demanded it be Mickey. Can you imagine?

            Aside from the long-lasting popularity of Chernabog and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, Fantasia made one other important contribution to the art of filmmaking.  When the concept of a “live concert” type movie was decided upon, Walt decided he wanted to attempt to change the way sound was played during a movie.  If this was going to be a concert film, he wanted the audience to feel like they were standing on the conductor’s podium, surrounded by music.  The company succeeded in creating “Fantasound”, which was one of the first ever stereophonic sound systems and which led to the commonality of surround sound.  Fantasia was the first film to make use of surround sound and while other Disney films made advances in art, color and character, Fantasia changed sound and music forever.

I think I have already fully explored my frustration and disappointment with Fantasia, but really what confuses me the most is why this is Disney’s 3^rd feature film.  It seems like such an experimental project would have come later.  Bambi was already in production and was actually supposed to be the company’s second film, so why did they do Fantasia so early? Mickey’s declining popularity partially explains it, but I still will never really understand taking the risk of this project so early in the company’s history, though in retrospect, it didn’t do any lasting damage and Disney went on to be a great success. If I try really hard I can appreciate the dedication to pairing animation with classical music.  There is actually a quote from Walt that says “This film is going to open this kind of music to a lot of people like myself who've walked out on this kind of stuff" which makes me want to love this film so much, but I just can’t. While I am glad that I trudged through my Fantasia viewing and have reacquainted myself with it, I just don’t like it.  And I don’t have to like it.  After my past two blog posts I have become unexpectedly enamored with both Pinocchio and Snow White, but after watching Fantasia I had a different reaction and that is really what this blog is about.  I didn’t start this project as a tribute to Disney.  I am supposed to come out of each film with a different feeling about each and about animation as a whole. I am excited, not discouraged, to have disliked Fantasia because it is the start of me creating well-thought out opinions on these classic films. I know a lot of you are Fantasia fans and I’m sorry if you are dissatisfied with my review. To those of you who have either never watched this film, or haven’t in years, I encourage you to watch it again, even if you might hate it, because what I truly believe is that Disney films affected all of entertainment.  It’s not always going to be sunshine and roses here on Treasures Untold, but at the very least we can all appreciate each Disney movie for what small (or large) contribution it has made in film. 

Next up: Dumbo

Money spent so far: $50.20

"A boy who won't be good might just as well be made of wood."

In a lot of ways, the second movie that a studio releases needs to be even more impressive than the first because expectations are much higher.  Snow White was a masterpiece, but it was especially impressive because everyone expected it to fail.  Audiences were left waiting for Disney’s second feature, which they expected to be as good as Snow White if not better. I went into my Pinocchio viewing wanting to search carefully at how they did things in comparison to Snow White.  At first I thought that there could not be two more different films.  It felt as if they went from a dreamy, demure fairytale to a haunting and raunchy PSA against drugs and violence.  In Snow White the characters are, if anything, lacking in personality and realistic qualities.  In Pinocchio I thought the characters were too real, taking on aspects of the worst kind of mobsters and hooligans of the 1940’s. This was not the movie I remembered.

My initial shock after watching Pinocchio made me decide to take a day off in between watching the film and watching the DVD’s special features.  I think this was a good choice because I came back with fresh eyes and after watching “The Making of Pinocchio,” I realized what makes the film special . . . almost as special as Snow White.  With a nearly unlimited budget (thanks to the success of their first film) the Walt Disney Studios was able to spend tons of time perfecting their second feature.  Now that they had paved the way and learned how to make an animated film, they wanted to do for Pinocchio everything they did for Snow White and more, adding in effects and using devices at which they were now experts.

While watching the “Making of,” I was reminded of a moment I had during “Traditions,” the mandatory training course for Disney employees. “Traditions” is meant to explain the policies and expectations of the Disney Company, and in doing so they show you a video timeline of Disney history.  The video briefly explains the success of Snow White and mentions that it was followed by Pinocchio, “the most technically perfect film ever made.” I was confused by this quote mostly because they did not take the time to explain why they were crediting the film with such an awesome byline.  The most technically perfect movie ever? That was never how I thought of Pinocchio.  While watching I did notice that the animation seemed to have progressed by leaps and bounds since Snow White, but “technically perfect?” I didn’t understand.  So while watching the “Making of,” I was surprised to hear that quote again, and glad to have it backed up by almost an hour of explanation and evidence. 

