Disney Combined with Wonderland

Walt Disney created many timeless classics all based from original stories. Disney himself loved Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland because of the imagination within the story and wanted to bring that to life. In the Disney Archives, they stated “this animated feature had been on Walt's mind since 1933” (2009). It was not until the 1940s the real work of the movie began. In 1945, Walt Disney announced fourteen year old Kathryn Beaumont as Alice. Beaumont became the model for the character’s appearance.

How Did Disney Find Wonderland?

How did Walt Disney find the inspiration to bring the popular characters to life? I thought he was always a creative superhero, but every superhero needs a sidekick. Disney used many of the original illustrations from Carroll’s story to base his animated characters on. Walt Disney knew he would not be able to capture the entire story Lewis Carroll created and eliminations had to be made, which I felt could have helped the movie more. Some characters were combined with others, such as the character Duchess. The characteristics of the Duchess were merged with those of the Queen of Hearts, creating two characters in one (Disney Archives, 2009).

Disney Doesn't Do It Again

During the time the animated film was released, people did not take to it as Walt Disney hoped they would have. When I watched it for the first time, I remember being in a trance throughout the movie. I had to have another copy because I wore my first movie out. Though, compared to the other films Disney created, he failed to capture the humor and story Carroll had written. Many thought “what was charming and appropriately bizarre in book form seemed oddly out of place on the motion picture screen” (Disney Archives, 2009). Walt Disney’s reaction was not that the film was odd, but “Alice had no "heart." What, did he give it all away to the Queen of Hearts or Disney actually could not deliver? Though the film was not as popular as some have hoped it to be, two songs within it grew to be loved by audiences. “I’m late” and “The Unbirthday Song” helped the film’s nomination for an Academy Award, for the Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.

A Very Unbirthday Clip

A Very Unbirthday!

Personally this was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was growing up. I loved the songs and colors throughout the film. My favorite clip was with The Unbirthday Party as well as the song. I think it was, and still is, one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I loved the Mad Hatter and the March Hare running towards the table, stumbling over one another to reach Alice. Especially the part where teacups, saucers and tea came pouring out of their hats. My favorite part is when the Mad Hatter tells Alice to blow the candles out while they sang at the top of their lungs. I find this scene to be full of humor because the characters are celebrating something unordinary. It really makes the audience think about the song, the characters, and the story, leading the audience to become trapped in a bizarre world.

Sources

Disney. (2009). Alice in Wonderland. Disney Archives. Retrieved on October 13, 2009 from

http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/movies/alice/alice.html.

Neclea. (2007). Alice in Wonderland (Disney) - Unbirthday Party (Complete). Video retrieved

on October 13, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSn2BLDwfQ.