tirsdag 21. desember 2021

The Legacy Collection Release of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" - The Long Awaited Release of The Full Score for "Hunchback"

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

 
For once I`m actually going to do a departure: To write an entry about an Legacy Collection release. Which is (somewhat) of an review. 



I was taking a break for this selfie :)
 
 
 
 
 
It should`ve been Sing and
Bounce Along ;)
The fall of 2021 has been a long awaited time for fans of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. A time they`ve waited long for: To finally have the full score of the movie released. As a part of the Legacy Collection. While Hunchback haven`t been the only requested score for The Legacy Collection, it`s definivitely been one of the most requested. In fact, Hunchback has always been labeled for it`s bold and daring music. And frankly, many people have considered Hunchback to be Alan Menken`s best score.
It`s not a Royal crown, so
that`s why it`s broken like
this ;)

But Hunchback has always had a passionate fanbase, nonetheless. A fanbase which seems to grow each year (Stephen Schwartz says how many approached him by claiming Hunchback as their favorite movie). Therefore it`s nice to see that the Legacy Collection have finally truly honored it`s fanbase and Anniversary this year with giving it`s much awaited soundtrack. However, Hunchback has it`s own Anniversary last year. By finally turning 25. And while there was little done for it on it`s previous Anniversaries, it seems like Disney have realized it`s fanbase and given Hunchback the honoring it deserves. 
 
 
 
 


 
 
Hunchback`s Reputation and The Requests for It`s Legacy Collection Release
 
I want you to read the palm of
my hand :) I want others to
do it for once :)
In fact, there are two staples that Disney`s Hunchback has been stuck with: For being radical and underrated. Both of these staples happens to have a connection to each other (for obvious reasons, duuh). Therefore it would be reasonable to think that`s been the main reason for why Disney haven`t given it attention afterwards. That`s why it was a huge, personal surprise (for me) that it was finally released on the Legacy Collection.
We`re a Burlesque Circus
for toddlers :)
While it was requested long before it`s release, it wasn`t really likely that it was going to receive one. But as for the releases of the Legacy line: While the amount of releases have been on a steady decline since it`s Genesis in 2014, there have been a couple of random, scattered releases afterwards (the last release prior to Hunchback was Beauty and the Beast in January 2018). But what`s remarkable is how the songs were released on Spotify prior to it`s physical release (and for once it wasn`t sold from Amazon.com, who usually also sold their copies. Since it could be purchased from Disney Music Emporium). 








The Previous Legacy Collection Releases, The Pro and Con`s of Hunchback`s Legacy Release and the Demo`s and Bonus Songs

The Legacy Collection has been a neat niche line for Disney fans: To finally have the full releases of the full scores (featuring original artwork and illustrations by Lorelay Bové). Since most of their Official releases haven`t included the full scores, it`s been nice to have at least one release to have them all.
Don`t worry, it`s not as
cheap as it looks like :)
Not coincidentially, most of the releases have been synergized with their Anniversaries (with the exception of Robin Hood and Beauty and the Beast). So Hunchback haven`t been any exception in that regard. But it`s been nice to finally hear the full score. Especially the original opening to The Bells of Notre Dame (who had many bells at it`s beginning). And the full cues of the pieces which has never been released. The only downside is how the reprise of Heavens Light (the overlooked song that has always been neglected at the expense of Hellfire) haven`t been included (despite how the beginning and ending of the songs have been included). 
Don`t worry, this necklace
isn`t stolen :)
Also missing is the original He Shall Be Wicked cue from the climax as well. As well as the demo of a pivotal deleted song, As Long as There`s a Moon (which is truly remarkable, due to how it`s been one of the official deleted songs). Yet various demos of the songs have been included on the Release. Most of the demos for the Reanissance pictures have been included on their Legacy releases. But at least the demo for Hellfire reveals something that haven`t been revealed to the public before: How the song was originally going to have a entirely different chorus.
I wanted to be a
female Jeff
Dunham :)
The first demo for God Help the Outcasts reveals the process of how Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz have planned the song. One of the demo`s for Topsy Turvy reveals a different verse for the song. But what`s also remarkable how the songs for the German Stage Show have been included (in German of course). While it would be tempting to call it invigorating, it certainly is for a Legacy Collection. As it`s previous releases never had songs from a Stage Version before.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
How the Physical Release was Delayed, Information and Which Song Is Most Streamed on Spotify
 