            For one, Pinocchio is an elaborate and richly drawn film.  The studio had just invented the multi-plane camera for the production of Snow White, but used it most noticeably on Pinocchio.  The multi-plane camera allows filmmakers to move “planes,” or slides with various background images, in front of a camera to create an effect that feels like you are moving through a physical space.  This invention allowed Pinocchio to include some of the most beautifully drawn moving backdrops. Additionally, the film included huge amounts of intricate detail.  For example, in Gepetto’s cottage there is a scene featuring a wall full of clocks that start to chime together at the strike of 9PM.  The scene focuses separately on each and every clock that Gepetto has made.  One can only imagine the time and thought put into the animation of these clocks, which were physically constructed in real life for the animators to use as models while drawing. We also take for granted the fact that water was and still is tricky to animate.  The scenes in this film that take place either underwater or on the surface with Monstro the whale are exceptional considering the fact that they are some of the first ever animations of the ocean, breaking waves, and foam.  Not only had the animation advanced, but the special effects used and the artistry of the entire film is better in Pinocchio than in any animated feature before it, and many films that come after it.

Above - the multi-plane camera and diagram
Below - Monstro the whale chases Pinocchio

            The music also adds to the technical sophistication of the film.  The song “I’ve Got No Strings” is remarkable because it starts off with, and carries at its core, a jaunty folk tune, but as each puppet from a different country comes into the song it changes.  It turns into a Dutch number to a French show tune to a Russian chant.  Composers Leigh Harline and Paul Smith did an incredible job varying the music not only in this particular song, but also in the entire film.  If you listen to the soundtrack, the music changes in style throughout.

            And possibly the most clever and innovative part of Pinocchio is the now famous concept of a growing nose being indicative of a lie.  There are certain parts of Disney movies that have been repeated or quoted so often that you forget Disney invented them.  For example, Lady and Tramp bumping noses while eating spaghetti is one of the most copied images in the romantic-comedy genre. Pinocchio’s tendency to lie and his subsequent elongated nose is another Disney creation that has made its way into modern culture.  When I was young and I would occasionally lie to my mom, she would always know and tell me, “Sarah, your nose is growing!” Disney’s early writers thought of a metaphor for Pinocchio’s lies that was so imaginative it has become a frequently used saying.

Pinocchio tells a BIG lie!

            Most of my notes on Pinocchio express how stressed I felt while watching the movie.  The story is fast-paced and it felt like Pinocchio and Jiminy were running into danger every minute.  There are three main adventures that Pinocchio goes on in this film: the first is when Pinocchio gets tricked into performing for Stromboli, the second when he gets taken to Pleasure Island, and the third when he saves Gepetto from Monstro.  Three times innocent little Pinocchio is fooled by malicious villains, three times Jiminy loses faith in his ability to help Pinocchio, and three times the situation gets even worse because Jiminy is gone only to have him come back at the last second and save the day.  As the special features explain, this film was based of a serious of periodicals written by Carlo Collodi in the 1880’s.  They were, essentially, a series of short stories meant to teach children how to be good.  The film Pinocchio has three main parts because each is based on a separate story by Collodi.  Once I learned this, I felt a tiny bit better about the nerve-racking feel of the movie.  But nothing can stop me from nearly pissing my pants when the little boys start turning into donkeys.  That’s right.  If you haven’t seen this movie yet, let me explain.  Pinocchio is taken to Pleasure Island, a place where young boys can be as bad as they want without being chastised.  The trick is that their wicked ways eventually turn them into “jackasses,” literally donkeys, and they are sold to work the salt mines.  The most frightening scene in Pinocchio is when we watch in horror as Pinocchio’s friend Lampwick slowly turns from boy to donkey.  First Lampwick’s ears pop out, and Pinocchio puts down his beer.  Then Lampwick sprouts a tail and Pinocchio puts out his cigar.  Lampwick realizes what is happening and starts freaking out.  The audience watches as his shadow against the wall turns into a full donkey and his hooves beat against Pinocchio’s chest in desperation.  It is terrifying, but at the same time you can’t help but notice how cinematically perfect it is.  What they choose to show, not to show, or to show in pieces makes the scene so much more dramatic.  Luckily, Pinocchio makes it home safely to his father Gepetto.

