Toon Talk Special: Disney's MVPs - Part Two:
Page 4 of 4
#4 - GRUMPY
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 1937
With seven other guys hanging around, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd. But the gruff Grumpy surely does … in fact, in the end, he’s truly the only character in the film to actually change (after all, Snow White was always pure, the Queen evil, et cetera). Voiced by a pre-Goofy Pinto Colvig, we eventually see the heart beneath all the bluster.
#3 - SEBASTIAN
The Little Mermaid - 1989
Deep under the sea we find a calypso crooning Jamaican crab (prone to, well, crabbiness) named Sebastian (voiced by Samuel E. Wright). Debuting at the cusp of the Disney animation renaissance, he paved the way for all the show-stopping production numbers and clever companions to follow. Ironically, he was originally conceived as a turtle.
#2 - TINKER BELL
Peter Pan - 1953
The famous image of our Miss Bell sprinkling Pixie Dust (ranging from the opening credits of the Disneyland television show to the fireworks spectaculars at the magic kingdoms across the globe) almost never happened: in the original play, Tink is seen only as a spot of light. Credit legendary animator Marc Davis for literally bringing her to life.
#1 - JIMINY CRICKET
Pinocchio - 1940
From the opening strains of “When You Wish Upon a Star�? through to his return engagements in Fun and Fancy Free and The Mickey Mouse Club, the charms of this little guy have endured, even though this character was merely a bit player in the original story (where he was unceremoniously stepped on by an ungrateful Pinocchio soon after his arrival). But thanks to the design of original animator Ward Kimball and the vocal talents of Cliff Edwards, Jiminy Cricket has enchanted the young and the young at heart for generations with his simple goodness and homespun wisdom. Remember, he’s no fool.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS -
Some more ‘MVPs’ not found in the animated features … or at least not yet …
From Live Action:
CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - 2003
OK, so how does the top-billed star of the movie become its ‘MVP’? Well, when it’s as cleverly anarchistic and gleefully oblivious to every tenet in the leading man rule book as Johnny Depp’s performance is as the heavily mascaraed and hair braided Captain Jack Sparrow in this Summer’s box office blockbuster, ’tis easy to make that decision, mate!
Coming Soon:
TUKE and RUTT
Brother Bear - 2003
As already witnessed in the trailer for this upcoming release (due November 1st), the two mooses? Meeses? Moose played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas (harkening back to their Bob and Doug McKenzie days, beauty eh?) are already crowd-pleasers. But they better watch there back for that cute cub Koda …
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Coming Soon:
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Experiment 626 is back … with the 625 other experiments hot on his tail … in Stitch! The Movie, now available on VHS and Disney DVD.
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A Disney Channel favorite hits DVD with Kim Possible: The Secret Files, on sale September 2nd.
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Also on September 2nd, three live action favorites from the 70s are released in Special DVD Editions: The Apple Dumpling Gang, Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain.
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And again on September 2nd, The Absent-Minded Professor returns to DVD in its original form: in widescreen and glorious black and white.
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-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted August 29, 2003