No, this isn`t the original
novel ;)
However, the physical copy of Hunchback was delayed various weeks after it`s supposed release date. And one must wonder if it was because of the missing pieces. Yet what`s utterly disappointing is how little information about the music written on the actual album. Due to how previous Legacy Releases had much information written on them (yes, even the release of Pocahontas), it`s a pity.
We`re trying to
squeeze Mickey :) And
succeeding ;)
Yet Menken has confirmed how Hunchback has been his most ambitious score and the one he`s most proud of. And how he liked that it took that risk (despite how Hellfire was uncomfortable for Will Finn to watch with an family audience). To dive into the various types of music was been irresistible for the songwriters. The Legacy Collection also revealed that the score was recorded in New York and Hollywood. And the chorus was done in a Victorian church that Beatles producer had made into a recording studio. With an authentic organ.
It should`ve been Sungod :)
Since Hunchback was shut from the Academy Awards in 1997, Schwartz thought it was his most beautiful score and the best musical adaptation of the Hunchback story. And the mature ambition to the music was planned from the get-go (despite how the main challenge was to make it different from Beauty and the Beast).
At least we`re better than
Unicorns and Ponies :)
However, regarding how many plays the songs have been on Spotify, it`s baffling how the most hated song, A Guy Like You has gotten many streams. Since it`s been perceived the black sheep of the songs, it`s still baffling. But it`s also remarkable how little plays Hellfire has gotten (the most streamed song to date being The Bells of Notre Dame). Due to how many plays it has on the Official Soundtrack, it`s baffling that it`s fate has been the opposite. However, the songs were also released on YouTube (where Hellfire has gotten more views).
Don`t get used
to it, I`ll drop
ya when you`ll
get your carrot
:)
But since we live in the world where physical albums have been reduced, it`s a pity how there haven`t been released an official featurette of the music of Hunchback with it`s Legacy release. Since the earliest releases of this line included some featurettes (some of them being available on YouTube), it`s a pity how it`s been dismissed. As for more trivia about the music artists, Menken wanted Michael Jackson for a song, but Disney wouldn`t let him. And Meat Loaf and Cher were considered for Quasimodo and Esmeralda. And Cindi Lauper as a Gargoyle.
 
 
 
 
Look at this, Frollo. Not every
fire is from Hell ;)
Yay! We could fit everyone
It was hard, but we succeeded
:)
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Epilogue

I`m covered in
Spiderweb.
Incredible that it
looks like this,
huh? :)
At the end, it`s nice to see that the long awaited release of the Hunchback soundtrack is now finally a reality. And despite it`s shortcomings, it`s still nice to have most of the score released, nonetheless. And of course it`s a synergy that it has been released to it`s 25th Anniversary. And of course it`s incredible that Hunchback has reached it`s Silver Anniversary now. Regardless of it`s controversies and bad staple, it`s nice to see that it`s gotten some recognition. So at the end, there`s nothing left to wish it Happy Past 25th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.
 
