Silly Symphonies is a series of animated short subjects, 75 in total, produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939, while the studio was still located at Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. Unlike the Mickey Mouse series, to which it is a sister series, Silly Symphonies did not usually feature continuing characters. Donald Duck got his start in a Silly Symphonies cartoon (The Wise Little Hen, 1934), and Pluto's first appearance without Mickey Mouse was also in a Silly Symphonies cartoon (Mother Pluto, 1936).

About the series

The series was first distributed by Pat Powers from 1929 to 1930 and released by Celebrity Productions (1929 - 1930). After viewing "The Skeleton Dance", the management at Columbia Pictures quickly became interested in distributing the series, and gained the perfect opportunity to acquire Silly Symphonies after Disney broke with Celebrity Productions head Pat Powers after Powers signed Disney's colleague Ub Iwerks to a studio contract. As a matter of fact, Columbia Pictures (1930 - 1932) only picked up the distribution of the Mickey Mouse series on the condition that they would have exclusive rights to distribute the Silly Symphonies series; at first, Silly Symphonies could not even come close to the popularity Mickey Mouse had. The original title cards to the shorts released by Celebrity Productions and Columbia Pictures were all redrawn after Walt Disney stopped distributing his cartoons through them. Meanwhile, more competition spread for Disney after Max Fleischer's flapper cartoon character Betty Boop began to gain more and more popularity after starring in the cartoon Minnie the Moocher; by August of 1932, Betty Boop even became so popular, that the Talkartoon series was renamed as Betty Boop cartoons. In 1932, after falling out with Columbia Pictures, Disney began distributing his product through United Artists. The original title cards on these shorts stated "Joseph M. Schenck Presents A Silly Symphony". When Disney began to distribute his cartoon with RKO Radio Pictures the title cards were all replaced with the words "Mickey Mouse presents a Silly Symphony"

Shortly after the switch to U/A, however, the series quickly became even more popular. Walt Disney had seen some of Dr. Herbert Kalmus' tests for a new three-strip, full-color Technicolor process, which would replace the previous, two-tone Technicolor process. Disney signed a contract with Technicolor which gave the Disney studio exclusive rights to the new three-strip process through the end of 1935, and had a 60% complete Symphony, Flowers and Trees, scrapped and redone in full color. Flowers and Trees was a phenomenal success, and within a year, the now-in-Technicolor Silly Symphonies series had popularity and success that matched (and later surpassed) that of the Mickey Mouse cartoons; success for Silly Symphony cartoons boosted further and further after the Three Little Pigs was released, and later won Disney his second Oscar for best animated short as well. Several Silly Symphonies entries, including Three Little Pigs (1933), The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934), The Tortoise and the Hare (1934), The Country Cousin (1936), The Old Mill (1937), Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (1938), and The Ugly Duckling (1939, with an earlier black and white version from 1931), are among the most notable films produced by Walt Disney. However, Disney ceased production of Silly Symphonies in 1939, as the studio began to focus on producing films and new series shorts, [1].

Within the animation industry, the Silly Symphonies series is most noted for its use by Walt Disney as a platform for experimenting with processes, techniques, characters, and stories in order to further the art of animation. Among the innovations developed and/or improved upon in the series are Technicolor filmmaking, true and believable character animation, special effects animation, and dramatic storytelling in animation. Disney's experiments were widely praised within the film industry, and the Silly Symphonies won seven Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Cartoons), maintaining a six-year-hold on the category after it was first introduced. This record was matched only by MGM's Tom and Jerry series during the 1940s and 1950s.

Silly Symphonies brought along many imitators, including Warner Bros. cartoon series Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, and MGM's Happy Harmonies. The television series Mickey Mouse Works used the Silly Symphonies title for some of its new cartoons, but unlike the original cartoons, these did feature continuing characters. Disney also produced comic strips and comic books with this title.

On December 3 2001, Disney released "Silly Symphonies" as part of its DVD series "Walt Disney Treasures". On December 19 2006, "More Silly Symphonies" was released, completing the collection and allowing the cartoons to be completely available to the public.

Filmography

1929

• The Skeleton Dance: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 22 August 1929.
• El Terrible Toreador: Directed by Walt Disney, first released on 7 September 1929.
• Springtime: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 24 October 1929.
• Hell's Bells: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 11 November 1929. Featuring Satan, the Grim Reaper, Cerberus, and various unnamed demons of Hell.
• The Merry Dwarfs: Directed by Walt Disney, first released on 16 December 1929.

1930

• Summer: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 6 January 1930.
• Autumn: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 13 February 1930.
• Cannibal Capers: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 13 March 1930.
• Frolicking Fish: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 8 May 1930.
• Arctic Antics: Directed by Ub Iwerks, first released on 5 June 1930.
• Midnight in a Toyshop: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 3 July 1930.
• Night: Directed by Walt Disney, first released on 31 July, 1930.
• Monkey Melodies: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 10 August 1930.
• Winter: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 5 November 1930.
• Playful Pan: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 28 December 1930. Featuring the Greek god Pan.