Collodi's Pinocchio

Lampwick turns donkey

Pinocchio would not exist without Gepetto.  While watching Pinocchio I started thinking that Gepetto was a creep because he lives alone, talks to his cat, and his one wish is for his favorite puppet to come to life.  But then I started to think of Gepetto as what Carl Frederickson from Up would have been like if he never met Russell.  Obviously, Carl grew up to be a grumpy old man obsessed with his house, but I think there could have been the possibility that he’d grow up to be an old man obsessed with the child he never had with his now dead wife.  That’s now how I see Gepetto: a version of Carl Frederickson who never came to terms with the life he could have had.  Longing for his wife, who happened to be infertile, he wishes on a star for a little boy to fill his life with the happiness he used to have.

When I was younger I assumed that Walt Disney himself sang the song “When You Wish Upon a Star” for the film. I always thought it sounded like him and pictured him singing it whenever I listened to the soundtrack. And because of this I have always had a strange reverence for the song.  If I’m listening to my Disney Music playlist on iTunes and “When You Wish Upon a Star” happens to come on, I can never, under any circumstances, skip the track. It would feel as if I were insulting Walt to not stop and listen to what is now the anthem for Walt Disney Studios. Finding out that the song was actually (and logically) performed by Cliff Edwards, the voice actor for Jiminy Cricket, was not too disappointing, but it was very informational. There was a lot I did not know about this movie. While I initially reacted to Pinocchio with a low level of disappointment, I realized after taking some time to digest the movie and then watching the “Making of” that it is wonderful in a very different way than most Disney movies. The film was made at a special time, a time when all of the animators were on a high from the success of Snow White and felt invincible.  They were all inspired to do better than they had before and to make a film with more character, more beauty, and more heart to it.  It stands out in the history of Disney animation because never before or after were the animators so inspired to do bigger and better things in their field.

Next up: Fantasia

Money spent so far: $29.70

Snow White - Nothing Will Ever Be the Same

When I was a sophomore in high school, my friends and I decided to do a group Halloween costume and each dress as a different Disney character.  The sexiest characters were quickly taken: Tinker Bell, Pocahontas, Jasmine, etc.  I based my decision on which character I felt I looked like the most. If any of Belle’s outfits were easy to make or buy, I would have been her, but a huge yellow ball gown was out of the question, so I chose Snow White and proceeded to cut and dye my hair for the occasion. What is most striking to me about my 15^th Halloween was that I chose to be Snow White even though she is probably my least favorite princess.

Halloween 2006

But why was she my least favorite princess? While I waited for my DVD to arrive in the mail, I thought about the film and why I thought I disliked Snow White. I thought I would have to focus this blog entry on the history and importance of the movie, which is considerable, as it was the first ever full-length animated feature, and try to discreetly ignore the fact that I thought the movie was boring and its main character ridiculous.  However, upon re-watching the film, I was pleasantly surprised.

I not only enjoyed watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but I have since become a bit obsessed with it; I have begged friends to re-watch it with me two or three times.  The animation is, of course, crude in comparison to later films, and the character of Snow White is as vapid as I remembered, but I was astonished with three things: the dwarves, the music, and the influence the movie had on the entire field of animation.

