Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
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| Of course we're not lifting this, we're posing for the art ;) |
As a kid, Cinderella was certainly one of my favorite fairy tales. It's always tempting to bring up the phrase "for no reason" just for the mere sake of not bother to analyze. But as a kid, there wasn't a particular or substantial reason for liking it. Other than it appealed to me. Probably it's simple components appealed to me (as Cinderella's sparkling gown and wagon and her animal sidekicks. Call me shallow, but hey, I was just a kid).
Yet my family finally got to rent Cinderella in the early 90's. And I happened to like it a lot. Perhaps I didn't went completely gaga for it. But I liked it enough to give it several rewatches. Despite that it was never a feature which I actually owned myself.
Cinderella`s Position in Disney History
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| It's CinderElsa ;) |
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| Even Cinderella can be a Santa once in a while :) |
However, as beloved Cinderella is, we all know that it's been a victim of constant criticism. Of how it's portraying passivism and anti-feminism. But regardless how it's been criticized as such by modern standards, we'll get to that discussion later on.
Cinderella`s General History & Early Drafts of Walt`s Version
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| Welcome to heaven :) |
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| Guess if we're making a swimming gesture or butterflies ;) |
Cinderella's premise has been so ingrained in our culture that it’s become a standard story to parody and dramatize. And therefore being adapted to motion picture various times.
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| I`ve been inspired by both Rapunzel and Pocahontas :) Big whoop, huh? :) |
But regardless of my blog revolving around everything that's Disney (at least before I renamed it to non-Disney content), it's fair to say that Walt Disney’s depiction of the story is one of the most cherished versions. Released almost 13 years after Snow White and 9 years before Sleeping Beauty. Walt was exploring the idea for a couple of decades before finally realizing it. Still an early draft was written in 1940, where all he sidekick characters were given pompous names (Florimel de la Poche, Bon Bon and ect). Most of the elements was added to pad the length of the story. Yet originally the story was going to be more elaborate than it ended up to be. Disney veterans Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston called Cinderella the most througouhtly planned picture they've ever made. And it was also declared to be among Walt's favorite films of all time.
Disney`s Previous Versions of Cinderella & Similarites With Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
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| At least it's not the Silly Song :) |
Technically, Cinderella was the second time Walt portrayed the story. The first time was as a part of Laugh-O-Grams animated short in 1922. A Silly Symphony-episode was also suggested in the early 30's. That was also going to be a musical and had many elements that would appear into the feature length version.
Since Cinderella is basically the same genre as Snow White, it would be enough to make purists and naysayars claim them as being identical, alongside with Sleeping Beauty (since all three of them shares a similar book opening. Which in Cinderella's case is narrated by Cruella DeVil's voice actress, Betty Lou Gerson. In her first job for the studio). Since all three of them are fairy tales starring a Princess and shares several components in common.
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| Will the bird fly to me if I bow too? :) |
Whatever coincidental similarities exists between Cinderella and Snow White, we'll have to remember how interwoven the original fairytales are. But due to Walt not wanting to repeat himself, he certainly knew that he was facing a similar premise with Cinderella. Yet it's aforementioned reasons for needing a success, Cinderella was a deliberately chosen for that reason. While there has been some claims about Cinderella actually surpassing Snow White at the time, at least Cinderella created a similar buzz. Which makes both movies instantly comparable (and believe it or not, the crew were toying with the idea of Snow White and her animal companions making a cameo in Cinderella).
My Own Personal History With Walt`s Fairy Tale Movies & The Animal Sidekicks
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| Yeah, the heart can make magic, as proven with my gesture ;) |
As aforementioned in my entry for Sleeping Beatuy, I happened to see all of Walt's fairy tale movies chronologically in my childhood. Since it was not being completely mesmerized by Cinderella's counterparts, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty (the former for being too grim and bittersweet, and the latter for being too tedious), Cinderella just happened to be my favorite of Walt's fairy tales. But later on, the tables have turned and both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty has grown on me, while Cinderella's faults has become more overt and obvious (for me). I'm not saying that Cinderella has become a movie that I completely detest. But in retrospect, it comes across as being the weakest of this triology.  |
Don't worry, it looks actually
more painful than it seems ;) |
One of the faults lies in the narrative. As it doesn't come across as tidy and fluidly (especially in the first act). Most of it comes across as random filler and not structured in a particularly cohesive way. And sure, it's something what the film has been criticized for. As well relying too much on the animal sidekicks. I guess the latter criticism is fair, despite how they do contribute to the story. Yes, the filler aspect was something relevant to Sleeping Beauty as well. But personally, the filler came across more fluidly in that movie. 
