Dumbo

18 juin 2008

Dumbo
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Released in 1941 in the United States (and only in 1947 in France), Dumbo strongly stand out from the others animation feature films, betting on simplicity and emotions. Despite the undeniable quality of his films, Walt Disney realized he had to curb his ambitions. Fantasia, released a year before, was a failure; the audience didn't expect as much from a producer of cartoons. The direction of Dumbo began in 1939, just after the start of the World War II in Europe. More concerned by Bambi's production, which was on the go since the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney didn't put a lot into Dumbo, believing more in Bambi's success (actually it was a failure). Furthermore, the studios were producing cartoons of propaganda and a part of the team was ready to go to South America in order to reinforce the links between the American government and these Latino countries (this trip gave birth to two films : Saludos Amigos in 1943 ans The Three Caballeros in 1945).
Dumbo is extracted from the eponymous book written by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, its screen adaptation was entrusted to Joe Grant and Dick Huemer. The aim was to stay simple; the film don't exceed 65 minutes. Besides it makes its strength: its simple ans emotional story was immediately adopted by the audience and the critics !
The film budget was three times less important than for an usual animation feature film, the settings were also simple but very charming. As for the animation, it stays high-quality, Dumbo is a mute character, so the feelings had to go through his movements and expressions, what -we can say it - was successful. Its graphic style is closer to the studios' cartoons than the previous films. We owe the character animation of Dumbo to Bill Tytla who animated also the demon in the Fantasia sequence : Night on a Bald Mountain. Timothy, the mouse, was confided to Woolie Reitherman, still a young animator full of ambition at that time (he will become director of Disney animation films of the 1960's and 1970's). Finally, the crows were magnificently animated by Ward Kimball, specialist in crazy characters.
Despite his release two weeks between Pearl Harbour attack, Dumbo was a success and permitted to fill out the studio's fund again. So we are in front of a real masterpiece. Under its simple features, the story of Dumbo made above all pass some emotion and it's all which count for spending a good moment. Find below wonderful pictures of storyboards, some concept arts and the preparatory drawings of the pink elephants famous scene !