Toon Talk: 100 Years of Magic - 100 Movies, Part One - Nov 26, 2001

Toon Talk: 100 Years of Magic - 100 Movies, Part One
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#21. BEHIND THE CURTAIN

By the early 1940s, the movie-going public was enthralled with Disney animation, so much so that they wanted to know how the Disney cartoons were made. Enter The Reluctant Dragon (June 20, 1941), a behind-the-scenes tour of Walt Disney Productions. Also features the very first "Goofy How To ... " short, How To Ride a Horse.

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#22. YOU'LL BELIEVE AN ELEPHANT CAN FLY

In a change of pace from the grimmer aspects of Pinocchio and Fantasia, the next animated feature told the sweet, simple tale of a baby elephant who's oversized ears turn out to be a very special gift. The Oscar-winning Dumbo (October 23, 1941) would become one of the most beloved animated films of all time.

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#23. D'OH! A DEER ...

A masterpiece of animated storytelling, Bambi (August 13, 1942) creates a breathtaking natural environment through the use of dynamic colors, amazingly realistic animals, a stirring musical score and little dialogue. The now infamous death of Bambi's mother was a new, dramatic high point for the fledgling animation feature form, perfectly representing the emotional possibilities of the medium.

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#24. DONALD DUCK IN NUTZILAND

Donald had previously done his part for the war effort in such shorts (both released in 1942) as Donald Gets Drafted (the first war-themed Disney cartoon) and The New Spirit (which successfully convinced Americans to pay their taxes on time). Der Fuehrer's Face (January 1, 1943), a nightmarish fantasy of our all-American duck in Nazi Germany, was the most popular, winning an Oscar and launching several hit versions of the title song.

#25. HELLO FRIENDS

To support America's Good Neighbor Policy, Walt and his artists visited South America on a good-will tour in 1941, gathering artistic and cultural research for future animation projects. Saludos Amigos (February 6, 1943), the first feature based on this project, introduced Jose Carioca and, at 42 minutes, is the shortest Disney animated feature.

#26. WORKING FOR PEANUTS

The as yet unnamed chipmunks Chip and Dale were first seen pestering Pluto in Private Pluto (April 2, 1943). They soon moved on to their next nemesis, Donald Duck, appearing in a total of 24 shorts, three in their own series.

#27. DISNEY GOES TO WAR

Rarely seen today, Victory Through Air Power (July 17, 1943) is a stunning animated depiction of how the Allies could defeat the Axis with the use of air-born fire power. Patriotic propaganda, or slice of history?

#28. THE ROAD TO BAIA

Donald and Jose return, with new amigo Panchito, in The Three Caballeros (February 3, 1945), the second film inspired by the South American trip. A fiesta-colored travelogue of Latin America, the film was the first Disney feature to extensively combine live action with animation, such as Aurora Miranda serenading a love-struck Donald.

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#29. CAVALCADE OF SONG, PART ONE

The first of the post-war "package" pictures, Make Mine Music (April 20, 1946) compiled the musical tales of Casey at the bat, Peter and the wolf, Johnny Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet, and Willie the whale who wanted to sing at the Met.

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Image courtesy of SongOfTheSouth.net

#30. THE FIRST LAUGHIN' PLACE

The Uncle Remus stories of Bre'r Rabbit, Bre'r Bear, et al are the basis for Song of the South (November 12, 1946). This live action/animated musical won Oscars for the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and James Baskett, the first Disney actor to win an Academy Award. The film has become the "Holy Grail" for Disney fans, as it has never been released on home video in the United States.