In 1928, when Walt Disney's artists completed "The Skeleton Dance," the distributor of the Mickey Mouse shorts rejected the first "Silly Symphony" with a two-word telegram: "MORE MICE." Disney arranged to screen "Skeleton Dance" at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, where it received an enthusiastic response, and the series took off. Seven "Silly Symphonies" won Academy Awards, beginning with "Flowers and Trees." Disney used these musically themed shorts to train young artists and test new styles, effects, and technologies: every film represented an innovation of some sort. In "Three Little Pigs," characters who looked alike demonstrated different personalities through the way they moved. "The Old Mill" showcased the newly invented Multiplane camera. The Sugar Cookie Girl in "Cookie Carnival" was one of several female characters the artists created while learning to animate a believable heroine for
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The well-chosen selections in this set demonstrate how quickly Disney advanced the art of animation during the '30s. Only eight years separate the crude black-and-white version of "The Ugly Duckling" (1931) from the moving Technicolor Oscar-winner of 1939. Over 60 years later, these films have lost none of their charm. The jazz-dancing insects in "Woodland Café," the wonderfully animated caricature of Mae West in "Who Killed Cock Robin," and the instrument-characters in "Music Land" remain as delightful as ever. Leonard Maltin makes a genial host, and two hidden cartoons include Walt's introductions from the old
Disneyland program.
--Charles Solomon
Fables and Fairy Tales:
Mother Goose Melodies, Babes in the Woods, Lullaby Land, The Flying Mouse, The Golden Touch, The Robber Kitten, Elmer Elephant, The Country Cousin, and
The Tortoise and the Hare.
Favorite Characters:
Three Little Pigs, The Wise Little Hen, Three Little Wolves, Toby Tortoise Returns, and
The Big Bad Wolf.
Leonard Maltin's Picks:
The Grasshopper and the Ants, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Flying Mouse, The Country Cousin, Wynken Blynken and Nod, and
The Three Little Pigs.
Accent on Music:
The Skeleton Dance, The China Plate, Egyptian Melodies, Flowers and Trees, The Cookie Carnival, Music Land, and
Woodland Café.
Nature on the Screen:
Birds of a Feather, The Busy Beavers, The Ugly Duckling (1931),
Just Dogs, Father Noah's Ark, Funny Little Bunnies, Peculiar Penguins, Mother Pluto, The Old Mill, and
The Ugly Duckling (1939).
Leonard Maltin's Picks II:
The Skeleton Dance, Flowers and Trees, Music Land, and
The Ugly Duckling.
1 You will treasure this collection forever
This collection is absolutely charming. Unfortunately, it is now locked away in Disney's vault, but you can still get it second-hand if you're willing to pay a little more for it. I recommend getting it while you still can before they become too scarce!
This collection is perfect for children or adults. Disney fans will love it. My favorite is adorable Elmer Elephant. I promise you will not be disappointed with this! These are all truly precious little works of art. Nobody is too old to fall in love with these.
2 RE-RELEASE THESE!!!!
These are some of the greatest feats of art & animation ever produced during the start of Disney's legendary years. Along w/ Mickey Mouse in Color vol.1 and Donald Duck vol.1, Silly Symphonies preludes Disney's first features: Snow White, Pinnochio, Fanstasia, and Bambi, which were the company's greatest artistic achievements. Works that deserve to be seen and enjoyed by generations. However, here's the rub. The money mongers from the now corporate powers of "disney," previously led by the power hungry Michael Eisner, have made this DVD, as well as the others I listed, limited edition, hard-to find rarities because they pull them off the shelves & lock them up in Uncle Scrooge's vault until who knows how long. If you want to find any of these DVD's get ready to pay $70 a pop if you're lucky. DVDs aren't rare coins or stamps, they should be accessible to those who want to watch them, which is the entire purpose of releasing things on DVD-TO WATCH them. "Disney" has hundreds of terrible titles on DVD that they leave out to be purchased by the general public, but keep their legacy out of reach. You can buy a direct-to-video copy of Cinderalla II, or some other generic sequal made for money, but you can't go out and buy your kid Snow White, Pinnochio, or Silly Symphanies. Something with character that will stay with them and plant a little seed of magic in their hearts that will continue growing. No, the quality is off the shelves, back in the vault, or whatever (Eisner's garage?). I will not recommend this DVD because there would be no point in doing so. They're not available. Go try and find it for a fair price. I sincerely hope that the corporate monster that "disney" has become wakes up and decides to market their best products in a more distinguished manner. It was always about quality art for the young and young at heart, and now they're totally lost. Release these again, please. So make sure you get Bambi before they lock the little guy up in the "vault", like they did with those seven dwarves & their girlfriend.
3 Other neglected Disney treasures
I would like to see 'Lambert the Cowardly Lion' and 'Ferdinand the Bull' on DVD. They are available in a collection on VHS, but certainly deserve DVD along with other collectibles.
4 Warning To Marketplace Buyers
Warning to those that want to buy this DVD set from Marketplace sellers. There is one Marketplace seller that goes by the name rhaxter that has a very belligerent and abusive attitude to any buyer that has the "gall" to complain to him about his sending damaged merchandise. Check out other sellers as I have had some very good dealings with them.
The bottom line is to always check all of the reviews of the Marketplace sellers. Mr Haxter had some good reviews until you check some of those those that complained about damaged goods and then they reported his abuse and contempt for them.
My comments on this DVD set is that it is a wonderful time capsule of the Disney cartoons of the 1930's. It is well worth buying and very nostalgic for those that grew up watching Walt Disney.
