We’re again at it within the Nice Disney Reel Rumble Retrospective! We proceed on by the Bronze Age as we cowl the primary time Disney launched two characteristic movies in the identical 12 months. With out additional ado, let’s dive in.
Whereas The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, as a movie, didn’t have any involvement from Walt Disney, it’s the final movie that may declare technical involvement from Walt. Disney obtained the rights to the Winnie the Pooh tales again in 1961. Walt had needed to make works primarily based on these tales way back to 1938. He discovered his daughter studying the books someday and laughing at their whimsical pleasure. Walt lastly succeeded after a number of many years in getting the rights. Whereas initially desirous to make a characteristic movie, Disney in the end determined to fee shorts as an alternative, connected to live-action options. This movie is comprised of three previously-made shorts, together with ones that Walt had involvement with.
Walt was a fan of Stephen Slesinger’s red-shirted depiction of Pooh, and he acquired these rights as effectively. Pooh’s iconic look on this movie is a direct results of this acquisition. One other addition from Disney himself was the character of Gopher, who doesn’t seem in creator A.A. Milne’s authentic tales. Walt felt {that a} extra comedic and relatable character was wanted to entice American youngsters into the extra staid British youngsters’s work.
The shorts chosen that fill out the movie had been remodeled a sequence of years from 1966-1974. The primary brief was one Walt supervised earlier than handing it over to director Wolfgang Reitherman who was informed to Americanize the piece, particularly after the current failure of Alice in Wonderland. The second brief was the final one which Walt had involvement with, with the 9 Previous Males and different Disney honchos deciding to make it the primary post-Walt manufacturing, although priorities ultimately shifted. Paul Winchell earned the well-known voice function of Tigger as a consequence of his status as a ventriloquist.
Whereas every of the shorts was profitable by itself, the compilation right into a full movie did so much to bolster the status of Pooh Bear. It launched theatrically on March 11, 1977 to prompt important success. Although a number of critics felt Disney improperly pilfered the whimsy of those youngsters’s tales, most had been favorable. No info is on the market on the field workplace success of the movie, but it surely presumably did effectively. It has maintained a robust important status all through the years and is completely built-in into Disney tradition. With a trip at Disney parks, and characters displaying up in cross-Disney properties comparable to Kingdom Hearts and different video video games, Winnie the Pooh has maintained its status and endurance. Additional Pooh Bear films have been made, together with one which this sequence will cowl far down the road.
Launched later in 1977, The Rescuers additionally started improvement over a decade earlier again in 1962. The preliminary therapy of the story was too overtly political for Walt, however was revived within the early 70s as a venture for younger animators comparable to Don Bluth to earn their stripes. Like most different Disney properties, this one was primarily based on preexisting youngsters’s books, and the studio selected to base the story on the newest Rescuers guide. Louis Prima was initially introduced in, following his voiceover success in The Jungle E-book, however after Prima grew to become severely ailing in 1975 the whole venture was scrapped.
The Rescuers can be rescued once more, although, because the crew completed up Robin Hood and seemed to start out the subsequent venture. Manufacturing started another time. Cruella de Vil was initially thought of to be the villain of the piece, however the animators determined to keep away from making an attempt to make it a semi-sequel, so they chose Miss Diamond from one of many Rescuer books and retouched her look. Animator Milt Kahl was leaving the studio and determined to make her his send-off, personally doing a lot of the animation.
Different characters had been chosen from throughout many novels and mixed into one piece. The dragonfly character initially started as a one-off comedic bit, however the animators had been so bemused that his function expanded into a serious sidekick for the leads Bianca and Bernard, whose relationship grew to become a romantic subplot.
Whereas the black-line xerography technique of animation continued for use on this work, The Rescuers marked the primary huge improve from that fashion. The xerography strategies had been improved to permit use of a medium-grey toner, permitting the cel artists to create softer traces and a much less harsh look. This manufacturing was notable for being one of many final efforts from many Disney veteran animators and the primary to characteristic Don Bluth as directing animator. Different notable animators stepped up who would find yourself changing into huge components of the Disney Renaissance interval, making this a really transitional movie within the historical past of the studio.
