“Whatever the mind can conceive…” Introduction to the #Disney52

With the release of Wreck-It Ralph, Disney has produced its 52^nd animated feature film. This doesn’t include direct to DVD sequels, or anything by one of the companies they own (e.g. Pixar). This is their canon of classics, the ones that always cost lots of money in HMV and get re-released every now and then in shiny new formats. It started with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, went via some highs (their first and second golden ages) and some lows (mostly Pocahontas), as well as many films that have now been forgotten by many (who watches The Three Caballeros or The Black Cauldron any more?), and now it is at their most modern, technologically accomplished film yet. Over seventy three years the studio has: had financial booms and struggles; given up, resurrected, then given up again traditional 2D animation; created their own tween-friendly TV channel; had live action successes (Pirates of the Caribbean) and failures (John Carter); bought Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm; run several successful theme parks as well as EuroDisney; generally been everywhere, all at once. Mickey Mouse, that fairy tale castle, and the institution that they represent, have become famous all around the world. Yet the one thing that people keep returning to, beyond the High School Musicals and corporate takeovers, is this canon of fifty two films.

Everyone has their own favourite Disney film, whether informed by nostalgia, admiration for a particular style of animation, or the catchiness of the songs involved. I’m from the generation of 90’s kids who were lucky enough to grow up during the studio’s Second Golden Age, when they produced masterpieces such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and, my personal favourite, The Lion King. As such, these films hold a special value for me as they featured more prominently in my childhood than some of the studio’s older films. But even when approaching their first films now, the quality of craftmanship that went into them is astonishing. The Illusion of Life, a book by two of Disney’s Nine Old Men, shows the skill and artistry behind this studio that was blazing a trail of new animation techniques that still impress to this day. Then, as their First Golden Age died out, Disney went through a quieter period where they made more minor films that are nevertheless still loved to this day. Robin Hood and The Aristocats, for instance,are beloved by fans around the world. Hidden amongst these well known films are a whole load that we rarely watch these days, from films that centre on their figurehead Mickey Mouse, to even more obscure films such as The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad. I thought myself something of a Disney expert, but when seeing the breadth of their classics canon, I realised how much of their work I was yet to see.

With such a rich back catalogue and plenty of films waiting to be watched for the first time, working my way through the Disney Canon seemed like a good idea. So that’s the plan, and I’ll even watch Chicken Little. There are now fifty two classic Disney animations and, as with most years, there are fifty two weeks in the year. It’s a no-brainer to then watch one a week. That’s right, one Disney film a week for all of 2013. But wait, can I actually achieve this monumental task? Two massive problems raise their ugly head. Firstly, I’m a student with finals and a dissertation I need to do well in this year! Perhaps spending my last semester of study watching classic Disney films is not a good idea. Secondly, many Disney films are rather difficult to find nowadays, either locked away in Walt’s Vault, or prohibitively expensive because they only had a limited release on DVD. So there are problems, and this could well be a fools errand. But nevertheless, I shall endeavour to write something for all you loyal readers, once a week, about a Disney film, going in chronological order.

There will be check lists, trivia tidbits, artwork and personal stories along the way. I’ll approach each film with equal parts objectivity and subjectivity, trying to look at why these films are so beloved and adding the reasons why I, as a twenty two year old who should have grown out of them, keep returning to them time and time again. It should be a fun odyssey through decades of classic animated cinema, and will be a whole lot more light hearted than if I was writing a David Fincher retrospective for some reason.

Feel free to tweet and watch along, use the hashtag #Disney52. And if you live in Edinburgh and own any of these DVDs, let me know cause I only own about six. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I plan to.

Posted by Nathanael Smith in #Disney52 Tags: #disney52, 52, Animated, disney, feature films