5 Disney can't miss with the Treasures series
The Treasures line in my opinion are the best dvds of classic animation to ever be released. When toons did not have to be politically correct some of the finest shorts ever were produced, many being by Disney. The Silly Symphonies series(about half of it) is brought to dvd and this is an essential set to any animation fan/buff/casual viewer, truly proving the greatness of the Treasures line. Disney doesn't seem to have the magic that made it what it is anymore, but these shorts are all full of that magic. A few years ago if someone had told me Disney would be releasing vintage material in such an extraordinary way I would have never believed it. But Bravo to them for releasing these wonderful works of art instead of hiding them in the vault for eternity.
This collection contains more than 30 Silly Symphonies short cartoons, some you may remember and some you may not. For me, some of the high points of this set include The Old Mill, Skeleton Dance, The Ugly Duckling and of course all of the Three Little Pigs shorts(who's afraid of the big,bad wolf, big bad wolf, big bad wolf----it will stay in your ead longer than you want it to.) I believe Skeleton Dance was the first one but I could be wrong, and while not near as animatedly developed as Disney projects would later be it has great charm to it. Charm is what classic Disney is all about and there is no better way to enjoy it than this great set. Some of the shorts are easter eggs which is a little annoying, but as long as I own them it is not that big of a problem.
People have expressed slight disappointment in the fact that shorts such as Santas Workshop and Ferdinand were not included. Do not worry because the Treasures line has been highly successful. It is a safe assumption to make that we will see a Silly Symphonies Volume 2 sometime in the future. But enjoy what we have been given already, a nice 2 disc set with some of the most fun cartoons you will ever see. As with the rest of the Treasures series, this set was a limited edition release and if you find this in any store today grab it quick. It has long been out-of-print but you should be able to find it online for about $40 (it is nowhere near as popular as Mickey in Color volume 1 which can cost you $100 or more to get in the tin). The extras are pretty good, showing the past and present success of the series. All this packaged in a high quality metal tin case are all that should convince you to pick this set up if you still can. It is honestly one of the most entertaining dvds I own, and that is saying a lot, so for those who really like classic innovative animation pick this release up and own a piece of animation history.
6 something missing?
GREAT STUFF!
But where is Ferdinand and the Santa Claus Workshop?
7 Essential for any animation fan
Essential - and enjoyable. Fantastic animation from the people who basically wrote the book on animated shorts.
The only drawback that I found was that several cartoons are hidden as "Easter Eggs". In an archival type product like this, making these cartoons only viewable if you arrow around and hit the right pixel seems like a bad idea.
I'm still waiting for the rest of the Silly Symphonies - they made around 70. (and where's Ferdinand?)
8 A Treasure Indeed
This DVD is packed with hours of some of the best animation ever made! Sound and visual quality is top notch. As my kids can attest, you'll want to watch it over and over again. Better hurry, as a limited edition, this DVD will not last long.
9 Silly Symphonies are wonderful!
Great DVD for the entire family!
10 A real treat
Many wonderful shorts including some cool Easter Eggs. They can be play either in closed-captioned (CC) or subtitled but for the rest of DVD features such as The Song of the Silly Symphonies, Silly Symphonies Souvenirs, brief introductions by Maltin and Walt Disney, and a few others they are not closed-captioned or subtitled and that was very disappointing.
11 A slice of history and delightful fun!
I grew up in the 60s and while I don't remember the cartoons specifically, so many of them cause such a delightful sense of dejavu in me that I feel like I'm tapping into my childhood as I view them.
I am now sharing them with my 2 year-old daughter. A couple are a bit frightening to her but those that do frighten her offer up a wonderful opportunity to learn (i.e., storms in The Old Mill).
If I could afford it, I would buy one of these sets for every person I know because I am certain adult and child alike would be enthralled.
12 OUTSTANDING
Walt Disney Treasures - Silly Symphonies is a must-have collection. These cartoons are classics and are of great historical and cultural value. But most of all, I really enjoyed them. Of all the Walt Disney Treasures that come in this special metal packaging I held off on this one till I had the others. That was a big mistake. I actually found this collection to be one of the best because of the content, presentation and obvious care that went into it. This is one of the very best Disney DVDs.
13 awesome for all ages
We love this DVD. my son (age 3) and daughter (age 8) could sit through all five hours + and then watch again the next day!!! It offers a wonderful musical experience without violence!! Thanks Walt
14 What you've been waiting for...
Disney's Silly Symphonies have made an absolutely stunning transition to DVD, every color and subtle detail intact. The best of them (Babes in the Woods, Music Land, Father Noah's Ark) are brilliantly innovative, richly textured full animation, like nothing else before or since. Funny Little Bunnies, though not the peak of Disney sophistication, remains at the very least, a triumphant display of early 3-strip Technicolor. Softer pastel hues imbue the charming Water Babies. On the other hand, not all the silly symphonies are an unalloyed delight. The Three Little Pigs spawned three inferior sequels (The Big Bad Wolf, The Three Little Wolves & Practical Pig); a fine music score alone is not enough to buoy the pallid whimsy of Wynken, Blynken & Nod. And only the most rabid Disneyphile will respond to the bland anthropomorphics of Farmyard Symphony and Peculiar Penguins. Still, there's more gold to be mined from the Disney archives, and some of the finest Silly Symphonies (Merbabies, Hot Chocolate Soldiers, Goddess of Spring) await rediscovery, so let's hope a volume 2 is forthcoming, perhaps supplemented by some of Disney's better work from the '50s & '60s (e.g. Cosmic Capers; It's Tough to be a Bird, etc..). In fact, Disney should be given carte blanche to work its restorative magic on other cartoon classics from the '30s, notably Harman & Ising's Happy Harmonies, and some of the Fleischer color classics. Wouldn't that be nice?
