Walt Disney Animation Collection: Classic Short Films (2009)

Volume 1: Mickey and the Beanstalk
The classic Mickey and the Beanstalk (1947, co-starring Donald and Goofy) is for my money one of the greatest food movies ever made. Unfortunately, the disc includes a TV broadcast version with a disruptive wraparound sequence with drastically different animation and annoying narration by Ludwig von Drake (voiced by Paul Frees). The original cartoon seems truncated and moves at the wrong pace, and the sound is muffled. Happily the disc also includes Brave Little Tailor (1938), which placed on the 1994 list of the all-time "50 Greatest Cartoons," Thru the Mirror (1936), the gorgeous, black-and-white Gulliver Mickey (1934) and Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip (1940). [Buy It]

Volume 2: Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs (1933) is one of Disney's greatest achievements, and one of the greatest short cartoons ever produced, so this one is a no-brainer. Picture and sound quality are fine here. The disc includes two Silly Symphony sequels: The Big Bad Wolf (1934) and Three Little Wolves (1936), as well as Elmer Elephant (1936). All four of these were included on the original, out-of-print "Silly Symphonies" box set, so if you missed out on that, this may be of interest. The other shorts are Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1952), Chicken Little (1943) and Three Blind Mouseketeers (1936). [Buy It]

Volume 3: The Prince and the Pauper
After watching these older classics, The Prince and the Pauper (1990) -- starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy -- may seem a little gaudy. This modern-day short, which was originally shown in theaters with The Rescuers Down Under, was pumped up with more speed, chases and action in an effort to appeal to hipper audiences. This disc includes two more "Silly Symphonies," The Pied Piper (1933) and Old King Cole (1933), a black-and-white Mickey Mouse short, Ye Olden Days (1933) and a color Goofy cartoon A Knight for a Day (1946). [Buy It]

Volume 4: The Tortoise and the Hare
The Oscar-winning The Tortoise and the Hare (1934) is another "Silly Symphony" classic, running about 8 minutes and with its own little moral lesson. It, the sequel Toby Tortoise Returns (1936) and Babes in the Woods (1932) are from the out-of-print "Silly Symphonies" box set. Other shorts include The Goddess of Spring (1934) -- another "Silly Symphony," which was also released on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs DVD -- and the longer "tall tales" Paul Bunyan (1958) and The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961), roughly 15 minutes apiece. [Buy It]

Volume 5: The Wind in the Willows
The 35-minute The Wind in the Willows (1949) is notable for inspiring the Disneyland attraction "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" (which, incidentally scared the crap out of me when I was little). Narrated by Basil Rathbone, this wonderfully atmospheric short tells the story of Toad, who loves to go off on wild tears following the latest trend, and hang the expense. It was originally shown on a theatrical double-bill called The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. The accompanying shorts on this DVD -- Ugly Duckling (1939), The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934), The Golden Touch (1935), The Robber Kitten (1935) and The Wise Little Hen (1934) -- are all from the out-of-print "Silly Symphonies" box set. [Buy It]

Volume 6: The Reluctant Dragon
Directed by Alfred L. Werker and Hamilton Luske, The Reluctant Dragon (1941) was more or less a quickie feature-length film released between Disney's "real" projects. The thrust of the film was a tour of the studios and a lesson in how to make cartoons. The 20-minute "Reluctant Dragon" cartoon, which is excerpted here, was the result. You can see the whole thing on the "Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio" DVD set. As for the bonus shorts, Ferdinand the Bull (1938) is a remarkable 8-minute short simply because it doesn't really have a message. The story is about a bull who would rather sit under his favorite cork tree and smell the flowers than fight with the other bulls. One day, a bee stings him and his resulting rampage convinces a group of toreadors that he is a fighter. But in the ring he refuses to budge and eventually goes back to his tree for a happy ending. (It was released on the "Disney Rarities" box set.) The 20-minute Johnny Appleseed (1948) and the 15-minute Goliath II (1960), about a tiny elephant, are also included. [Buy It]