Q: I am an Masters student in the Media Arts Department at the University of North Texas. I am currently working on a research paper about Classical-era animation and later changes made to films when concerning depictions of race, religion, and violence. I submitted my question first to the Library of Congress and they suggested I submit my question to you.
One of my main questions concerns the altering and/or reanimating of some of their early-animated films/shorts such as Three Little Pigs and Fantasia. I wondered if their changes are permanent alterations to the negatives or nitrates (housed at the Library of Congress) or are simply other versions that are distributed to the general public?
If they are the original prints, are these ever exhibited to the public or able to be viewed by researchers etc.?
Brent, Dallas, Texas
A: I do not know for sure, but since the prints of Three Little Pigs and Fantasia submitted to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress were sent in 2007 and 1990 respectively, I would guess that they are the revised prints, since the revisions had been made decades earlier. The original versions, however, are maintained in the Disney film vaults, but are not available for viewing.