Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #11: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

By Munir Abedrabbo.

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #10: Melody Time (1948)

The last of the “package” films is also easily the best of the bunch, and remains an underrated treasure from the great studio. Adapting two well know stories, (“The Wind in the Willows” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”) this film provides genuine fun and thrilling action that will surely enchant the entire family. The animation is also better than its predecessors and everything in the film suggests much more confidence in the Disney crew than any of the other “package” films. This film features two of the Disney studio's best segments, and it's too bad that the film remains an obscure entry, because it has plenty to offer to viewers of all ages. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is considered a “package” film, but it's truly a class apart from the rest of them. Rating: 4.5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #12 Review: Cinderella (1950)

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- War Period Introduction

By Munir Abedrabbo.

War Period: The Anthology Films (1943-1949)

Overview

After a far too short period of developing and innovating animation techniques and completely changing the animation industry with ambitious projects, World War II took its toll on the Disney Studio. Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi weren't as successful as Walt had hoped and, out of a need to keep the studio afloat during and after the War, he had to cut expense. Disney then released a series of inexpensive shorts, encompassed in various feature films. Universally known as the Anthology Films nowadays, this period is rather obscure for the casual Disney fan that tends to jump from the end of the Golden Age with Bambi to the Silver Age with Cinderella. Nonetheless, even if these films aren't widely known, and even if many of them offer uneven experiences to the audience, they are certainly worth a look and they’re an important part of the studio’s history during that difficult time.

 

Tomorrow: Animated Classic #6 Review: Saludos Amigos