Director: Walt Disney
Release Date: May 10, 1929
Rating: ★★★★★ ♕
Review:
‘Skeleton Dance’ is the first of the Silly Symphonies and easily one of the best. It deservedly even ranks among the best cartoons of all time.
It starts spectacularly to begin with: we first see an extreme close up of huge eyes, which only after the camera zooms out appear to belong to an owl.
The complete film is simple, yet perfect in its timing and its peculiar mix of eerie atmosphere and silly gags. The animation (which includes a remarkable quantity of repetition) is extraordinary fluent and the skeletons are convincing throughout the picture.
More than in the earlier cartoons the animation and music are a perfect match. This cartoon single-handedly puts Walt Disney, animator Ub Iwerks and composer Carl Stalling to the eternal hall of fame. A masterpiece.
Watch ‘The Skeleton Dance’ yourself and tell me what you think:
This is Silly Symphony No. 1
To the next Silly Symphony: El Terrible Toreador
2 comments
October 20, 2010 at 20:33
lycan librarian
This one takes me back! If there is anyone this doesn’t put in the Halloween spirit, they must be a zombie!
July 27, 2010 at 01:01
Bucket Trucks
Wow, the skeleton dance was seriously one of my favorites from the Silly Symphonies when I was a youngster. Thank you for sharing! I’ll be sharing this with my own kiddos.