15 Worthy of the money spent.
Disney finally releases some of their best animated shorts! Even though I am way too young to remember these cartoons when they first were shown, it is nice to see the whole cartoon. I remember seeing pieces of "The Old Mill" in a Disney Halloween show when I was young, and it is nice to see the whole thing. The main reason I wanted this set was because of the big ones like: "The Old Mill", "Skeleton Dance", "The Three Little Pigs", and "Flowers and Trees", but all of them are pretty good. "Wynken, Blinken, and Nod", and "The Ugly Duckling" (1939) are probably my newly discovered favorites.
Most likely, there are even more Silly Symphonies that are not yet released but these have been wisely chosen. There is maybe one stinker in the bunch, and thats "The China plate". There really isn't that much great animation in it and the story isn't all that interesting. Other than that one small complaint the collection is very good.
Another small complaint is that the shorts are not listed properly in the little DVD booklet. It is also hard to find a certain show you want to watch because some of them are hidden or (Easter Eggs). When I first got the DVD I was scared because I couldn't find all the shows because they were hidden so well. I can't really see what the point in this is, and I wonder why Disney made it so difficult to navigate. Now that I know that all the shows are actually there I am content enough to search for the show I want but it takes awhile.
The Leornard Maltin stuff is alright. I could have done without the interview with the composer and the Disney antique guy, but most of his introductions to "his favorites" are pretty good. I would have rather had commentary for each short done by someone like John Canemaker or a present day Disney animator, but I guess you can't have everything.
I have had this DVD for about a year and I just watched it a day ago and there were some I hadn't watched yet! A great collection for a lover of animation.
16 My disbelief at being able to own such a collection.
I could hardly belive that i could at last obtain such a treasury of Disney shorts, and so many that i had not seen before. However, in my film collecting years (Std 8,Super 8 & 16mm) i did manage to get a couple of the tiles featured on this DVD, namly 'The Old Mill' and 'Elmer' and recall all too well how lucky i thought i had been then. But this collection is for me a remarkable addition to my Library, my thanks go to all those behind making this DVD available for public purchase.
17 Easter Eggs Too
This is a wonderful DVD set. I'm hoping that they will release the rest of the Silly Symphony Series in the near future. The Easter Eggs such as The Practical Pig, Water Babies, etc. are a little hard to find, but one of the many Internet Sites about Easter Eggs on DVD will help you find them.
18 SOMETHING TO TREASURE!!! WHAT A GREAT RELEASE!!!
I didn't give it a second look. I had to buy it! These are some of the finnest animation ever made. These are true classics! All the films are divided into categories and some of them even have an introduction by Mr.Disney himself. There are also a few nice extras conducted by Mr. Leonard Maltin. But even without the extras, it would still be a great buy.
In a time (like this) when animation quality many times drops bellow zero, this is a great chance to introduce the kids (and adults) to the real art. Sheer magic! Absolute delight!
Picture is great and so is sound (considering its age). Disney couldn't have done better. I just hope they'll keep releasing more of its treasures.
Warner Bros. could do the same!...
19 a disney disaster
A terrible dvd from the cheapskates at Disney. Many of the cartoons are impossible to find and the directions are of no help. Disney should recall all copies of Silly Symphonies that are out and give proper instructions how to find the cartoons. And, where or where is The Practical Pig? I paid for it.
20 A Valuable "Disney Treasure"
With more than five hours of material, this "Silly Symphonies" collection remains the best of the limited-edition "Walt Disney Treasures" series. The two-DVD set includes some of the finest animated shorts in pristine condition -- notably "The Skeleton Dance" (1929), "Flowers and Trees" (1932), "The Three Little Pigs" (1933), "Music Land" (1935) and "The Old Mill" (1937). For cartoon buffs, the "Silly Symphonies" package is a must-have. For the uninitiated, it is the perfect introduction to Disney's early work.
21 Fascinating to watch, not my pick of Disney material
For your money you get a collection of Disney shorts that most people have never seen restored to a condition much as they must've been in the 30's. I didn't really care for most of the stories in any real sense but I liked to look at them for their styling anyway but someone who really knows cartoon development and history will really appreciate these films. An early Donald Duck makes an appearance on Disc 1 while Pluto makes two appearances on Disc 2. 3 or 4 of the shorts are B/W, the rest in color and the Easter eggs (how many?) are hard to find (I found 1 I think).I had some difficulty navigating the menu and found that parts of the short The Grasshopper and The Ants were out of focus or alignment (not an original flaw)When I got my copy I found that someone had dropped it on one corner, the tin case was dented, the plastic case corner was broken and the disc holders were both damaged but the DVD's were both fine such protection will be appreciated around small children and by serious Disney collectors.
22 Disney's best all on 2 DVD's
This is a must buy! These classic cartoons are priceless (and Limited edition) so buy now! This DVD set is worth way more that is charged!
23 First Rate Material in a Third Rate Release.
These wonderful cartoons deserve a better release than this. They have been cropped so severely on all sides that about thirty five to forty percent of the original image is lost. Not only are the proportions compromised, but parts of characters bodies and sometimes entire characters leave the screen. I don't suppose that Disney will re-release these shorts properly windowboxed anywhere in the near future, so we'll have to live with this release, but it's a frustrating disappointment.
The material itself is indispensible to animation buffs and fans of the original Disney cartoons.
24 A great collection of early Disney work
The Walt Disney Treasures collection of DVDs are great for any Disney fan or family to own. For early Walt Disney Company enthusiasts, this DVD set is a must own.
