Debra, the Kansas farm boy liked off-color jokes and managed to slip some in his early cartoons. It's when he decided to use children's literature as source material (because he felt it was more amenable to animation than adult fare) that the squeaky-clean image took over.
One animator who worked for Disney in the early days was Friz Freleng. According to a biography of Disney, the two men had a falling out, and Freleng left, eventually ending up at Leon Schlesinger's studio (Warner Brothers) where he eventually became an animation director. Whenever one of Freleng's cartoons was screened at the Disney studio--a way of keeping track of the competition--Walt would introduce it by saying "Now here's one by Friz Pee-leng"
Mike, are you referring to Song of the South (the one with Uncle Remus)? Here's some background on the 1946 movie: https://www.mouseplanet.com/12555/Whats_the_Deal_with_the_Song_of_the_South
In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.
That's funny. I recently read of Walt visiting England, I think a town called Disney something. He had a connection to the town.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I'm surprised there's not an amusement park there.
DeleteHmmm, I wonder what his other vices were?
ReplyDeleteDebra, the Kansas farm boy liked off-color jokes and managed to slip some in his early cartoons. It's when he decided to use children's literature as source material (because he felt it was more amenable to animation than adult fare) that the squeaky-clean image took over.
ReplyDeleteOne animator who worked for Disney in the early days was Friz Freleng. According to a biography of Disney, the two men had a falling out, and Freleng left, eventually ending up at Leon Schlesinger's studio (Warner Brothers) where he eventually became an animation director. Whenever one of Freleng's cartoons was screened at the Disney studio--a way of keeping track of the competition--Walt would introduce it by saying "Now here's one by Friz Pee-leng"
I wasn't all just singing birds at Disney.
I wonder what else Walt Disney didn't do.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens in Anaheim stays in Anaheim, Mitchell.
DeleteRacist and more.
ReplyDeleteMike, are you referring to Song of the South (the one with Uncle Remus)? Here's some background on the 1946 movie:
Deletehttps://www.mouseplanet.com/12555/Whats_the_Deal_with_the_Song_of_the_South