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Walt Disney Animation Collection DVDs:
Wave 1: Volume 1: Mickey and the Beanstalk • Volume 2: Three Little Pigs • Volume 3: The Prince and the Pauper
Wave 2: Volume 4: The Tortoise and the Hare • Volume 5: The Wind in the Willows • Volume 6: The Reluctant Dragon
Walt Disney Animation Collection: Classic Short Films - Volume 5: Wind in the Willows DVD Review
Disney can be awfully fickle when it comes to its properties. They will milk one franchise dry while heavily ignoring another. Oftentimes they do a sort of combination of both where they'll eagerly start something but then lose interest too fast to finish it. With a track record like that, it's hard to drum up much enthusiasm for the new Walt Disney Animation Collection: Classic Short Films. It's wonderful to see the studio embracing its roots, to be sure, but one can't help but wonder how long this collection will actually last. Disney has abandoned other DVD compilations of short films after barely scratching the surface. There's nothing to suggest this new line will be much different.
With Volume 5: Wind in the Willows, the studio continues the current standard of featuring a lengthy short as the centerpiece and several smaller ones that have a vaguely similar theme. This time the theme seems to be classic morality tales Devotees to the original story may be horrified by what's presented as the filmmakers kept Grahame's names and locations but threw out most everything else. That said, the short is certainly a winner in its own regard. It feels like a warm-up for the more famous '50s features that followed it. The opening is reminiscent of Peter Pan, the madcap humor feels like an Alice in Wonderland trial run, and certain shots and editing choices foreshadow Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp. The material here is so strong, in fact, that it's almost disappointing that Disney decided to relegate it to package feature status and not expand it into its own full-length feature.
The other five shorts may not make as indelible an impression, but they're still entertaining. The strongest of these is 1939's Ugly Duckling, the only short on the disc told without dialogue. It's been said that in film, one should show instead of say. Disney has always excelled at that, as evidenced by this Silly Symphony. One effective sequence is when the two adult ducks argue over the duckling's appearance. Despite not uttering a single word of English, it's very clear what they're arguing about, more so for the adults watching than the children. The other Silly Symphonies included are charming despite not being as complex as this or as memorable as the main feature.
"The Wind in the Willows" (1949) (34:21)
"Ugly Duckling" (1939) (9:01)
"The Grasshopper and the Ants" (1934) (8:26)
"The Golden Touch" (1935) (10:06)
"The Robber Kitten" (1935) (7:50)
"The Wise Little Hen" (1934) (7:44)
VIDEO and AUDIO
All six shorts are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. As with other volumes in this series, image quality is a mixed bag. As part of the Ichabod and Mr. Toad DVD, Willows suffered from some problems, but not nearly to the extent shown here. A very old, worn-out print of the isolated half is used, and the results are ghastly. Colors are so dark that backgrounds often fade into blackness. Contrast is off since despite the ever-present dimness, whites tend to be blown out. Print flaws such as speckles and hairs are noticeable, and outlines appear too soft.
Thankfully, despite being older, the other five shorts are much more satisfactory in appearance. Of these, Wise Little Hen impresses the most with its brightness and clarity. The Grasshopper and the Ants looks the weakest, suffering from what appear to be Technicolor registration problems. Some light grain and minor speckles appear in all five of the Silly Symphonies, but these aren't distracting. Sharpness ranges from decent to great, and colors all around seem accurately replicated.
The Dolby 2.0 mono tracks are serviceable. Wind in the Willows sounds hollow and muffled. The Silly Symphonies offer more clarity and less hiss, though it's occasionally hard to make out the dialogue (Ugly Duckling excluded for its lack of speech, and The Wise Little Hen for having characters with speech impediments like Donald). Otherwise, the non-Willows tracks are about as good as they can get given the source limitations.
BONUS FEATURES, MENUS and PACKAGING
As with other Walt Disney Animation Collection discs, Volume 5's only supplement is a 7 1/8" x 4 3/8 lithograph print. Via Disney's FastPlay, the disc opens with trailers for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog, Monsters, Inc. on Blu-ray, The Tigger Movie: 10th Anniversary Special Edition, and Disney Movie Rewards. After all the shorts play consecutively, more trailers show up for Race to Witch Mountain, Princess Protection Program, The Black Cauldron: Special Edition, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, and Disney Parks.
The retro, hodge-podged clipart bears no resemblance to the more understated design of the packaging. The main menu contains the noteworthy score from The Grasshopper and the Ants but has no animation. The same applies to all other submenus, though the Sneak Peeks menu has some limited background activity.
The gray disc comes housed in a white Amaray case with side snaps which in turn has an embossed, cardboard slipcover. Inside the packaging is a Disney Movie Rewards code and a Blu-ray pamphlet.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Without a doubt, the content of this Wind in the Willows DVD earns a recommendation. The titular short remains fresh and lively, |
Related Reviews:
New to DVD: Volume 4 - The Tortoise and the Hare • Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Big Splash • Galaxy Quest: Deluxe Edition
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad • Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies • Timeless Tales, Volume One • Timeless Tales, Volume Two
Timeless Tales, Volume Three • Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald • Chicken Little • It's a Small World of Fun! Volume 4
Walt Disney Animation Collection: Vol 1. - Mickey and the Beanstalk • Vol 2. - Three Little Pigs • Vol 3. - The Prince and the Pauper
UltimateDisney.com | DVD Reviews | DVDizzy.com: DVD & Blu-ray Schedule | Upcoming Disney DVDs | Walt Disney Treasures | Search This Site
Reviewed May 11, 2009.