The Rescuers was initially launched as a double characteristic with the character documentary A Story of Two Critters. On a price range of $7 million, the movie managed to gross round $41 million by the tip of its worldwide run, making it a reasonably large hit. Regardless of the status of the Bronze Period as a down interval, this one bucked towards tendencies considerably. The movie was additionally notable for a small scandal after a house video launch the place frames containing nudity had been discovered. Regardless, preliminary important opinions had been pretty excessive with some discovering it as an indication of a brand new golden age of Disney to return. Opinions have cooled considerably since, however many nonetheless credit score this one as a shiny spot amongst this period of Disney.
It has not fairly endured in common tradition as a lot as different Disney works. Although it will definitely garnered a sequel, the Rescuer characters don’t fairly have an enormous cultural footprint. The characters don’t present up in lots of video video games, and their presence within the Disney Parks can be pretty minimal. For no matter purpose, regardless of the important accolades and field workplace, The Rescuers has pale.
Most of the Disney movies after Walt’s loss of life had been pretty episodic of their plots, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is the epitome of that storytelling fashion. The movie does thread the shorts along with a connecting story about Winnie the Pooh being in a storybook that’s explored by a toddler, however that is largely window-dressing.
Principally is the operative phrase although, as this thread does come to a satisfying payoff with the ending sequence. It options probably the most emotionally-powerful moments in Disney historical past with Christopher Robin and Pooh discussing their time collectively and the significance of recollections shared. Regardless of the hinted imminence of Robin leaving childhood behind, the warming affirmation that Pooh will at all times dwell in Christopher’s coronary heart is the stuff that Disney nostalgia is constructed on.
As for the varied sequences themselves, they’re amusing in their very own proper. Filled with whimsical humor, fueled largely by the silliness of the characters, there may be an innocence to all of it that’s fairly charming. This isn’t fairly A+ storytelling, however one can’t assist chuckling all through. The movie introduces a light aspect of scariness with the Heffalump sequence (one which gave me nightmares as a really younger little one, resulting in fast-forwarding on subsequent viewings), however it’s a sequence of psychedelic bemusement.
This isn’t the most effective Disney has to supply, however when its sturdy emotional core shines by, Winnie the Pooh grabs maintain of your coronary heart and doesn’t let go. Its attraction and whimsy shines by many many years later.
The Rescuers has extra of a full story. It options two mice because the titular heroes who obtain a mission to search out an orphan lady held by a vindictive older girl, Madam Medusa. This can be a basic journey story, which lends itself to additionally being pretty episodic. Nonetheless, the story does weave the entire characteristic collectively.
The connection between Bernard and Bianca, the 2 mice, is well-developed and charming. Seeing Bianca prepared the ground for the bumbling Bernard, and seeing them fall for one another as they navigate a sequence of obstacles and animal allies, provides the movie a robust arc. The villain, Madam Medusa, feels a tad pointless regardless of a number of zany sequences. Her alligator servants are virtually extra distinctive, as she is simply generically imply to the orphan Penny in a method that different Disney villains do higher.
The guts of The Rescuers makes it work, regardless of some components of the journey being extra uninteresting than others. The lead characters are attention-grabbing, they usually really feel at dwelling amongst their journey movie compatriots from the 70s. This isn’t a stand-out movie in comparison with Golden Age Disney, but it surely stands above most of the movies lined within the venture to date.
Whereas each of those movies are episodic in components, and each have uneven storytelling, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has the slight benefit. The final word theme of the movie is among the many most emotionally-powerful storytelling moments within the canon, and there may be sufficient humor to edge out The Rescuers.
Winner: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a variety of iconic tunes. The titular observe “Winnie the Pooh” has a wealthy choral opening that immediately launches you into the guts of the story earlier than choosing up with a shiny and cheery sing-along fashion that encapsulates the tone of the movie. Even years later, your mind will randomly bounce alongside to this splendidly pleased melody.