25 nothing's missing
If you wonder why is the list of cartoons on the booklet is different from the list on screen, I don't know why but I did find "missing" cartoons with help of my computer. I looked at all contents of the disc and found them. I don't how to access The Practical Pig from the menu, but it's there. Also there are at least 5 (!) hidden features on Disc One. I looked through Disc One so far. You can access these "easter eggs" by highlighting various objects on the screen. (for example: word "Leonrd", a little sword, little angel etc.) This is a very beautiful DVD and has a lot of intersting cartoons, but it's so hard to find ones you want! Why did Disney do that?
26 ...totally delightful Disney...you can't go wrong ....
..with classic animation of this quality. Everyone will wish
for some favorite that is not included. I wish "Ferdinand
the Bull" were included. But what is included is simply
a history of Disney color animation beautifully produced.
Georgeous, entertaining, and delightful. If I were to turn
PRO I would probably sound too much like Leonard Maltin...
and there may be a few more minutes of Len than we would
actually need...he does seem to repeat himself...Probably
both he and I should be used sparingly. But nothing can
take away the delights of the animation on this two disc
set.
27 Pretty good way to educate your kids!
I bought this dvd to entertain a little girl i know, and she absolutely loves it!
28 Wonderful shorts -- But
Being a great fan of Disney's older shorts, I was thrilled when this came out. It's a wonderful compilation of short films -- BUT -- I really dislike the fact that so many of the cartoons are hidden. Looking at the table of contents in the accompanying brochure, my daughter immediately found a title she wanted to watch, but it was one of the hidden ones. I knew, from reading other reviews here, that you had to search, but they WEREN"T easy to find. I don't think, in fact, that we have managed to locate yet the title she wanted to see! I can think of no good reason for Disney to play games with us like that. If they say your going to have a particular cartoon, don't make us go on a treasure hunt to find it. (Hiding additional extras would be another matter entirely, and yes, they did that too.)
Still, looking forward to more of these. (More SS, B&W Mickeys, and more.)
29 Another gem
Disney truly stands the test of time. Even in this age of CGI the talent and spirit that went into these films shines through... It includes behind the scene looks into the process that went into creating these masterpieces. Not only entertaining, but informative as well.
30 Sumptuous Disc, perhaps too much talk.
Whatever the outcome of Disney's current copyright entangles you cannot argue that the company doesn't take care of it's property.
I doubt you can find better quality prints of any films dating back over 70 years - 99% of them look brand new. There are some fantastic classics on the disc, along with many Silly Symphonies I had never seen. Good to see some of the black and white cartoons aswell! Also, I haven't encountered a disc with so many "easter eggs" before, it's always nice to get free stuff!
The only minor points (or major points depending on your point of view) are the following. Firstly, although the many Maltin documentaries included are fairly interesting and informative I doubt I will ever return to them. It may be nit-picking, but I would have preferred a couple more cartoons in their place. (Perhaps some of the early silent Disney "Laugh-o-grams" cartoons on which many of the ideas for the Symphonies were first based).
Secondly, Disney publicity claims the disc is UNCUT, whilst many of the films have reissue titles (a minor point, but one which is not referred to) and The Three Little Pigs is still presented in it's 1940s censored version. (Although we do see a tiny clip of the original censored material Maltin talks over it - it's not presented as part of a whole cartoon - therefore is still esentially "censored").
As I said, probably minor points - Disney should still be applauded for the disc. I would have liked, however, to have seen interviews or heard commentaries from survivng Disney animators. They won't be around forever.
Perhaps other companies who hold classic Hollywood animation to ransom should take note, and start releasing uncut, uncensored DVDs to the adult market - a market which accepts these films for what they are, true art forms of the 20th Century.
31 Sparkling, Little-Seen Disney Gems Are a Must!
I am very pleased with thise remarkable DVD set, which include some of Disney's finest work from the early part of his career, the films he created in the thirties prior to moving into feature length works, and which the public of the present day are likely to be the least familiar with. A number of these films can be thought of as Disney's "test tubes" - experimental efforts in both animation technology and narrative form that would lay the foundation for Disney's later efforts. Though I've caught glimpses of some of the Silly Symphonies over the years, this is the first opportunity I've had to take a good look at many of these shorts. Simply, I was astonished; indeed, quite a few of these gems blew my socks off, displaying the sort of ingenuity, artistry and charm that, more lately, we've come to associate with the likes of Pixar features. (Needless to say, I would love to see Pixar try to recreate one of these in their own animation format - perhaps "Musicland" or "The Cookie Carnival") These films have a remarkable individuality and presence that was lost to some of the later Disney features, when Disney, busy with amusement parks, television and the tasks of empire building, relegated animation to a lesser perch. These films represent Disney as a brilliant, ambitious student, learning his craft, before he became "Disney" the business man with his carefully honed commercial instincts. Disney was never more innovative than during this period he was making Silly Symphonies in the thirties - and you can see his progress unfold before your eyes on these DVDs.
The menus take some effort to negotiate - contrary to what is claimed elsewhere, some of the easter eggs are difficult to find. The Practical Pig, Water Babies, and Farmyard Symphonies are not listed in the disc menus, but they are on the discs, some hidden in places you might not initially look - such as the captions menu! (Water Babies is hidden under The Robber Kitten's sword, which can only be accessed with a left to right cursor button, not up and down cursor. I found it by accident!)
All the same, though it is still early in 2002, these DVDs constitute one of the best releases of the year - already on my top ten list. Not to be missed!
