4/5 Volume 3 of the Disney Animation Collection features more Mickey and Goofy!
  by Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California)
As a child, I can easily remember my prized possession was a Walt Disney book that my father purchased for me and it featured the chronology of the early classic Walt Disney animated shorts. Some of these shorts were shown on the Disney Channel when I was younger but suffice to say, with all the new animation, a lot of these classics have probably been forgotten or have been released on VHS video.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment are now releasing a few of these shorts on DVD for the first time (some have appeared on past Disney DVD releases). The first three volumes were released on DVD on April 7, 2009.

A lot of these short films were created between the 1920-1940's and typically featured characters that were not reoccurring. Some were released under the "Silly Symphony" moniker of animated shorts released between 1929-1939 which rarely featured any character dialogue but focused more on the animation accompanied by music and a singing vocal track. Disney has continued to produce shorts today and while the majority of the short animated films are from the 1930's through the 1950's, volume 3 features an animated short ("The Prince & the Pauper) from 1990.

Of the six volumes that have been released from the "Walt Disney Animation Collection", for people looking specifically for Mickey Mouse classic animated shorts, you will be able to find them through volume 1 and 3.

Walt Disney Animation Collection Vol. 3: The Prince & the Pauper

The "Walt Disney Animation Collection" third volume "The Prince and the Pauper" features a total of six animated shorts. Included are:

1. The Prince and the Pauper - (25:32) This Disney animated short from 1990 about a pauper and a crown prince who look exactly alike. The two decide to switch identities and experience each other's life. The pauper as a prince learning about his reponsibilities and the prince as a pauper learning how his Royal Captain of the Guard has been taking advantage of his power. Directed by George Scribner and screenplay by Gerrit and Sam Graham.
2. The Pied Piper - (7:37) A Silly Symphony animated short from 1933. The people of Hamelin has their town being overrun by rats. They will offer gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats and a piper takes on the job. Directed by Wilfred Jackson and based on a poem by Robert Browning.
3. Old King Cole - (7:33) A 1933 Silly Symphony animated short featuring a party thrown by Old King Cole and invited are all the Mother Goose characters. Directed by David Hand.
4. Ye Olden Days - (8:25) A 1933 black and white Disney animated short about Princess Minnie who is arranged to marry Prince Goofy. Minnie refuses to marry him, so her father, the king locks her in the tower. Minstrel Mickey then tries to rescue her. Directed by Burt Gillet.
5. A Knight for the Day - (7:06) A 1946 Disney animated short featuring Goofy as Cedric who has the opportunity to become a knight for a day. Featuring a story directed by Jack Hannah and written by Bill Peet.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"Walt Disney Animation Collection" is featured with an aspect ratio of 1:33:1. These classics are available on DVD for the first time but its important to mention that these animated shorts have not been digitally remastered or cleaned up.

As a matter of fact, you will see a lot of the dust and scratches of the film and some of the animation look fine for being nearly 70 years old but others look grainy and a bit aged. Granted, these are not classic full featured films but I hope one of these days, many of these classics do get cleaned up or even digitally remastered.

"The Prince and the Pauper" fares the best of the three volumes as this animated short was created in 1990.

As for the audio, audio is featured in Dolby Digital Surround Sound. I found that on my home theater system, the best selection on my receiver to view these animated shorts was to switch it to mono or (if you have this capability) select stereo for all channels.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

There are no special features included on this DVD. But each volume does come with a free collectible litho print typically of the characters from the main featured story.

JUDGMENT CALL:

As mentioned earlier in my review, my prized possession as a child was a Walt Disney booklet that covered the Walt Disney animated shorts in chronological order and had the opportunity to watch these classics. Now as an adult with children, a lot of the animation from Walt Disney that my child sees is the latest in CG animation.

But I wanted him to sit and watch these animated shorts with me and sure enough, he enjoyed them. These animated shorts, the majority of them are simple and have no dialogue. Just music and sound effects (there were a few especially all from vol. 6 that have dialogue) but nevertheless, are simple and easy to understand.

For fans of classic Walt Disney animation and you pretty much have moved on away from your VHS copies, the "Walt Disney Animation Collection" is a great collection of your classic Disney animated shorts on DVD.

Many people who have purchased the "Walt Disney Treasures" DVD box sets from 2001, "Walt Disney's Timeless Tales" from 2005 or the "Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!" DVD release from 2007 probably may not need any of these shorts as quite a number of them have appeared on DVD already.