 






 
References:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Legacy Collection
Disney Adventures Magazine August 1996
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søndag 31. oktober 2021

"Dumbo" - The Little, Comedic, Flying Elephant Picture With Big Ears, But With a Bigger Heart

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

 
 
 
Since this movie is about a kid, I can handle that the movie isn`t named after me :)

 
 
Since I`m allergic to rodents,
I`ll just take one :)
There`s always a Disney animated feature that is the first to everyone. The first one that people are ever exposed to and that introduces you to Disney`s Magical World. Whether that feature remains a favorite through adulthood, is another case. But often is that picture a specific, nostalgic memory from your childhood. Or a picture that you would become enamored with and starting your longlife fascination for Disney that would carry you through adulthood.
Since you`re an attraction, we
can wet ourselves here :)
For me, the very first Disney picture that I ever saw was Dumbo. And it was during my years in kindergarden as a toddler. I remember seeing it every day before going to kindergarden and being completely in love with it. The reasons for liking it were superficial ones, though. I was particularly fascinated with the female elephants (since I was a toddler after all, there was no particular reason for that fascination. So please forgive me, haha). So Dumbo remains in my memory of not being only the first Disney movie I ever saw. But the first Disney movie that I became obsessed with. And yes, it made develop a fascination for elephants as a kid. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Dumbo`s Position in Disney`s History
 
Well, pick the elephant :)
Since I`m less damaging than
a mutant alien :)
Finally turning 80 last Fall, Dumbo was Disney`s 4th Full-Length Animated Feature. But Dumbo`s position in the Disney pantheon is somewhat of a remarkable one. It was the first film since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that was a hit. Considering that all of the features of Walt`s first Golden Era have been labeled as masterpieces, most of them were actual flops on their releases. Which is why Dumbo is an oddity among them. But Dumbo was also known for being easy and unexpensive to produce. Costing only $950,000 (equivalent to $16,720,000 in 2020) to produce. And yes, a relevant comparison is Lilo & Stitch, for having a similar fate: Being a low budget movie, using Watercolor render the backgrounds and being a huge hit. 
Outta boy, Dumbo :) I`ll give
ya some treat later :)
Made to recoup the financial losses of both Pinocchio and Fantasia, Dumbo was a deliberate pursuit of simplicity and economy for Disney. At 64 minutes, it`s one of Disney's shortest features. Often being labeled for being a comedy first and foremost, it`s easy to see why. Yet Dumbo has still enough pathos, ethos and sentiment to make it equal to it`s counterparts of the First Golden Era. As it also has been labeled for it`s sentiment and heart. Animation historian John Canemaker calls it a perfect movie. And Eric Goldberg (supervising animator of the Genie in Aladdin) is also fond of it as well. As is Don Hahn (producer of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King), citing how many people claims Dumbo as their favorite character.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Dumbo`s Position as Disney`s First Animal Movie and Comparisons to it`s Counterparts

I`m a gift :) Sort of :)
Yes, I wanted to fly as well :)
Don`t blame me :)
In many ways, Dumbo was a first for Disney. It was the first animated movie that Disney made about animals. Considering how animation and animals are perceived as synonymous, it`s remarkable that it took Disney three features before settling about one about animals. But in that regard, Dumbo was preceeding Bambi and frankly was going to influence the latter picture in many ways. 
Like Bambi, Dumbo is centered around a mother/child relationship (which for all we know, Bambi takes it a step further and actually kills the mother). Still Dumbo owes a bit to Pinocchio as well. Of having a child protagonist (and yes, while this may be a superficial anecdote, some of the circus scenes resemble those scenes from Pleasure Island). Yet unlike Bambi, Dumbo is a blend of both naturalistic and anthrophomorized animals. And also a blend of both humans and animals (yes, let`s face the fact that the humans in Bambi are never shown).
Yes, even I can be a
bag :) Blame the
merchandisers, not me
:)
Yet what`s truly remarkable about Dumbo is how our titular character (animated by Bill Tytla, who based his drawings of his young son and John Loundsbery) never gets to speak. Never a single word is uttered by his mouth. Originally he was supposed to speak, but the storycrew realized that he was more compelling as "mute". Still Dumbo himself manages to carry the audience`s sympathy and become a compelling character. And just like Pinocchio and Bambi, Dumbo is adorable and endearing.
I wanted to rest for
the purpose of this
picture :)
And yes, just like Bambi, Dumbo has become synonymous with it`s kind of species, with the word elephant (let`s face it guys). What also differentiates Dumbo from it`s predecessors is it`s setting and timeline. It clearly takes place in Florida and it`s timeline was apparently current (but still not in a way that would heavily date the film). But it`s also a story with many antagonists, but without one and define villain. Even the climax is rather about how Dumbo redeems himself and not conquers some external force outside on him.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Dumbo`s Story and Character Arc