Different cheerful songs embody “The Fantastic Factor About Tiggers,” a quick-paced quipping tune that has additionally withstood the take a look at of time pretty effectively. Its intelligent lyrics and fast-paced introduction to the character of Tigger has saved it among the many hallmarks of Disney tracks. Much less common however nonetheless nice are “Rumbly in my Tumbly” and “Heffalumps and Woozles,” each of which have their charms. These all add as much as Winnie the Pooh reviving the concept of the musical movie after a number of movies with much less songs.
The music in The Rescuers is a tad much less iconic. That’s to not say there isn’t good music. “Tomorrow is One other Day” is a fantastic tune within the pop fashion of the 70s, elevated by the sleek voice of Shelby Flint. The truth is, a lot of the music in that is extra of its interval than every other Disney music. Maybe that’s why these songs haven’t endured as lengthy. Nonetheless, they’re first rate and delightful in their very own method.
However nothing in The Rescuers actually provides as much as “Winnie the Pooh” or any of the opposite songs within the Pooh Bear-led movies. These numbers have withstood the take a look at of time as a consequence of their intelligent lyrics and excellently constructed melodies. They stand among the many highlights of Disney music.
Winner: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Whereas there a number of notable sequences in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the general animation high quality is nothing to write down dwelling about. The zany colours and sequencing within the Heffalumps sequences is a type of highlights, practically evoking a few of the sturdy sequences in different works comparable to Alice in Wonderland. The intense and heat colours of the ending of the movie additionally work fairly effectively. The remainder of the background animation although is somewhat plain and easy, heavy with the darkish traces spoken about earlier than.
The person designs of the characters themselves are sturdy. Winnie the Pooh’s design works as a consequence of its exceptional simplicity, with the brilliant crimson shirt serving to him stand out. The virtually sock-animal strategy to a number of different animals comparable to Eeyore and Piglet provides to the toybox aesthetic.
The Rescuers animation is powerful as effectively. The characters themselves might not have change into iconic, however their design isn’t at. Madam Medusa’s look accentuates her merciless and vindictive nature, and whereas a few of the animal designs really feel lifted out of The Jungle E-book, others such because the dragonfly convey comedy and character effectively.
The backgrounds are additionally distinctive and delightful. The xerography improve helps, and sequences comparable to the 2 lead mice flying throughout water on a chicken are pretty. The bayou base of the villains additionally suitably conveys the dreariness of the setting.
Whereas the character designs of Winnie the Pooh have stood the take a look at of time effectively, the sting will go to The Rescuers. The animation isn’t fairly as sturdy because the upcoming Disney Renaissance degree, however it’s a marked enchancment on its Bronze Age predecessors. Extra detailed backgrounds go a good distance in the direction of bettering the look of a Disney movie.
Winner: The Rescuers
The Rescuers holds an attention-grabbing spot in Disney historical past. It’s a bridge movie between the beginnings of the studio and its future forward. It was critically well-liked, but it seems like an odd man out within the canon of Disney. There are qualities to get pleasure from about this journey story, but it surely by no means fairly hits as deep as The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh got here be a bit goofy and empty at instances, however its sturdy emotional core makes it the winner. The top of this movie is among the many highlights of all of Disney canon.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Ranked #2,110 globally
- Wins 43% of matchups
- 4,716 customers have ranked it 49,163 instances
- 10 have it as their #1 movie
- Ranked 26/65 within the Walt Disney Animation Studios filter
The Rescuers
- Ranked #2,763 globally
- Wins 39% of matchups
- 8,655 customers have ranked it 78,606 instances
- 1 has it as their #1 movie
- Ranked 34/65 within the Walt Disney Animation Studios filter
- Bambi (1942)
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
- Cinderella (1950)
- Fantasia (1940)
- Peter Pan (1953)
- The Jungle E-book (1967)
- Robin Hood (1973)
- Alice in Wonderland (1951)
- Pinocchio (1940)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
- Girl and the Tramp (1955)
- The Rescuers (1977)
- The Aristocats (1970)
- Dumbo (1941)
- Sleeping Magnificence (1959)
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
- The Three Caballeros (1944)
- The Sword within the Stone (1963)
- Melody Time (1948)
- Saludos Amigos (1942)
- Enjoyable and Fancy Free (1947)
- Make Mine Music (1946)