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| We're mistaking it for an attraction ride :) |
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| Since you ain't Chip, we can be on you, without you drinking us :) |
What's remarkable is despite how Jack and Gus have been cherished, they're still given less praise than other Disney sidekicks. Still Walt was enthralled by them and praised their animator, Ward Kimball, for his performance. Kimball was especially amazed by caricaturing real mice, as opposed to Mickey. Newsweeks even compared Jack and Gus to Mickey Mouse. Kimball always got praise from outsiders when he was in the Dixieland band The Firehouse 5+2 for animating the mice (as opposed to Frank Thomas, who got the opposite reaction for animating Lady Tremaine).
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| Welcome to our Topsy Turvy :) Which means that we have clothes :) |
The Villains
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| Blame the fashion, decade and the animators, not us ;) |
Another weakness of the film (in my opinion) are the antagonists. Or at least the secondary ones. Both Anastasia and Drizella are deliberately made despicable so that the audience can easily despise them. The problem is that their off-putting natures are too overtly. So they become downright uncompelling (having them destroy Cindy's dress was deliberately made in order to surprise the audience). Ollie Johnston was their supervising animator, who did his broadest characters uptil that point. And despite that his task was to make them cartoony, Walt didn't want them to be too ugly. So a closeup where they actually were ugly was corrected (Anastasia was being voiced by Lucille Bliss. Making her first of many animated roles, which she enjoyed to do and was Smurfette on The Smurfs). |
| Don't worry, we'll give you heavier chores later :) |
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| I was inspired by Queen of Hearts :) |
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| Don't make me look like Quasimodo ;) |
Cinderella Herself
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| Yes, I'll read you a bed time story, even though you're birds :) |
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| I'll just have to find a magic lamp :) |
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| Don't get fooled, it's heavier than it looks :) |
And besides, regarding her constant criticism, it`s not like all of Cindy's actions are that passive, either. She constantly stands up to Lucifer and actually asks her stepmother if she can go to the ball. And besides (as also Walt himself has stressed in the Laserdisc Documentary of Cinderella), she actually goes to the ball herself to seek out her Prince herself. Marc Davis, who supervised Walt's previous princess, gave life to Cinderella. Alongside with Eric Larson, depsite how both of them didn't see eye to eye with her. As Davis gave her a more sophisticated quality, whereas Larsson wanted her to be more simpler. It took four months before they settled down on her final design. Even her hair color was determined after extensive research and experimentation. 
350 actresses auditioned for Cinderelly and Ilene Woods happened to be the first non-soprano the studio ever hired. She auditioned as favor for the songwriters and was surprised over getting chosen. And despite how having only sang the demo, she was chosen. Cinderella happened to be her favorite story. And she was so caught up in the movie, that she forgot that she had anything to do with it (and when her daugther saw the feature theatrically, she shouted "that's my mommy". Despite how nobody in the theater believed her). Helene Stanley, who would model for Cinderella's follower, Aurora, was the live action model for Cinderelly (and who would later on be in Davy Crockett). The scenes where she was interacting to Bruno was shot with a Goofy head for the dog model. Stanley also did the live action model for Anastasia. Originally Cinderelly was going to observe the Prince hunting for foxes before meeting him. But one certain departure from Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, is how our titular heroine isn’t royal at birth. And her French-inspired Kingdom is not setted within a forest.
Prince Charming
While comparisons to Snow White are of course inevitable, perhaps what differentiates Snow White from Cinderella is how the former movie is a straight forward depiction of story. While Cinderella is given more padding, which also could be said about the elaborate scenes with the Grand Duke and the King. In fact, the story is really more about the King wanting his son to fall in love. Than the other way around.
Yet this leads us to another Déjà Vu from Snow White: How once again the Prince gets little screentime nor is characterized. Despite that he initially was going to have a bigger part. Which also fuels the fire of the everlasting staple of the dull and bland Disney Prince. Milt Kahl was set to the assignment, thanks to his skills as a draftsman (especially with drawing hands). Despite how he dreaded it (while he also did the scenes with the Duke and the King). 
The Prince's singing voice was by singer/talk show host Mike Douglas. Yet his speaking voice, William Phipps, was the only one who was credited (Douglas performed under a two-tier payment contract that was to be paid one amount if his recording was not used in the final film and another if it was. Despite that the money was the main reason for him to do the gig. Still Douglas was initially auditioning for the speaking voice). Originally our lovebirds dance was going to be featured in the clouds. Which was the famous idea that was going to be featured in Snow White, but ended up in Sleeping Beauty (the marketing of Cinderella promoted the romance back in it's day).
Music
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| We can make such a dress for ourselves ;) |
Which certainly wasn't my intention. Cinderella is engaging and captivating, indeed, despite it's faults. As with most Disney and certainly those from Walt, it's been labeled for it’s iconic moments. As the iconic “I Want”-song (A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes). And the memorable making of Cinderella’s first gown in The Work Song. And last, but not least Biddidi-Boddity-Boo. Which became the big hit and the Oscar-nominated song. Both latter scenes have been shown in From All of Us to All of You (depends on which version you've seen).