I`m an elephant of the
rainbow :)
Despite how much people try to deny it, there`s a clear difference between the features made in Walt`s time and those made afterwards. Mainly because of the simple reason that each period is a product of their times, despite how some hates to admit it. But regarding the plot of Dumbo, it`s a slight and conventional story. And yes, it may be executed for it`s time, as the storytelling is somewhat cluttered and semi-episodic. Yet Dumbo would essentially be a first of it`s kind. As being the first movie to portray it`s titular lead as an outcast (a trope that Disney would heavily reuse, especially in the 1990`s). 
Don`t ask where the
bubbles come from :)
Yet for all it`s familiarity, Dumbo`s final arc is a compelling one. While he learns about his talent at the end, it`s pretty satisfying how he learns that the "magical" feather (which was originally going to be golden) is simply not needed. And how he`s able to fly without it. Of course the final conlcusion is presented at the very end, which makes it somewhat rushed (from a modern point of view). But it`s still inmensingly gratifying. Of course Dumbo plays with certain logics, about how an elephant manages to have so huge ears. But hey, it`s a Disney feature after all. And Disney allows for such extraordinary elements. 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 
Timothy Mouse

This feather
makes me taller
:)
I`ll never
paint myself
again :)
Regarding the major comic sidekick of this picture, Timothy Mouse, I was struck about how much he resembles Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio. While this is a personal observation of mine, of course, it`s striking how they resemble each other, both in characterization and size. And yes, Timothy was replaced by a robin from the original novel. Regarding his position in the pantheon of Disney sidekicks, it would be fair to state that Timothy isn`t regarded as one of the most famous sidekicks. But he`s still an effective one, regardless of what opinions there are around him. And he`s still one who both advances the plot and Dumbo`s arc. Timothy was supervised by both Woolie Reitherman and Freddie Moore. While it`s confirmemd that Disney were planning a feature with Timothy alone, it was never produced.
 
 
 









Dumbo`s Iconic Moments, Controversy & Music

Don`t worry, it doesn`t sound
professional at all :)
As with most of Walt`s features, Dumbo has been known for it`s
iconic moments. The Look Out For Mr. Stork, Casey Jr. and Dumbo`s flying. But especially the anthrophomorphic Pink Elephants on Parade, which truly stretches the boundaries for animation (which was only made within a few minutes. And yes, it was suggested as a joke between the storyguys that they were the only elephants they wanted to see). But it`s also known for it`s harrowing and heart-tugging moments. Baby Mine is a definitively tearjerker and certainly been labeled as one of Disney`s most poignant songs and moments.
We`ve been influenced by
the laughing gas in Ice Age 3 :)
Don`t worry, I`ve never
actually smoked :)
They just put a cigar on
me for this purpose :)
Who was renamed Dandy Crow due to controversy (since it was a racial segregation term). The crows were inspired by the backchat of Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong`s records. While there`s been various opinions about whether they`re offensive, they`ve had their defenders. By both Whoopi Goldberg, who wanted them to be more promoted and Floyd Norman. But truth to be told, it`s a pity how they`ve faced with such scrutiny. Because they are good compelling characters (despite how they start out as being callous and mean towards our titular elephant).
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Behind the Scenes Information
 