32 Puts Modern Disney to Shame
These shorts are magnificent, and a reminder of how Disney used to produce real art, not formulaic pap. The reason I'm deducting a star is because, in contrast to what other reviewers have written, I believe that at least some of the cartoons have been subjected to color restoration, to their detriment. On "Father Noah's Ark," for example, the color has an almost pastel quality to it. I remember seeing it on the Disney Channel and it looked different and better. In other Symphonies where there is graininess or spots, I think the overall quality is still quite good and less disturbing than the anachronistic color palette of the restored versions. Nevertheless, I can still highly recommend this set. It is unlikely that animation will ever rise to this level of inspiration again.
33 A Great Set!!
An excellent DVD, well worth owning for anyone interested in Disney animation. The transfers are, for the most part, excellent.
There are a couple of quibbles to be had, though. Some of the most interesting shorts on these discs can only be found as Easter Eggs, that is, they don't really appear on the menu as chapters, but have to be found pretty much by accident. It's rather annoying at times trying to remember which Easter Egg leads to which film.
Also, despite the blurb on the back of the package, these films are not entirely uncensored. The version of the Three Little Pigs on this disc is an altered version. In the original release, the Big Bad Wolf appears in disguise as an unfortunate Jewish peddler stereotype. For this release, the soundtrack of the sequence has been retained, but the footage of the wolf in disguise has been replaced with newer footage which removes the supposedly anti-semitic material. It isn't especially well-done, either: in fact it sticks out like a sore thumb.
These are minor quibbles. Disney is to be congratulated on releasing a lot of these films, in spite of the possibly rather dangerous content of a few of them. Each day I expect to open the paper and find that the disc has been pulled from distribution because some loony in some backwater has decided that the short Water Babies, a harmless and plotless film which centers upon a group of nude infant boys, [is offensive] and decides to sue.
As far as I am concerned, it is worth the price of the entire set to have a pristine DVD of Who Killed Cock Robin?, which is one of the very best and most audacious films Disney ever released. The caricature of assorted Hollywood personalities is dead on, and I always laugh at Jenny Wren's Mae West-like flirting with the judge.
Get this disk. You won't be disappointed.
34 Great SS set, but the ommissions were painfully evident
Before I obtained this DVD set, I had high expectations. I had seen some of the Mickey Mouse In Living Color set, and was enthrolled at the gorgeous color and clearity of the pictures. Not to mention sound with no hiss or other pollutants. The Silly Symphony DVD set did not disappoint.
It is not my intent to author a history of Disney animation. However, a few facts will lead to a greater appreciation of this set. Disney started in the 20's with a character named Alice, that later developed into Mickey Mouse. Cartoons were all in b/w, and animation not as refined as in the 30s and 40s. From 1924 through 1926, Disney produced only Alice shorts. (Now THERE would be some real TREASURES if Disney ever released these toons! They've never been released commercially!) In 1927 and 28, Disney changed his primary character to Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit. These have also never been released. As 1929 drew to a close, other studios began releasing musical shorts - remember that sound with image only began in 1927 - and Walt was under pressure to produce a new product for theaters. One with color and sound. The Silly Symphony was born. Essentially, that's what Silly Symphonies are. They are a cartoon story to a musical soundtrack with almost no dialogue or verbal exchange.
The first Silly Symphonies were composed of simple themes - in fact, there were a set produced that dealt only with the seasons: Springtime and Summer came out in 1930, Fall and Winter came out in 1931. Other titles were Arctic Antics, Frolicking Fish and Monkey Melodies. The animation was nice, but the themes were simple. In 1931 as audiences tired of these simple themes, Disney had to produce something new again, so began the fairy tale editions of Silly Symphonies. Some of these ended up being the studio's best work! By the mid 30's Disney was also doing purely artistic shorts which were somewhat abstract, culminating in a short, not on the DVD, (ouch!) called Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, about musical instruments coming to life in a totally Salvador Dali-like surreal backdrop.
The Disney Treasures DVD focuses on several academy award winners (such as The Old Mill) and the fairy tale/story based Silly Symphonies. Many of Disney's finest efforts are included, such as the Tortoise and the Hare, The Grasshopper and the Ants, Three Little Pigs, 1929's Skeleton Dance, Flowers and Trees, Woodland Cafe, Music Land, and Disney's most lavish Symphony, Wynken Blynken and Nod. The color is great, the sound equally impressive. Many of these shorts were previously released on Disney's VHS line called "Limited Editions Gold" series 1 and 2 in the late 80's. (each series was 6 tapes). In fact, that line contains many SS shorts not on the DVD. However, the DVD does have some 35 different SS shorts on it. Many have introductions by the host of the series, Leonard Maltin. (Note! Many also have intros by Walt Disney - but they are hidden as Easter Eggs! You'll have to search for those Easter Eggs to get Walt's commentary!)
All in all, this is a wonderful package for SS fans, with a nice selection of the Silly Symphony shorts (35 shorts are on the DVD, 36 are not) with subjects to please adults and children alike, gorgeous color and sound, and very attractive packaging. Plus you get a little 6x8 "card" of collectible poster art in the box. If you love 30's animation and especially Disney's, you can't go wrong with this set of DVDs.
(Now, I HAVE to mention one thing. Although the selections on the DVDs are great, I wish they would have made this a 4 disk set, and put ALL 71 SS shorts on DVD at one time. There are some shorts that truly deserved to be on this DVD set, such as The Moth and the Flame, the four "Seasons" shorts, Three Blind Mouseketeers (a precursor to the Mickey Mouse Club!), Goddess of Spring, and certainly Toot, Whistle at el. I guess these are being held for Volume II at some point, but it would have been nice to not have quite as much commentary from Leonard, and more of the shorts instead. No offense Leonard.)
