"Funny Little Bunnies" - Silly Symphony (1934)

If you’ve ever wondered how the Easter Bunny gets ahold of all that candy for the Easter Baskets, this cartoon is for you. The “Silly Symphony” series of cartoons were created by Disney Studios as a way to compete with the “Merrie Melodies” and “Looney Tunes” cartoons, both of which were produced by the main studios, and were coming to dominate the market after the heyday of Popeye and Betty Boop had passed.

Although these little cartoons lacked the chronic cast of characters pumped out by the other two studios, they did fill a niche market for cartoons which appealed to a younger audience; about 5 and 6 years old. With their splendid imagery and musical scores, they may have been short on dialogue, but they more than made up for it with the happiness they gave to so many younger children.

Happy Easter to any of the younger visitors to this site; including my own 4  grand-daughters; I hope that the Easter Bunny fills you up with all the sweetness you need to get through another year doing what you all do best; spreading that sweetness around! 

"The Night Before Christmas" - Silly Symphonies (1933)

When Clement C. Moore wrote the poem “Twas the night before Christmas”, or,“A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822 he could hardly have envisioned the impact which his poem would have upon the world for years to come. This year marks the 190^th Christmas since the poem was first published anonymously in the New York Sentinel. It wasn’t until 1844 that Mr. Moore allowed his name to be associated with his creation. And I wonder what he would have thought of this animated adaptation of his poem? We’ll never know, so let’s just say, “Thanks, Mr. Moore!” and hope that he would have enjoyed it. Watch this with a grandkid and then read them the poem. Neither one of you will ever forget the experience.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

"The Grasshopper and the Ants" - Silly Symphonies (1934)

Silly Symphonies did some very memorable work during the 1930’s. Some of the things they did consisted of taking the best loved classics and turning them into cartoons. Not only did this save them time; and money; it also provided a platform from which to impart some values to the audience. Today this would be considered to be somehow offensive, but I have always enjoyed these sort of cartoons; in much the same way as I preferred “Illustrated Classics” to the super-hero comic books of my youth.

In this cartoon, the team at Silly Symphonies takes on the old Aesop Fable of the “Grasshopper and the Ant”, giving it a few twists and making it more palpable for a young audience. But in this cartoon, there is room for everyone as the Grasshopper learns a very valuable lesson about compassion, while picking up a work ethic in the process.