Don`t worry, I know
this flag won`t make
me fly :)
Dumbo was based on a comic book strip given away on a cereal box. It turned up at Walt`s story department in the spring of 1939 by the studio's head of merchandise licensing Kay Karmen. Written by a man and his wife, Harold Pearl and Helen Aberson the year prior. Being their only published childrens book. It was inspired by the example of Munro Leaf's Ferdinand (yes, the one about the cow). Joe Grant and Dick Huemer were interested in the story, unlike Walt. Who thought the story would be better as a short (which was originally titled Dumbo of the Circus). So to convince him, they presented the treatment episodically, with cliffhangers which made Walt intrigued. Still the Walt Disney Archives had no copy of the Roll-A-Book version, though.
Look at this, Vanilla Ice :)
Ward Kimball recalled how Disney approached him in a parking lot about Dumbo and summarized the entire story in five minutes. And Kimball felt the picture was going to work. Bill Peet also worked on the story. Both the stork (animated by Art Babbit) and elephant Parade sequence were from the get-go.
Don`t ask us why it was titled
tails :)
Originally Mrs. Jumbo was named Mother Ella. One deleted idea would have Dumbo consult an owl who was a psychiatrist, Dr. I. Hoot. Originally Timothy was going to lecture Dumbo about why elephants should be afraid of mice (which was because of how mice used to be bigger than them). Even the ending was different, as the elephant herd made Dumbo a leader and one of them tried to fly. Dumbo would be worshipped by beauties who massaged and manicured him. And his mother would make him a sweater, while the train would go beyond Rocky Mountains and Hollywood. 
I`ve spilt the water
out :)
No, this ain`t water. It`s cream
:) Yes, it`s true :)
The clowns' requests to get a raise from their boss was a reference to the animators that went on strike in 1941. demanding higher pay from Walt. And yes, some of them were based on the animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, despite how they didn`t animate on Dumbo. Many of the animators came from New York. The attack from Mrs. Jumbo was animated by Walt Kelly, who went on making Pogo comics. Originally they were going to show more of how Timothy and Dumbo got drunk. And the Pink Elephants on Parade came from an German artist who did sketches of anthropomorphic animals, also ice-skating elephants.
Dumbo required little of the special effects that slowed down production and grew the budgets of Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi. Supervising director Ben Sharpsteen was given orders to keep the film simple and inexpensive (which made it comparable to a Silly Symphony short). But instead of the costumary 10 feet of animation, he insisted on 20 or more. He prowled the animators offices, urging them on and banning any frills.
Yes, I`ve been
given wings :)
There`s nobody
behind me :)
He even riffled through their drawings at night, eliminating any in-between work that might slow down production. The animators brought elephants and other animals to the studio as reference. But unlike Bambi, Dumbo didn`t require such realism. To speed up production, Disney used photostats of story sketches instead of full layout artwork for the film, and had experienced animators to supervise the younger, less experienced animators assigned on the film. RKO asked Disney to add another ten minutes to Dumbo, but Walt refused. Also due to financial reasons. 
For the crew the work on Dumbo was an vacation and they enjoyed themselves. The art style was influenced by surrealism. Since it was a circus movie, the colors were brightened, but still needed to be contrasted. Ward Kimball was a train buff and made the models of the train. Disney veterans as Sterling Holloway and Verna Felton lend their voices (Holloway as the stork, Felton as the Matriarch Elephant). But did their work on Bambi before Dumbo.  
Yes, this feather
is my secret
weapon :)
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Epilogue

So at the end, Dumbo is a pivotal and beloved entry in Disney`s everlasting canon. While perhaps it`s not one of the most exposed lately, it`s still a compelling and engaging little film. It would be tempting to be biased towards it, due to how I was obsessed with it as a toddler. and how it started my lifelong obsession for Disney (but hey, the same could`ve been with the other Disney movies that defined my childhood). But Dumbo deserves to be cherished in it`s own right. Regardless of it`s trademarks and criticisms, it`s still a charming and sweet film. So at the end, as this entry was written to synergize with it`s 80th Anniversary, there`s nothing left to wish Dumbo Happy 80th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.
 
 

Yeah, we escaped the train! :)



 
References:
Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition Blu Ray
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
Disney`s Art of Animation From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
The Art of Disney Animation 1958 Edition (Bob Thomas)
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