All in all, I give this effort 4 out of 5 stars. Get this DVD, you won't regret it and you'll enjoy it for years!
35 EASTER EGGS: Hidden cartoons on these disks
OK, there are no kids in our household, but we both love this DVD and its Mickey Mouse companion. The editorial reviews describe the DVD quite well, so I won't go into any more detail other than to pont out that there are some "hidden" cartoons on these disks. I found 2 on DISK 1: on the menus, use the right and left button on your remote until various objects on the screen light up.
36 Waiting for nr 2!
Just a joy to see and hear. Only 2 complaints. Way too much Maltin and way too kind questions from him. I thought he was a filmcritic...I really hope he isn't bought by the Disney company. More analysis and history about the films and facts about all the great animators! Now I wait for at least 37 more Symphonies - among them "Merbabies", "Hell's Bells", "Playful Pan", "The Merry Dwarfs", "King Neptune", "The Moth and the Flame", "Midnight in a Toy Shop" and Ub Iwerks "Summer" and "Autumn" (1930). Will this happen December 2005?
37 Music to your Ears... and Eyes
Walt originally slated the creation of the SILLY SYMPHONIES to experiment with new animation techniques. This work would ultimately result in the techniques and technology used in full-length features like SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. That is not to say that there isn't plenty to offer here... This edition of the WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES is filled with long sought after material, gorgeously remastered and filled with surprises.
Some of the cartoons are wonderful to watch, particularly the first multi-plane camera cartoon, THE OLD MILL... It is a beautiful mixture of several different techniques to tell a nature story filled with mood and the elements.
Throughout are also scattered curiosities... Like the THREE LITTLE PIGS and its three sequels, THE BIG BAD WOLF, THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES and PRACTICAL PIG... All of which capitalized on the popular song WHOS AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF... Then there is two version of THE UGLY DUCKLING where one could easily see the studios growth within a few years time... Other characters, like the Tortoise and the Hare also appear more than once. Each cartoon is an education of sorts even though they are not all wonderful.
That is also where this DVD falters. Presented in a wonderful tin package, this set is obviously seen as an archive, heavy of interest to a collector. And yet, the shorts are not presented in a logical or chronological order, something any 'collector' would want. The packaging gets real confusing a couple of times, the booklet inside lists all the episodes available on the disc yet you can't find them all on the disc itself without finding 'hidden locations'. I've heard of hiding 'extra' material, but these episodes are the reason you bought the disc.
There are occasional appearances by Walt and interesting commentary by Leonard Maltin to secure the value of the piece. WALT DISNEY TREASURES is a wonderful series that I hope to see more... The episodes are wonderfully remastered and presented... Toodaloo...
38 What a Treasure!
I can't possibly describe the awe that I feel while watching this DVD treasure of Disney's finest from the early years of animation. You get exactly what you expect and more. Just the two cartoons "Skeleton Dance" and "The Old Mill" are worth the cost. But even my young children love the colorful characters in these delightful cartoon shorts. The loveable three little pigs come to life as well as the tortoise and the hare, Mother Hen,(with a delightful appearance by a very early Donald Duck), and it even has some great surprises that you don't expect if you use your remote and find the Easter Eggs hidden throughout the DVD.
This DVD has more than you may expect and is worth every penny, particularly if you love these old Disney shorts. Thank you, Walt, for your contribution to the entertainment industry.
39 Please! Share this with your little ones
These Disney cartoons lack the smartalecky humor of Warner Bros. cartoons, and I don't know how a 10-year-old would react. But I can tell you that my 3-year-old, who was bored stiff by Atlantis and only intermittently amused by Shrek, watches this set over and over (as he watched the tapes I made from Ink & Paint Club before it). Nor is he alone-- my sister's child has a friend whose first thing to do every time she visits is to watch Water Babies (usually 3 or 4 times). This is real cartoon magic for little kids and their parents, innocent in the best sense, generally gorgeous in the lush early Technicolor, and bursting with imagination. Yeah, the menus are a little confusing (you have to learn where all the Easter Eggs are to see some of the best cartoons), but that's a small quibble; it's a joy to have these in such handsome transfers and one can only hope for another set to follow with the other half or so of the Silly Symphonies.
40 Recapturing a piece of my youth
I just recieved this dvd today and i must say it's one of the best in my dvd collection. Every Disney fan should own a piece of this vintage Disney magic. I understand the complaints about the imperfections of the film. There are some little specks here and there on some of the shorts. However, I've noticed a major improvement on the color incomparison to when i used to watch it on the very same tv not too long ago on the disneychannel. Little specks are a small price to pay to recapture that happy moment of my youth. Anyway... there are also complaints on the repeated segments with Leonard pick's. I believe it was unnecissary for Disney to include that on the dvd, but despite that you're still getting 5 fabulous hours of amazing animation. After watching this, I believe i'm going to buy other disney treasures as well. if you need more info about quality or quantity of the dvd... my aim is sezinschange i doubt anyone could be completely unsatisfied with this collection that disney has put together. there are some i wish they had included in the collection, but perhaps they'll unlock more treasures from the disney vault in the future. i'll definately be the first in line to buy when they do.
41 What a treat!
I received both the Silly Symphonies and the Mickey sets for Christmas...and I watched them all straight through.
THANK YOU, DISNEY for making these available! Many of the Silly Symphonies, I had never seen before, as they had been hard to find on video in the past.
If you love classic Disney animation, get this set before it's gone! This is only available on DVD...if you don't have a DVD player yet, now's the time to go out and buy one...so you can enjoy these true treasures!