But a few of the short films that are featured on the six volumes of "Walt Disney Animation Collection" have not been released on DVD until now.

Overall, It all comes down to your preference to the classic animated shorts from long ago and whether or not you owned previous releases. For those who haven't owned the previous Disney DVD shorts or box sets, now is a good time to start because a lot of the past releases have been discontinued.

Otherwise, if you are a person who already owns the previous DVD releases that contain these shorts, unfortunately, these animated shorts offer nothing new and are not digitally remastered. There may be a few titles on these DVD's that have not been released before on prior Walt Disney DVD's but it all comes down to your preference and if these episodes are worth having on DVD.

Again, it's important to note that volume 1 and volume 3 feature animated shorts featuring Mickey Mouse or a well-known Disney animated character. So, if you are specifically looking for Mickey Mouse animated shorts, you will find it on those two volumes.

But if you are a parent or grandparent who wants to show your children or grandchildren the Walt Disney animation that you grew up with or a person who has never seen these shorts and have been curious about them, then definitely give "Walt Disney Animation Collection" a chance.

5/5 Perhaps the best volume in the set - still beautiful
  by Alexander M. Walker (Chicago, IL USA)
The Disney Classic Short Films collection abounds with animation gems that have been wiling away the last few years. In the third installment of this collection, headlined by the more well-known The Prince and the Pauper, we get one the better animated features in the old Disney library. Accompanying the main cartoon we have five additional cartoons of starkly varied age, style and quality (more so than on the other sets).

The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

Directed by George Scribner, Written by Gerrit Graham and Sam Graham

Here we have one of the best Disney shorts to come of the pre-Pixar era. Created back in 1990, the animation here stands up to the test of time - in fact, seeing it for the first time in what must have been a decade, I was shocked at how beautiful it still looks. Based on the classic story by Mark Twain, it has all the Disney characters in their modern personas with some of the old classics (Clarabelle Cow) mixed in. As far as classic animated shorts go, it's certainly younger than the others on the disc, but it's also the one your kids will be able to watch and enjoy over and over again. We have some of the beloved voice actors like Wayne Allwine (Mickey), Bill Farmer (Goofy) and Tony Anselmo (Donald) returning as well as alums like Frank Welker popping up for smaller bit parts.

Old King Cole (1933)

Directed by David Hand

This one will take you back. With a genuinely classic style, Old King Cole will entertain with its simple melody and clever words. Old King Cole throws a party and invites every (yes, literally every) nursery rhyme character. If the animation loses your children's interest, all of the classic nursery rhyme characters will recapture it in no time. It definitely shows its age, but then again it was made in 1933 and still has appeal - that's pretty impressive.

The Pied Piper (1933)

Directed by Wilfred Jackson, Written by Robert Browning

Set to a whimsical rhyme, the animated classic tells yet another classic tale with a lesson about keeping your word. After the Pied Piper rids Hamelin of its rat problem they renege on the deal causing the piper to take his revenge. With a magical tune he leads the children of the town away. It's another genuine classic and in this case the narration helps make it quite enjoyable.

A Knight For A Day (1946)

Directed by Jack Hannah, Written by Bill Peet

Setting the stage for the Goofy World of Sports which would follow decades later, A Knight For A Day takes place in a medieval time where everyone looks like Goofy. That Goofy is the blueprint for every character in this piece is somewhat odd, but the story still manages to keep up a decent level of slapstick. A squire finds knighthood thrust upon him, when his master is knocked unconscious shortly before a jousting match. The squire takes his place and, as you would expect in a world of Goofy-looking characters, hilarity ensues. Like The Pied Piper a narrator guides the story along with a good sense of humor. The short is made even more palatable by the fact that the animation style is pretty close to modern hand-drawn standards. Had it not been on a disc with the overly remarkable The Prince and the Pauper, the animation style would seem terrific in comparison to the other entries on the disc.

Ye Olden Days (1933)

Directed by Burt Gillett

Good luck getting your chitlins to sit still for this one. Noticeably antiquated even by comparison to The Pied Piper and Old King Cole, Ye Olden Days will seem downright foreign to your kids. The characters don't have the personalities they've come to know and the style is very rough.

Of the six DVDs in the Disney Classic Short Films set, this one easily earns its place on your shelf. The Prince and the Pauper alone earns makes the DVD worthwhile, the fact that it has four complementary shorts of memorable quality just sweetens the pot. The older films on the set might not be your kids' first choice, but The Prince and the Pauper will be watched over and over - it's just that good.