In the early ’40s, Disney was working on two full-length animated feature films, Bongo and Mickey and the Beanstalk. When war broke out at the height of their development, it was decided to create a “package feature,” combining the two stories in a single film, Fun and Fancy Free, which was released on this day …
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This Donald Duck cartoon opens with a forlorn Daisy recounting the ‘beautiful spring day” she had with her boyfriend, Donald, to an unseen psychiatrist. Through a series of flashback scenes, Daisy details the ill-fated moment when a flower pot fell several stories from a tall building and directly onto Donald’s head. Just as Donald awoke …
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Jack King, who directed Sleepy Time Donald, the 69th Donald Duck cartoon, began his animating career in 1920, eventually making his way to the West Coast and joining the Disney Studio in 1929. He stayed for four years before jumping to Leon Schlesinger Productions, makers of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies for Warner Bros., before …
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During World War II, when the Disney studio had deep economic problems, many staff members were away at war and much of the studios facilities were used for war efforts, it was impossible to produce a typical full-length animated feature. Thus, the “package” features were created, which combined shorter segments into motion picture compilations. And …
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While Pluto appeared in many cartoons with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, he was a star in his own right, having appeared in 48 of his own cartoons. In In Dutch, Pluto enjoys some flirtatious encounters in Holland with his dream dachshund, Dinah, who appeared in five cartoon shorts alongside our lovable canine. After accidentally …
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During World War II, when the Disney studio had deep economic problems, many staff members were away at war and much of the studios facilities were used for war efforts, it was impossible to produce a typical full-length animated feature. Thus, the “package” features were created, which combined shorter segments into motion picture compilations. And …
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Pluto’s Kid Brother (called “K.B.” in this short not “Pluto Junior” as another younger brother of his was called in the 1942 cartoon of the same name) stretches brotherly love to the limit in this hilarious short, in which Pluto’s rambunctious, perpetually panting, leash-evading sibling gets into all manner of difficulties despite Pluto’s best custodial …
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Disney Legend Frank Thomas, one of Walt’s esteemed Nine Old Men, started his animation career with Disney in 1934 and remained on staff until 1978. In 1942, however he left the Company to enlist in the Air Force and didn’t return until 1946. But even World War II couldn’t keep Frank away from animation. For …
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On this day in 1946, A Knight for a Day turned the calendar back 500 years to tell the tale of the 123rd running of the Canterbury tournament. Goofy portrays multiple roles, including Cedric, an underdog, so to speak, who becomes a knight for a day. When the noble Sir Loinsteak is supposed to joust …
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Hey sports fans! On this day in 1945, the Goofy cartoon short Hockey Homicide was released, which took place, according to the game announcer, “at the Elite Deluxe Sports Palace,” where one of the biggest hockey games of the season brought together two of the top ranking teams in the league. In this absurdly silly …
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