Now, about those "Donald Duck" and "Goofy" sets...in addition, I'd like to see a second set of the Silly Symphonies, as well as sets of the older MM B/W 'toons!
Disney, are you listening???
42 Disney's Treasures
I thik Leonard Maltin said it best, "The years haven't dimmed the luster of these charming, often ingenious cartoons, full of colorful characters and inventive ideas."
I think the only thing I can add to that is that they are also filled with a lot of heart and warmth. There are life lessons and morals, but not told in a heavy handed kind of way. But most of all they are still very entertaining. I was touched by the heart in 'Music Land', amazed at the technical achievement in 'Egyptian Melodies', impressed by the quiet beauty of 'The Old Mill' and I still can't get that song out of my head from 'The Grasshopper and the Ants'! I knew I'd enjoy this set, but I didn't think I'd enjoy it THIS much!
Also the bonus material is quite fun. Being able to see all those collectibles from the Silly Symphonies was a real treat as was the interview with Richard Sherman. I've learned quite a bit fom this set and incredibly, it has deepened my already deep respect for the Disney artists of years past. My only complaint would be that a few shorts appear on both discs. It seems to me that including it once and having room for one not yet presented makes more sense. But it's a small scratch in a blazingly bright treasure. Thank you Disney for opening up your vaults!
43 Great animation! Lot's of Fun!
This is a great DVD! I had never seen the bulk of these Disney classics, and the few I remember I last saw decades ago on "Wonderful World of Disney." Wow! Some of the finest animation I have seen.
In an interview on this DVD, Disney says that the Silly Symphonies were an arena for animators to experiment, without the financial risks of a feature length animated film. This format was a fertile field for the imagination. Artists who are free to take risks tend to produce more stunning work. "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" is a really beautiful cartoon that I had never seen before. It it packed with vivid colors and dynamic animation. The cloud men are impressive. "Water Babies" is very pretty and very funny. Each cartoon is a classic.
I mainly wanted this collection for "The Old Mill" and "Skeleton Dance." Those did not disappoint. I had not seen "The Old Mill" for years and it is as dramatic and perfect as I remember. "Skeleton Dance" is a spooky treat. "Wise Little Hen," the first Donald Duck cartoon, was an unexpected delight. I can see why the character took off.
There are some complaints about this DVD. Too many of the Leonard Maltin picks are duplicated elsewhere on the disk. They could have used the room to put in some more cartoons. The "Easter eggs" are easy to find, but may confuse people. Some older cartoons are scratchy. However, there is so much delight in the cartoons themselves, I don't mind the minor flaws. I'll say it again. This is a great DVD!
44 Very good, but not complete, collection of Silly Symphonies
I did originally order this collection assuming it contained all of the Silly Symphonies (I think about 75 were made). Even though the packaging indicates there are only 31, I counted 37 (not counting Leonard's Pick's), but some of them are only accessable by 'easter eggs' or watching all of them in a row.
Anyway, despite the flaws noted by others, it's really wonderful to have so many of these shorts available. I think Disney did a pretty good job of including the best ones of the series. It would have been a five-star collection if they'd cleaned the clips up, but even so, it's a definative example of the Disney Studio's master craft. Let's hope they issue a Volume 2 of Silly Symphonies!
45 Great cartoons - lots of mistakes though
The cartoons are great - although I'm not sure why they didn't release a complete collection of the Silly Symphonies. The printed booklet that comes with the set is highly inaccurate - there are quite a few more cartoons listed than actually appear on the DVDs. Hard to believe a company like Disney would make such a huge blunder. The packaging is cool visually but pretty useless. The organization of the cartoons on the DVDs and play options are very lame - not well thought out at all. Again - hard to believe a company with the resources that Disney has could make such a huge blunder. Worth getting for the cartoons but I hope they will correct the errors on this set of DVDs and release another set of DVDs with all of the Silly Symphonies on them. (...)
46 Great cartoons - lots of mistakes though
The cartoons are great - although I'm not sure why they didn't release a complete collection of the Silly Symphonies. The printed booklet that comes with the set is highly inaccurate - there are quite a few more cartoons listed than actually appear on the DVDs. Hard to believe a company like Disney would make such a huge blunder. The packaging is cool visually but pretty useless. The organization of the cartoons on the DVDs and play options are very lame - not well thought out at all. Again - hard to believe a company with the resources that Disney has could make such a huge blunder. Worth getting for the cartoons but I hope they will correct the errors on this set of DVDs and release another set of DVDs with all of the Silly Symphonies on them.
47 31 classic Disney cartoons. Ideal for young & old alike!
Elegantly packaged in a silver tin box, these 31 early Disney classic are a wondrous treat for all ages. What a bargain too. Disney was always a perfectionist in everything he had his hand on, and it shows on his earliest works. The cartoons span from 1929's eerie and strange "Skeleton Dance" to 1939's "Ugly Duckling". There are the classics like Three Little Pigs, Tortoise and The Hare (The hare reminds me of today's obnoxious athletes) the charming Water Babies, The Country Cousin, Flowers and Trees and so much more. I started watching this around 6 PM, figuring I'd watch about half hour then put on the news, well, I was mesmorized for about five hours with these great cartoons, then finally went to bed. One thing about Disney, his art and color are the standard to be measured by, even with most of these from the mid 1930's. There are a few black and white cartoons that are quaint and historic. I'm buying the Mickey box next. Outstanding and a DVD that does have some historic significance as well as sheer enjoyment.
48 NOT REALLY THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION
Although it is great to have all of these older Disney cartoons on DVD, among them many award winners, the DVD presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
There are esentially no suplements & the menu is extremely poor, giving you three or four options (grouped by theme) to view the DVD, but no direct access for individual cartoon viewing!!!
