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.
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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 in the Fall of 2021, 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 :) |
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 :) |
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.
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.
But of course regarding Dumbo, we can`t escape that it`s faced racial scrutiny.
Of course I`m talking about the moment with the crows (which were
expanded from only one crow, animated by Ward Kimball and were
originally going to be a variety of birds). Which were voiced by African American actors singers of the popular all-black Hall Johnson Choir, including actors James Baskett (Song of the South) and Nick Stewart (The Amos 'n' Andy Show). With the exception by white Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio) as Jim Crow.
Don`t worry, I`ve never actually smoked :) They just put a cigar on me for this purpose :) |
As for the position of Dumbo`s songs in the Disney canon, they`ve been regarded as somewhat in between. They`ve not been perceived as being the most memorable. But haven`t been completely dismissed either. Frank
Churchill and Oliver Wallace scored the film, while Ned Washington
wrote the lyrics to the songs. For their work on the score, Churchill
and Wallace won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Baby Mine was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The film also won Best Animation Design at the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.
Behind the Scenes Information
Don`t worry, I know this flag won`t make me fly :) |
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 :) |
I`ve spilt the water out :) |
No, this ain`t water. It`s cream :) Yes, it`s true :) |
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 :) |
We know that Dumbo is barely on this picture. But hey, we had to shine, too :) |
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.
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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)