1931

• Birds of a Feather: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 10 February 1931:
• Mother Goose Melodies: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 17 April 1931. Featuring among others Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, Little Jack Horner, Mother Goose, Old King Cole, and Simple Simon.
• The China Plate: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 25 May 1931.
• The Busy Beavers: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 22 June 1931.
• The Cat's Out: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 28 July 1931.
• Egyptian Melodies: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 21 August 1931.
• The Clock Store: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 30 September 1931.
• The Spider and the Fly. Directed by Wildred Jackson, first released on 16 October 1931.
• The Fox Hunt: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 18 November 1931.
• The Ugly Duckling: Based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen. Directed by Wildred Jackson, first released on 16 December 1931.

1932

• The Bird Store: Directed by Wildred Jackson, first released on 16 January 1932.
• The Bears and the Bees: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 9 July 1932.
• Just Dogs (Mickey Mouse does not appear): Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 30 July 1932. Featuring the first starring role of Pluto.
• Flowers and Trees: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 30 July 1932. First cartoon produced in Technicolor.
• King Neptune: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 10 September 1932. Featuring Greco-Roman god Poseidon/Neptune as the "King of the Sea".
• Bugs in Love: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 1 October 1932.
• Babes in the Wood: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 19 November 1932. Featuring Hansel and Gretel.
• Santa's Workshop: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 10 December 1932. Featuring Santa Claus.

1933

• Birds in the Spring: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 11 March 1933:
• Father Noah's Ark: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 8 April 1933. Featuring Noah, Ham, Japheth, Shem and their respective wives, as well as a cavalcade of animals.
• The Three Little Pigs: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 27 May 1933. Featuring the namesake characters and the Big Bad Wolf. Considered as Disney's major breakthrough in character animation.
• Old King Cole: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 29 July 1933. Featuring the namesake character along with (among others) Jack Sprat and Little Boy Blue/
• Lullaby Land: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on August 19 1933. Featuring Mr. Sandman.
• The Pied Piper: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 16 September 1933. An adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
• The Night Before Christmas: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 9 December 1933.

1934

• The China Shop: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 13 January 1934.
• The Grasshopper and the Ants: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 10 February 1934. Based on a fable by Aesop.
• Funny Little Bunnies: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 24 March 1934. Featuring the Easter Bunnies.
• The Big Bad Wolf: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 14 April 1934. Featuring the title character along with the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood.
• The Wise Little Hen: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 9 June 1934. Featuring the debut of Donald Duck.
• The Flying Mouse: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 14 July 1934.
• Peculiar Penguins: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 1 September 1934.
• The Goddess of Spring: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 3 November 1934. Featuring Persephone and a version of her uncle/husband Hades/Pluto, identified here with Satan: The Disney animators' first attempt to create visually realistic human characters.

1935

• The Tortoise and the Hare: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 5 January 1935. Featuring Max Hare and Toby Tortoise. With this short, Disney set a new standard in high quality lipsync. The former has been suggested as an early influence to Looney Tunes character Bugs Bunny.
• The Golden Touch: Directed by Walt Disney, first released on 22 March 1935. Featuring Midas and Goldie the elf.
• The Robber Kitten: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 13 April 1935:
• Water Babies: Directed by Wilfred Jacksom, first released on 11 May 1935.
• The Cookie Carnival: Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, first released on 25 May 1935.
• Who Killed Cock Robin?: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 26 June 1935.
• Music Land: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 5 October 1935.
• Three Orphan Kittens: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 26 October 1935.
• Cock o' the Walk: Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, first released on 30 November 1935.
• Broken Toys: Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, first released on 14 December 1935.

1936

• Elmer Elephant: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 28 March 1936.
• Three Little Wolves: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 18 April 1936. Featuring the title characters along with their father the Big Bad Wolf and his rivals the Three Little Pigs.
• Toby Tortoise Returns: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on August 22 1936. Featuring Max Hare and Toby Tortoise. It is a sequel to The Tortoise and the Hare. This time the plot revolves around a boxing match. The short features characters from other Silly Symphonies, including Practical Pig from Three Little Pigs, the woodpecker from Who Killed Cock Robin?, and a Mae West lookalike.^[1]
• Three Blind Mousketeers: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 26 September 1936.
• The Country Cousin: Co-directed by David Dodd Hand and Wilfred Jackson, first released on 31 October 1936.
• Mother Pluto (Mickey Mouse does not appear): Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 14 November 1936. Featuring Pluto mothering a number of newly-hatched chicks.
• More Kittens: Co-directed by David Dodd Hand and Wilfred Jackson, first released on 19 December 1936.

1937

• Woodland Café: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 13 March 1937.
• Little Hiawatha: Directed by David Dodd Hand, first released on 15 May 1937.
• The Old Mill: Disney's first use of the multiplane camera. Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 5 November 1937.