The cartoons themselves look & sound great, but there was no restoration whatsoever involved, you can see every speck of dust on the film. If you own these on VHS you should probably skip the DVD, I myself did not own the tapes, although I had rented them, so I have no complaints in that sense. It seems to me these were transfered according to the way they were organized in the tape collection, not in any chronological order, so there is no historical perspective for them.
There is no additional background text or even dates for the cartoons either in the DVD or in the liner notes. Speaking of the liner notes, there is barely any information on them and even the index in them does not match what is actually on the DVDs, plus, since you can not access them individually there is no way you can see what you have until you actually sit & view the cartoons one by one.
The notes claim these are uncensored & uncut & I cannot really negate this, not being that familiar with the original versions, but Disney does have a record of censorship for politically correct reasons thus erasing historically important information.
The people at Disney should really take better care on these Walt Disney Treasures editions.
49 This is The BEST DVD I have ever seen.
Yesterday, I bought 2 of the Disney Treasures sets, Disneyland U.S.A. and this, The Silly Symphonies set. I was actually more excited about the Disneyland USA dvd set then this. But when I put this one in, in a period of about 10 minutes I realized something...
This is the BEST DVD set I have EVER seen.
Trust me, you're gonna get your money's worth (and much much more) from this set. You are getting five and a half hours worth of material here, folks, from the 31 cartoons itself, to the very insightful introductions provided by Leonard Maltin (granted, he does appear just a weee bit too much), The Disney people have TOTALLY outdone themselves.
Can I talk about the cartoons? For those of you whose history of Silly Symphonies begins and ends with 'Flowers and Trees' (or even more basically, The Three Little Pigs), You're gonna get a complete history of these historical shorts. From the first, Ub Iwerks animated Skeleton Dance, to the many Academy Award winning animated shorts which are beautiful and textured (an excellent (Easter Egged!) example is the The Old Mill, which is soooooo gorgeous!)
The transfers range from excellent to so-so, with the so-so's happening on the older cartoons, but that is to be expected. All in all, an essential DVD for young and old, and will be admired for years to come (trust me)
50 Awsome Limited Edition DVD Set from Disney!!
I bought this today, Dec. 4th, in a store here in Canada. For some reason it came out 3 days earlier than the expected Dec. 7th date listed on this page. Yay for us! heheh.
The set comes in a metal tin that is stamped with a lot #. Mine was # 141056 of 150000. Inside theres a standard 2-sided Plastic keepcase holding the DVDs, a booklet about the release, a cool postcard, and some spam fliers.
The video quality is pretty good, but not much better than I had expected. There appears to be alot of shimmer and grain, and some of the cartoons are extremely dirty. I guess Disney didnt think they were worth the cost of restoring.
Also of note, there appeared to be some encoding defects in a few of the shorts that dont appear in previous releases on VHS (in 'Little Red Hen', watch very closely when she runs out of her coop). I also noticed some of these defects on the Mickey Mouse set (pay close attention to the wave that gets Goofy in 'Hawaiian Holiday'). I exchanged the discs, but they all have the same errors. Most people will probably not even notice, but Im just picky.
The audio is fine, about what you would expect from the 1930's & 1940's.
Theres a few extras on the discs, not much, a few unlisted 'bonus' toons, Leonard Maltin speaks a bit, and some of the promo stills are cool.
The selection of cartoons is ok, but it would be nice if they had released them chronologicly, as there are lots of old B&W favorites missing. My only big gripe is that my favorite toon 'Skeleton Dance' has incorrect title and end credits pasted on. Incorrect opening music also. (this is compared to a version released in 1986 on VHS).
I think Im reasonably happy with this release, its a ok effort on Disney's part, and the Mickey Mouse release is good too. I hope Disney decides to release all of the B&W Mickey Mouse cartoons as part of this series, and another set of Silly Symphonies would be nice also. Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink. :)
51 it's about time!
Disney has issued some really great animated dvd's worthy of the format(the little mermaid, fantasia, 101 dalmations etc.). Some of the straight to video animation is somewhat lacking in luster(Lion King 2, Little Mermaid 2, etc.) They finally have started to release the groundbreaking heartwarming animation from ages past starting with the Silly Symphonies Collection and also Mickey Mouse in Color DVD's. I have been chomping at the bit to have the classic animation shorts with Donald, Goofy, and Mickey for a long time! The Silly Symphonies collection was Icing on the cake. Now Mr. Eisner please release a Donald Duck in Color And a Goofy in color disk along with others and we're in business.
52 Another Good Package
This DVD will contain the following shorts in the following categories:"Fables and Fairy Tales": Mother Goose Melodies, Babes in the Woods, Lullaby Land, The Grasshopper and the Ants, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Flying Mouse, The Robber Kitten, Who Killed Cock Robin?, The Golden Touch, The Country Cousin, Elmer Elephant, Wynken, Blynken and Nod. "Favorite Characters": Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Wolves, The Wise Little Hen, Toby Tortoise Returns. "Accent on Music": The Skeleton Dance, The China Plate, Egyptian Melodies, Flowers and Trees, The Cookie Carnival, Music Land, Woodland Cafˇ, Farmyard Symphony. "Nature on the Screen": The Ugly Duckling (1931), Birds of a Feather, The Busy Beavers, Just Dogs, Father Noah's Ark, Funny Little Bunnies, Peculiar Penguins, Mother Pluto, The Old Mill, The Ugly Duckling (1939). Also includes introduction by Leonard Maltin, art galleries, making-of featurette, and "easter eggs".
