I love animated films. Sure, it started as a kid. Who didn’t love the Disney Classics, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves? Or 101 Dalmatians.
In the way of Disney animation and the best of the best? If we turn to Rotten Tomatoes, we find that Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh tie for first, with a 100% rating each. Then Zootopia, Snow White, Dumbo, and 101 Dalmatians tie for second with 98% in the upvote.
I’m not sure I agree with everyone at Rotten Tomatoes, as “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is ranked higher than “The Jungle Book.”
Oooo-oooo-oooooo. I wanna’ be like yoooou-ooo-oooo.
I wanna’ walk like you. Talk like you. Oooo-oooo-ooooo.
Anyway.
Old Walt Disney had to start somewhere, and it all began with a little animated short film called Kansas City’s Spring Clean-up. It was created in 1921 as a demo reel. It is quick. A police story, as I saw it.
Since then, Disney has produced thousands of animated films, both short, and full-feature. Not all of them are good. In fact, I’d argue that a few sort of stink.
But one classic was released on this date, May 27, 1933. It was the first time we saw The Three Little Pigs. Yes, those porky little fellows, dancing around and building their little houses so adeptly with their little piggy paws. Or, hooves? Feet?
Anyway, the film featured the song Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Both the film and the song became highly popular with the Depression-era public at that time. And. For many years thereafter.
Of course, the underlying theme highlights “fortitude in the face of adversity.”
“The Three Little Pigs” is a catchy story about three chubby swine who build three houses of different materials. Then comes along the Big Bad Wolf. He blows down the first two pigs’ houses, made of straw and sticks, respectively. But that third time is not the charm. BigBad is unable to destroy the third pig’s house, made of bricks.
That story, told a million times, I bet. But here is my question about the movie, since I was a child. Why are the first two pigs dressed as little sailors, and the third pig, the brick house pig, wears a pair of overalls? I mean, clearly, he is an experienced carpenter. But why do the first two look like they just got off some boat?
The actual story has been around for quite some time. Printed versions date back to the 1840s, but the story is thought to be much older.
The earliest version, 1853, tells the story of three pixies and a fox. But the best-known version came around in 1890. It appeared in “English Fairy Tales” by Joseph Jacobs, with James Halliwell-Phillipps credited for authoring the tale.
This wasn’t one of my favorite stories growing up. It made me anxious. It is funny, as I watched it again, this morning before I wrote this, those same feelings came back in the same scenes. But those emotions bordered more on irritation than anxiety, I think.
Maybe those early animations all had “morals to the story” attached, but one thing is clear, they seem to evoke emotions in the small minds that are viewing the movies. I wonder about the impact of this, on all children. Young minds are just waiting to soak it all in. And they do. For better or for worse.
But back to the pigs. The lessons are many. But mostly, we learn that quick fixes often don’t stand up. Not by the hair of our chinny, chin, chins.
And, they could have defended themselves against the wolf, if only they’d known Karate. They could have hit them with their pork chops.
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“When life puts rocks in your way, build something nice with them.”
― Volksweisheit
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“Build what you believe in.”
― Adrienne Posey
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“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.”
― Marvin J. Ashton
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Chins. Pickeled Feet. Houses. And everything in between.