1938

• Moth and the Flame: Directed by Burton Gillett, first released on 1 April 1938.
• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod: Directed by Graham Heid, first released on 27 May 1938.
• Farmyard Symphony: Directed by Jack Cutting, first released on 14 October 1938.
• Merbabies: Outsourced to Harman-Ising Pictures, co-directed by Rudolf Ising and Vernon Stallings, first released on 9 December 1938.
• Mother Goose Goes Hollywood: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on 23 December 1938.

1939

• The Practical Pig: Directed by Dick Rickard, first released on 24 February, 1939. Featuring the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Wolves.
• The Ugly Duckling: Directed by Jack Cutting, first released on 7 April, 1939. Another cartoon version of the classical story, first animated in 1931, and the only Silly Symphony story to be made twice.

Walt Disney Specials

In 1938, Disney released the first of several Walt Disney Specials, a fairly significant number of theatrical shorts which featured no continuing characters, and yet were not labeled Silly Symphonies. Some of them may also be considered as featurettes rather than shorts. However, animation fans generally find them similar in nature to the previous series and occasionally reference them as unofficial entries or successors to it. The following list should not be taken as official:

• The Hot Choc-late Soldiers: First released on May 24 1934.
• Ferdinand the Bull: Directed by Dick Rickard, first released on November 25 1938.
• Reason and Emotion: Directed by William O. Roberts, first released on August 27,1943.
• Chicken Little: Directed by Clyde Geronimi, first released on December 17 1943.
• The Pelican and the Snipe: Directed by Hamilton Luske, first released on January 7 1944.
• The Brave Engineer: Directed by Jack Kinney, first released on March 3 1950. Featuring Casey Jones.
• Morris the Midget Moose: Directed by Charles Nichols, first released on November 24 1950.
• How To Catch a Cold: First released on August 1 1951.
• Lambert the Sheepish Lion: Directed by Jack Hannah, first released on February 8 1952.
• Susie the Little Blue Coupe: Directed by Clyde Geronimi, first released on June 6 1952.
• The Little House: Directed by Wilfred Jackson, first released on August 8 1952.
• Adventures In Music: Melody: Co-directed by Ward Kimball and Charles Nichols, first released on May 28 1953:
• Football Now and Then: Directed by Jack Kinney, first released on October 2 1953.
• Ben and Me: Directed by Hamilton Luske, first released on November 11 1953. Featuring Amos Mouse with his friends Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
• Pigs Is Pigs: Directed by Jack Kinney, first released on May 21 1954.
• Casey Bats Again: Directed by Jack Kinney, first released on June 18 1954.
• Social Lion: Directed by Jack Kinney, first released on October 15 1954.
• Hooked Bear: Directed by Jack Hannah, first released on April 27 1956.
• Jack and Old Mac: Directed by Bill Justice, first released on July 18 1956.
• In the Bag: Directed by Jack Hannah, first released on July 27 1956.
• A Cowboy Needs a Horse: Directed by Bill Justice, first released on November 6 1956.
• The Story of Anyburg U.S.A.: Directed by Clyde Geronimi, first released on June 19 1957.
• The Truth About Mother Goose: Co-directed by William Justice and Wolfgang Reitherman first released on August 28 1957.
• Paul Bunyan: Directed by Les Clark, first released on August 1 1958.
• Noah's Ark: Directed by Bill Justice, first released on November 10 1959. Featuring Noah, Ham, Japheth, Shem and their respective wives, plus a cavalcade of animals. Disney's first stop motion animation production.
• Goliath II: Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, first released on January 21 1960. The first time the xerography process was fully used in animation.
• The Saga of Windwagon Smith: Directed by Charles Nichols, first released on March 16 1961.
• A Symposium On Popular Songs: Directed by Bill Justice, first released on December 19 1962.
• Scrooge McDuck and Money: Directed by Hamilton Luske, first released on March 23 1967.
• The Small One: Directed by Don Bluth, first released on December 16 1978. The title character is a donkey. The film follows his adventure from a stable to his sale to Joseph of Nazareth and Mary, the mother of Jesus on their way to Bethlehem.
• Fun with Mr. Future: Directed by Darrell Van Citters, first released in 1982.
• Vincent: Directed by Tim Burton, first released in 1982.
• Oilspot and Lipstick: Directed by Michael Cedeno, first released in 1986.
• Tummy Trouble: Directed by Rob Minkoff, first released in 1989.
• Roller Coaster Rabbit: Directed by Rob Minkoff, first released in 1990.
• Petal to the Metal: Directed by David Block, first released in 1992.
• Trail Mix-Up: Directed by Barry Cook, first released in 1993.
• Stand by Me: Directed by Steve Moore, first released in 1995.
• Redux Riding Hood: Directed by Steve Moore, first released in 1998.
• John Henry: Directed by Mark Henn, first released in 2000.
• Destino: Directed by Dominique Monfery, first released in 2003.
• Lorenzo: Directed by Mike Gabriel, first released in 2004.

References

1. ^ Toby Tortoise Returns (1936). Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-01-13.

External links

• Disney Cartoon Classic Shorts
• Toonopedia: Silly Symphonies
• A listing of all 75 Silly Symphonies at The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts

Donate to Wikimedia