I have never been a big fan of Disney's film Bongo, which is a part of the 1947 feature film Fun and Fancy Free. (I remember Ward Kimball commenting: "Now, what kind of a title is THAT?")
The first part of the film's story seems ok, a circus bear running away in pursuit of freedom and adventures. But the second part is weird. After being smitten by a female bear called Lulubelle, Bongo runs into a bunch of other bears who show their affection toward each other by smacking the other one's face.
The film's backgrounds are beautiful, I wished I could say the same about the character animation. It is surprising to find out about the credits: Supervising animators were Ward Kimball, Les Clark and Fred Moore. Other names listed under character animation are Art Babbitt and Marc Davis.
I have seen the film several times over the years, and to me the animation looks pedestrian for a Disney product. No scenes stand out as inspired or truly personality defining.
When I was a kid I had a Bongo storybook, and I loved the artwork in it. Still do. Most of the promotional material associated with the film is lovely, it's just that the movie itself falls a bit short.
The backgrounds are really great indeed.
ReplyDeleteMilt Kahl animates an uncredited sequence on "Bongo" - the infamous "bear slap" song with a Kimball-esque design, but Milt's timing is all there.
ReplyDeleteHey Andreas,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your opinion on "Bongo" got me thinking. Being said that "Bongo" was shared with "Mickey and the Beanstalk", do you think these two stories would've been more entertaining and better character development as solo films, considering if situations were different back then at the time(meaning if WWII didn't happen)???
I love the animation during this time period at Disney's studio. Great stuff. Nothing out there today compares to it.
ReplyDeleteI always preferred "Mickey and the Beanstalk", myself! I was glad "Bongo" came before because, otherwise, the finale wouldn't have been nearly as good.
ReplyDeleteI always preferred "Mickey and the Beanstalk", myself! I was glad "Bongo" came before because, otherwise, the finale wouldn't have been nearly as good.
ReplyDeleteBongo is still better than the ugly things they do today...
ReplyDelete(except for Mushka, which is going to be great!)
I love Bongo the Circus Bear. I think he's very good job in the circus and escape from the circus train to the forest and falling in love with Lulubelle.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite part is when Bongo and Lulubelle are on the clouds with that bear cupids. Fantastic. But I agree, it,s not one of the best disney films, and in spite of that, I enjoy it a lot.
ReplyDelete