All of these moments are iconic musical scenes and as usual with Disney, Cinderella is associated with it's memorable music. But Cinderella was the first time where Walt didn't hire Hollywood composers, as he hired hit-making powers of Tin Pan Alley (where the father of the Sherman Brothers was among them). Which was also the first time that he ever hired composers outside his staff. Mostly because realizing how lucrative hit songs were. Walt hired the songwriting team of Perry Combo's Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (a song which Walt liked, despite how the trio played a medley of their songs as well to Walt) as Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. It was Mack who suggested Ilene Woods. The animators liked the songwriting team. While the songwriters on the other hand, wouldn't complain when they learned how hard the animators work was.
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| I'm running away... from the troubles in my life :) |
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes was the first song written for the movie. And it`s been often compared to Pinocchio's When You Wish Upon a Star. Which is after all fair. Since both songs are essentially about the same content and have become anthems for the company. While Star is often used more (the songwriting team weren't used to that Walt's biggest compliment was "that'll work"). However, most songs had actually been completed in September of 1949. Yet with what eventually became the title song, the crew didn't knew what to do with at first. The songs from the original songwriters were going to be more mature. Originally the Prince would going to have his own song. 
Walt was first intrigued by the chorus possibilities with this picture. He wanted the songs to be like Snow White, just more magical. Cinderella was also the first time where Disney established it's own music publishing company, because of it's benefits. The soundtrack was a huge hit, selling three quarters of a Million Copies. And the three most famous songs, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes and The Work Songs were covered and hit the charts (since the latter was actually recorded by The Andrews Sisters). Cinderella was also the first Disney album to reach the Bilboard. Many of the lost songs were found by Disney historian Paula Sigman-Lowery in 1990. Which she among published the arrangement for them in Disney's Lost Chords book. 
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| Look at this, Mulan :) |
Cinderella`s Harrowing Moments, Visual Look, Trivia & Live Action Reference
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| I'm a fairy! Wee! :) |
As for Cinderella`s moments, there’s no secret that Cinderella’s transformation from rags to riches was Walt’s personal animation of all time. However, regarding the memorable moments, the darker scenes have been praised as well. While I personally consider Cinderella to be the least darkest of Walt’s works, it does have a few harrowing moments. As Lady Tremaines following our heroine to her tower (Tremaine being voiced by Eleanor Audley, who was loved by the whole studio. Her features is pretty much shown in Tremaine and would later on voice Maleficent). Or the blatant destroying of the dress the by stepsisters (which Cindy would originally sing a song about. Which was a poingant ballad where she painted a picture of her parents, since the dress was her mother's). 
Cinderella also represented a stylistic transition from the European influenced book illustration look from Snow White and Pinocchio. To the more graphic look of the 1950's. With bolder colors and more contrast. The look was created by artist Mary Blair, who was well-known at the time. And who defined the look of the following features, alongside With John Hench. Overall, 750 artists used over 1 million drawings and 1,500 glowing colors.
One of Walt's most pivotal comments about the movie was that he "was corny enough to wanting to be hit right here in the heart". Walt had envisioned the whole story in his mind in 1948 (which was when they decided to make the movie). Layout artist Ken O'Connor found inspiration for Cinderelly's sparkling slippers from perfume bottles with exotic shapes. And he learned how to render glass in unusual shapes (the first slipper breaking was actually taken from Disney).
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| Yes, since I'm working all day long, the birds can put clothes on me :) |
When the animation finally began, the photostaff frame blow ups replaced the storyboards. Where the artist actually drew directly in, to intergrate both mediums. The overall animation went pretty fast and was done in among six months. The overall cost of the picture was $ 6 million dollars. There were huge lines at the theater on the opening day. Cinderella's success made Walt's realization of Disneyland possible. Marc Davis declared that Cinderella's appeal lies on it's use of good magic, as opposed to evil magic. Cinderella was also the first film where the Nine Old Men worked together. |
| Yes, she's inside the theater :) Not outside :) |
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| I'm turning into gold, just like Midas :) |
Criticism Against the Moral
But oh yeah. Let's get back to the aforementioned criticism. We all know that the biggest criticism of Cinderella is how it portrays how passivism gets rewarded and how our titular heroine gets her reward, without contributing to it herself (with help of the jovial and ditzy fairy Godmother, played by Disney veteran Verna Felton. Who died exactly the same date as Walt and was animated and designed by Milt Kahl). And sure, feminism does play a big part in this discussion. 
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| I made it myself in my spare-time ;) |
Regardless of the criticism around this, we'll have to remember that this was actually the original intention of the fairy tale. And the reason for why it reasonates, because the underdog gets what she wants because of her good deeds. And the message of the film is not necessarily about the acceptance of oppression. But raher to have a positive outlook on life on a bleak situation.
