Day 80: 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Okay, I have had a few folks ask me why I have not picked Fantasia yet? Well, to be honest, I just like this film more. Fantasia is brilliant to be sure, but 101 Dalmatians is just more fun! The plot sounds dicey, as it focuses on the outcome of kidnapped puppies, but somehow it works as a fast-paced kid thriller. This was 17th Walt Disney Animate film, it was the last one Walt was able to work on all the way through. Based on the novel by Dodie Smith, the Hundred and One Dalmatians. My husband John, as a kid, dared himself to read the book 101 times, but says he only got to around 95, too funny! This film also has perhaps one of the greatest villains of any animated film with Cruella de Vil. Animation really shifts around this time, and this film is part of that trend away from separate cells to faster process copying systems. The look of the film is flatter than say Sleeping Beauty, but as far as cost, it saved the studio time and money. Just think of the time-saving with this film particularly, as the 101 Dalmatians featured over 6 1/2 million spots, with each puppy having 32, and the parents have 140 together, wow!
Themes: Family, Hope, Caring, Cruelty
Media Literacy Questions: How is this film different than a more contemporary feature such as Finding Nemo? Why is Cruella so scary? How is music used in the film to propel the action?
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