I had an idea to watch all the Walt Disney Animation Studios features within a year, and share my thoughts about them. Some will be first viewings. When I catch up to my own childhood they may be 100th viewings, who knows.

Credits at the top with an overture, welcome to 1937. First piece of animation is an establishing shot of a castle that pulls in with the multi plane camera. The “Disney Princess” is fully formed in its first appearance, every parody and pastiche is just Snow White.

This is clearly the first feature from people who make shorts. The opening act has no transitions between moods, just a plot short then a scary short then a whimsical short, etc. The same is still true once the Dwarfs appear but it’s less noticeable because it feels like a series of episodes in their life.

The Dwarfs are done dirty in this narrative. They have so much bounce and expression since they aren’t photo referenced to the point of rotoscoping like the other characters, but they aren’t treated as really human. If I pledge eternal vigil over a living dead person and they wake up, I expect a promise to return. At least a thank you.

Songs are thin and wouldn’t be memorable without their place in history. Timeless though, like a lot of 30s Hollywood music.

The Evil Queen is the highlight by far. Perfectly arch, evil just because, so fun to watch. The magic mirror is ringed by the astrological signs, while Snow White has her prayer to God answered, putting a theme of Christianity v Paganism that wouldn’t fly today. Perhaps the sleeping death was Snow White’s punishment for falling to the temptation of the Wishing Apple?

Achieved all its goals but with clear room for improvement, perhaps the ideal for a first feature. You can really tell that everything was riding on this. The background design, character animation, everything was the best a brush can make.