Toon Talk: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Special Edition DVD - Oct 16, 2001

Toon Talk: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Special Edition DVD
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DISC 2:

This disc is introduced by a delightful clip from the very first Disney television special, One Hour in Wonderland, with Walt himself summoning the Spirit of the Magic Mirror.

THE QUEEN'S CASTLE:

Focuses on the design and animation of the film, including extensive virtual art galleries with an optional audio "tour guide".

Art Design:
John Canemaker discusses the art direction of the film, which was highly influenced by European illustrators. Initial designs for the film were reminiscent of the Silly Symphonies, with obvious cartoon-like elements. But it soon evolved into a style evoked by storybook illustrations that were already familiar to the audiences of the time.

Visual Development:
Virtual galleries includes preliminary designs for the film and unused concepts for the film, such as the Prince's expanded role in the initial story for the film. His role was reduced because of the difficulty the animators had of animating a realistic human male.

Layouts and Backgrounds:
Scott McQueen, Director of Library Restoration, takes us through some examples of pencil renderings compared to painted backgrounds, then to final, fully-animated sequences.

This section also includes virtual galleries of layout and background art, including photographs of the 3-D models that were created for the interior of the dwarfs' cottage.

Camera and Tests:
Contains excerpts from two classic Disneyland television episodes, The Story of the Silly Symphony (which explains the use of the multi-plane camera for the short The Old Mill) and Tricks of Our Trade (a more detailed examination of the multi-plane process).

A lot of experimental technology was used or developed for Snow White. As a result, the filmmakers ran a lot of test footage to make sure that they got it right. Included here are very rare examples of such tests, including those for Technicolor, filters and exposures. You can even see Snow White in her "original" wardrobe of yellow bodice in the multi-plane camera tests.

Animation:

Voice Talent:
Includes footage of Adriana Caselotti reminiscing about her famous role and photographs of the five actors that voiced the dwarfs alongside their beloved characters.

Some interesting facts are revealed:

  • Lucille LaVerne was cast as the Queen and then proved that she could voice the Witch as well ... by removing her false teeth.

  • Harry Stockwell, the voice of Prince Charming, was the father of actor Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap).

  • Billy Gilbert was well-know for his sneezing fits on radio, and thus was perfect for the role of Sneezy.

  • Roy Atwell was famous for his "spoonerisms": saying one word when he means another. These were incorporated into his character, Doc.

  • Pinto Colvig was a studio storyman who voiced both Grumpy and Sleepy. Of course, he also voiced a little character named Goofy.

  • Vaudevillian Eddie Collins was filmed as the live action reference for Dopey and also provided his vocal "effects", such as hiccups.

Live Action Reference:
Footage of actors performing scenes and musical numbers were filmed as a reference for the animators to study for movement, such as walking or dancing. Presented here are the complete sequences that were actually used by the animators of Snow White.

Excerpt from "Tricks of Our Trade":
Another look at this Disneyland episode, this time focusing on how the animators studied the live action references, such as comedian Billy House doing the Happy dance.

Character Design Galleries:

  • Snow White: See the many early interpretations of our fair princess, including those that resembled cartoon vamp Betty Boop and comedienne Zazu Pitts, and how the artists struggled to create a realistic, believable heroine.

  • The Dwarfs: Early sketches show the "lost" dwarfs, including Wheezy, Burpy, Vulgar, Stubby, Bigo-Ego and Deefy, who was deaf, and who no doubt would have gone the way of Pecos Bill's cigarettes and Panchito's pistols if he had remained.

  • The Queen: The sleekly menacing Queen we all know and hate was originally conceived as plump and dowdy. Walt wanted her to be a combination of "Lady McBeth and the Big Bad Wolf".

  • The Peddler: Still photos of the live action reference for the hag reveal a male actor in the role.

  • The Huntsman: Early sketches had him even more menacing then his final form.

  • The Prince: Various looks were tried out for the Prince, including a dashing Douglas Fairbanks type and a foppish royal dandy.

  • Animals: Sketches of Snow White's forest friends show an interest in rendering them in as realistic a way as possible. The Queen's raven was an early cousin of Sleeping Beauty's Diablo.