So yeah folks, this criticism has been recurring in recent discusssions. And our Cindy has received some flack for relying too much on hope and faith. But the aforementioned arguments about this does assure that her happy ending is still rightfully earned. Since she her does work all day long. And therefore deserves to actually escape oppression (an original ending to this tale would`ve have Cinderella encountering the Prince with her rags). But there has also been a statement about how Cinderella truly deserved her happy ending. From one user named Disney Duster on Dvd Dizzy Boards. About how Cindy gains her ending by revealing her other shoe. And how she subliminally defeats the villain in that way.
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| We're a result of political correctness, fanfiction and cash ;) |
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| No, there's no carrots for ya over there :) |
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| Soon it's gonna be thrice charmed :) |
It's also coincidential that one show on Disney Cruise Line, named Twice Charmed, had a similar premise. And Twice Charmed was actually made before Twist In Time, in 2005. Despite that it was rebooted in 2016 to be much closer to A Twist In Time (only in that show, it's an evil Fairy Godfather Franco DiFortunato who hampers our Cindy's fate). And yeah, apparently the Prince encounters Snow White randomly on that show.
The Live Action Remake
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| We have staring contests in fairy tale world as well ;) |
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| I'm a female version of Hercules, with less biceps ;) |
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| It's the Easter wagon :) |
But the movie actually turned out to be a hit, both crticially and commercially. And was something that was made with awe and respect towards the fairy tale genre. Perhaps it was Branagh's direction which made the film so good. But at least it was perceived as being superior to both Malificent and Tim Burton`s Alice in Wonderland.  |
| I'm a proof that not only diamonds can sparkle ;) |
However, regarding other versions of Cinderella made under Disney's umbrella, it's impossible to not forget Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (also known as simply Cinderella). Released in 1997, it was produced by Walt Disney Television. Which was the second Disney remake of the story. And third version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical. Co-produced by Whitney Houston, who also appears as the Fairy Godmother, the film stars Brandy in the titular role. And features a racially diverse cast consisting of Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Veanne Cox, Natalie Desselle, Victor Garber and Paolo Montalban. The decision to use a color-blind casting approach originated among the producers to reflect how society had evolved by the 1990s. With Brandy becoming the first African-American actress to portray Cinderella on screen. Some critics identified it as the studio's attempt to make the film more feminist.
Final Conclusion About the Criticism
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| Don't get too close, rodents. It's hot :) |
But regarding the message and the intention of the story, of course the big question if the message could be considered as good as well. While the criticism against is understandable, it still can be interpreted both ways. The true meaning and intention of the message is that goodness and kindness gets rewarded. And that the oppressed one can be rewarded for putting up with hard work under bad conditions. Which is something that is conceivable for an underdog, anyways.
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| Don't worry, this pumpkin is not Electric ;) |
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| It's made for Snow White and the White Witch :) |
But we'll also have to remember that Cinderella (despite it's non-American origins) is something appropriable to the American dream. And Disney certainly depitcs Properties that lives up to that mantra for archetypical reasons. While it has never confirmed by Walt himself, there was a parallell between the fairy tale and his own life. Since he had a rough background, but eventually became rewarded for his hard work (still differently). But hey, the naysayers have to always nag about something. And yes, writer Maurice Rapf wanted our Cindy to earn her place.
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| Just pretend that we're a part of the mistletoe :) |
Epilogue
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| It should've been Cinderella, the Nameless Prince and Her Key to Wishes :) |
truly something cherished and beloved in the Disney canon. It's one of the cornerstones of the Company which they've turned to more than once. It's a movie that has seen five re-releases (1957, 1965, 1973, 1981 and 1987), before it finally was released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1988.
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| Don't worry, the castle below is big enough for the both of us :) |
And a Laserdisc Deluxe set with bonus features on it's 45th Anniversary in the fall of 1995 (while recent home media releases has made Cinderelly's hair much blonder). Now finally reached it's 70th Anniversary last year (yes, it's unbelievable), I wish nothing more than just wish Cinderella happy 70th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more. And sure, I apologize if it seemed as if I was bashing the movie at first, since that wasn't my intention.
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| I'm trying to bow to be at your size ;) |
Wish on my updates on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035703494050 and https://twitter.com/NerdyLunada.
References:
Cinderella Platinum Edition DVD
Cinderella Deluxe Cav Laserdisc Edition
Walt Disney The Legacy Collection Cinderella
Walt Disney's Masterpiece Cinderella: A Dream Come True; The Storybook and The Making Of A Masterpiece (Jim Fanning)
A Wish Your Heart Makes: From the Grimm Brothers' Aschenputtel To Disney's Cinderella (Charles Salomon)
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond (Christoper Finch)
Disney's Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas).
Cinderella Blu Ray (2015)
