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Disney has immortalized some of the world's most famous fairy tales in its animated productions. Between the mid-1930's and the mid-1950's, Disney embraced and mastered a new sound technology that allowed the synchronization of music and animated action and produced a vast array of music-driven productions that included the "Silly Symphony" cartoon shorts. This collection is comprised of six animated tales, both musical and non-musical, produced in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s that range from 7-1/2 minutes to 21-minutes in length and explore themes like cooperation, overconfidence, and greed. The Academy Award nominated 1953 short "Casey at the Bat" is a musical recitation of the tale of a baseball player whose overconfidence proves his downfall. The short "Morris the Midget Moose" (1950) shows how even the smallest of creatures can do great things when they collaborate with others. Oscar-nominated "Ben and Me" (1953) is the longest production at 21-minutes and tells the fanciful tale of a small country mouse who claims to be the inspirational force behind many of Ben Franklin's greatest inventions. The final three programs are Silly Symphony cartoon shorts that exhibit Disney's masterful intertwining of music and action. "The Golden Touch" (1953) spins a tale of the great King Midas felled by greed, "The Wise Little Hen" (1934) espouses the value of cooperation, and "Little Hiawatha" (1937) follows a young hunter whose compassion for animals curtails his hunting successes, but eventually saves his own life. Each of these timeless tales features rich animation, preserves an important piece of American folklore, and represents a historical stage of animation. (Ages 2 to 10)
--Tami Horiuchi
Product Description
Some of the most beloved stories of all time have been collected for the whole family to enjoy in TIMELESS TALES VOLUME THREE. Visit the famed baseball diamond of Mudville for a retelling of the classic "Casey At The Bat," and meet the mouse behind legendary Founding Father Ben Franklin in the Academy Award(R)-nominated short "Ben And Me" (1953, Best Short Subject, Two Reel). With unforgettable music and classic Disney animation, these stories entertain while reinforcing time-honored themes of responsibility, respect, and being happy with who you are. It's a treasure trove of classics for every family. Also includes a collectible storybook of "Casey At The Bat."