Let’s start off with the seven dwarves.  Snow White started the trend of Disney princess films featuring supporting characters that play a larger role in the story than the princess herself.  In Sleeping Beauty, the three fairies are the main characters; in Cinderella, Jacque and Gus Gus steal the show.  And it all started with the seven dwarves. They have the most dialogue, all of the jokes and, in the case of Grumpy, the most touching character development.  But there are a few things I wonder about the dwarves: where did they come from? how did they find each other? why do they mine for diamonds?  They are presented to us for the sole purpose of classic vaudeville entertainment.  Just as Snow White is the perfect picture of a 1920’s/30’s flapper with short hair and a high, piercing voice, the dwarves are all cabaret actors portraying a different trait or emotion.  Dopey is an especially amazing character because he is mute, and despite his lack of dialogue he is most people’s favorite dwarf.  What struck me most about Dopey was how many of his actions are based on the behaviors of a dog.  Take a look at these screenshots and tell me they don’t remind you of a puppy:

Another dwarf who caught my attention was Grumpy.  If there is one thing I have learned from working retail in Disneyland Park, it is that people want anything and everything with Grumpy on it.  It has always confused me why people would want the most cantankerous character on their shirt, hat, or collectable pin, but after re-watching Snow White it kind of makes sense.  Grumpy goes through a big change throughout the course of the film. While everyone else either automatically hates or automatically loves Snow White, Grumpy is the only one who has to learn to love her. He starts off as comic relief, making snide comments about the treacherous ways of women, but then begins to act differently towards Snow; you see this first when the dwarves are leaving for work and each receive a kiss on their bald heads as they walk out the door.  Grumpy initially acts disgusted at the prospect of being kissed, but as he leaves he purposefully takes off his hat as he warns Snow not to let anyone in the house while they are gone.  Immediately after the dwarves leave, the Evil Queen shows up in disguise with the poison apple.  When Snow’s animal friends run to warn the dwarves, Grumpy is the one who takes action immediately, jumping on the back of a deer while the rest of the dwarves clamber about trying to figure out what to do.  He is the one who leads the charge up a mountain towards the Queen and succeeds in destroying her. 

I did not expect to feel so depressed when Snow White is found dead by the dwarves.  While I still believe that Snow White is not a strong protagonist, it made sense to me that she had to be written as helpless and gullible in order to make her death that much more tragic. Whether or not Snow’s dream to be taken away by Prince Charming was anti-feminist, I felt bad for her because the Queen took advantage of her sweetness and trusting nature.

Her sweetness and optimism are also reflected in Snow White’s soundtrack. I never think of Snow White when I think of my favorite Disney songs, but I was unexpectedly into the music, especially some of the overlooked songs in the film.  People usually remember “Hi Ho,” “Whistle While You Work,” and “Someday My Prince Will Come,” but there are more equally enjoyable tunes that I fell in love with.  The first is combined with “I’m Wishing,” where Snow sings a duet with the echo of her voice from within a wishing well.  It is called “One Song” and it is sung by Prince Charming.  It is a remarkable love song that, when paired with the animation, summarizes the love between Snow White and the Prince, as well as the queen’s jealousy.  The second song is called “With a Smile and a Song.” I found this track to be not only uplifting, but to contain a great message.  Snow sings, “There’s no use in grumbling – when the raindrops come tumbling – remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.”  For me, this is Snow’s redeeming quality.  Her optimism is infectious and “With a Smile and Song” started me off on a path that would end with me loving her a whole lot more than I ever thought I would.

It is important to address the fact that a lot of people dislike the music in Snow White. A lot of the lyrics are hard to understand, in part because Snow White’s voice is so high.  What I knew, but was reminded of in the special features on this DVD, was that Walt specifically looked for a young woman who sounded like a child to voice Snow White.  The high falsetto is intentional and yet another factor meant to endear you to Snow White and her vulnerability.  18-year-old Adriana Caselotti was chosen to do all the vocals for Snow White.  Adriana was eavesdropping on a phone call between her father (a singing teacher in Los Angeles) and a Disney executive who was asking for recommendations on voice actresses.  Adriana piped in that she could do it and started singing over the phone.  Her father begged her to get off the line, but the executive was impressed and asked her to come to the studio to audition.  What is most fascinating about Caselotti’s story is that, at the time, voice acting was so new that there was no protocol for how to treat a voice actress and she was consequently blacklisted from working for anyone else after finishing Snow White.  Walt was quoted as saying that he did not want to ruin the illusion of Snow White and that is why Caselotti never performed another credited role following her performance.

