Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Understated

A restored ultimate DVD has been released for Disney's Snow White, quite a breakthrough for animation when it first came out (understatement). It was a difficult undertaking (understatement) for the studio, inventing the processes and techniques on the fly. Three years earlier they made a Silly Symphony short—The Goddess of Spring—which was a dress rehearsal of sorts (understatement) for animating 'realistic' human figures. Here is a model sheet from that short:

I love model sheets of any kind!
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2 comments:

Daniel [oeconomist.com] said...

Unlike many people, I think that Snow White was Disney's greatest feature film. I feel that Fantasia is a lesser film, often paying too little attention to form, as if it were of secondary importance to color.

September 30, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Thomas Haller Buchanan said...

Fantasia had its moments, though its best art and concepts were in pre-production.

I was in high school when Fantasia had its psychedelic revival. I don't think it had been seen since its debut more than a generation before. And I gotta tell you, it was mind blowing, seeing it in a big theater for the first time. I've seen it many times since and it's grown a bit quaint, especially on the small screen.

You're right, color seemed to be a prime directive but I think it was well worth the risk to sublimate form. I only wish more filmmakers would similarly try for more visually experiential anthologies.

But yes, of course Snow White is an amazing high-water mark for a feature cartoon film.

September 30, 2009 at 10:02 PM

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