18-year-old Caselotti

Even though I fell in love with the characters, music, and story of Snow White, I can’t finish this blog post without mentioning the film’s history and how important it is to the rest of animation.  If you didn’t know, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first ever full-length animated feature ever made.  That means that before Snow White, no animation was longer than six or seven minutes.  Walt’s dream to make an eighty-three minute long animated story was laughed at by critics everywhere.  They called it “Disney’s Folly” and said that no one would want to watch a cartoon for that long and made ridiculous predictions like that the bright colors would hurt their eyes.  Walt believed so strongly in this picture that he trudged on, expanding and expanding his budget until finally Bank of America refused to loan him more money without seeing the film.  Walt set up a screening for a bank executive and because the film was unfinished, acted out parts of the story and sang most of the unfinished songs.  This makeshift excuse for a screening still managed to impress the banker and when he left the studio that day he told Walt that Snow White would make him a ton of money.  With more loans secured from the bank, Snow White was finished and premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in a sold out showing on December 21, 1937.  If the movie had failed to impress, Walt Disney Studios would have gone under.  Luckily, it was a wild success and inspired Walt to make the next 18 out of 50 animated films in his lifetime.  I’m a little embarrassed to admit that while I was watching the special features on my Snow White DVD I cried quite a bit.  There was just something about listening to the head animators from the film talk about how much they believed in the project despite everyone’s criticism and disbelief that made me tear up.  When my roommates came home I was still a mess and kept yelling at them “No one understands! Snow White changed everything!” because it really did.  It was the first of its kind and deserves respect for being the first and influencing every animated film that followed it.  It amazes me that there are still little girls who love Snow White, after all these years. That she is still a face character in Disney parks.  That they are in the process of building more Snow White attractions at Walt Disney World.  I think Walt would be really proud that the film that he poured his heart and soul into has persevered and remains important to all of us.  I certainly have a newfound respect for it after re-watching it.

Looking back I am pleased that I chose to dress as Snow White for Halloween when I was 15. While my friends chose their costumes based on which character would make them look cutest, I accidentally chose the most iconic and influential character of them all. I hope all of you, at sometime or other, take the time to watch this movie even if you have already seen it, and rediscover how amazing it is not only in Disney history, but the history of film as a whole.

Next Up: Pinocchio 

Money Spent So Far: $16.70

Once Upon a Time . . .

Since I was very young, the Disney Company has been one of my greatest passions and biggest obsessions.  That is far from secret.  It is safe to say that Disney animated films have played a huge part in nearly everybody’s childhood, but for me these movies were more than just another form of fleeting entertainment.  I was never the type to simply “like” something; I had to make it my entire world. I wasn’t satisfied with passively enjoying a Disney movie, I had to be able to recite all of the lyrics to the songs on the soundtrack, had to be able to name every character and who voiced them.  But while I can claim to know a huge amount about many Disney movies, I have never set aside the time to take a hard look at the progression of the animation or to contemplate exactly what it is about these films that makes them so much more dear to us to than other animated features.  I love me some American Tail, but in his wildest dreams Don Bluth could not compare his work to The Little Mermaid.

As I packed my things to move to Anaheim for the Disney College Program, I found myself looking at my old, well-loved Disney VHS tapes and lamenting the fact that I didn’t have copies of all of those movies on DVD to take with me.  It suddenly hit me that I needed to start building my collection of Disney DVDs, but the thought of buying 50 movies at once was overwhelming.  Wouldn’t it be fun, I thought, to purchase these films in the order in which they were released? This way I could re-familiarize myself with the films without missing any of them and, for the first time, watch the art of animation develop and advance right before my eyes. 

Treasures Untold will document my progress as I buy and re-watch (or in some cases view for the first time) every single Disney animated feature film from Snow White to Tangled.  I am excited to discover what I may have missed when I watched these movies as a child and see how technology and storytelling devices have evolved since the 1930’s.  My entries will be part research paper, part anecdote, and part thoughtful reaction. By the end I will have a big fat box of the best animated films ever made. After reliving the magic one movie at a time, I will have my collection with me for the rest of my life to remind me of how revolutionary, heartwarming, and influential these animated features are.