Examining the Transfer of Images of Classical Myths

to the Visualizations by Disney

Dave Natharius, Arizona State University

The original sources for many of Disney’s animated features:• grounded in classical and medieval mythologies and fairy tales• often simplified through their re telling and alternate versions ‐

This presentation examines Disney’s versions of four of the most well known stories and imagery that preceded the Disney versions. •Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs•Cinderella•Sleeping Beauty•Beauty and the Beast

A very useful source:

A book of the exhibition:

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais, Paris, September 16, 2006 – January 15, 2007.

and

Pavillon Jean-Noel Desmarais,Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

March 8 – June 24, 2007.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS,

1937.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs•Best known version by the Brothers Grimm in 1812

•A version from Albania with 40 dragons rather than dwarfs, originating in the 11th – 12th centuries.

•A Russian poem by Alexander Pushkin with knights replacing dwarfs

John Bauer,THE PRINCESS AND THE TROLLS, 1913

National Museum,Stockholm

The Dwarfs find Snow White asleep, illustration of Franz Juttner, 1905.

Snow White: The Dwarfs’ Cottage

Dr. Rotwang’s house in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis

“Snow White in her Coffin” by Theodor Hosemann, 1852

Schneewittchen by Alexander Zick

Maria, about to be “awakened” by Dr. Rotwang in Metropolis

Snow White in her coffin

CINDERELLA, 1950

•Cinderella and similar stories most common of all fairy tales/myths•exist in numerous languages •may be over a thousand variants around the world•“Cendrillon” by Parrault, 1697•“Aschenputtel” by the brothers Grimm

“Cendrillon” by Gustave Dore, an illustration for the opera by Massenet (1899)

Rhodopis (Rhodope)With Aesop

From an 18th CenturyPainting by Kauffmann

Aschenputtel with the dovesAlexander Zick, 19th Century

From the Project Gutenburg archivesIllustration by Oliver Herford for the Perrault version

CENDRILLON, 1899, by George Melies

The mice and birds sewing Cinderella’s ball gown.

Sewing mice in Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester

SLEEPING BEAUTY,

1959

(The) Sleeping Beauty

*A version published in 1528 as the medieval courtly romance: Perceforest.

*Published by Charles Perrault in 1697, the most common used version.

*Published by the Brothers Grimm as Little Briar Rose.

“Sleeping Princess” By Victor

Vasnetsov,1890?

Sleeping Beauty’s Cottage

“Return from the Inn,” Peter Bruegel the Younger, 1620

An image ofthe sleeping princess: Brunnehilde, surrounded by magical fire rather than roses.

1910 illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner’s Die Walkure

Sleeping Beauty by Henry Meynel Rheem, 1899?

Neuschwanstein (New Swanstone) Castle in Bavaria, Germany

“Prince Charming’s arrival at the sleeping castle,” Gustave Dore, 1862

The Prince finds Sleeping Beauty

BEAUTY AND THE

BEAST, 1991

Beauty and the Beast

*Theme of a true and loving woman can change a beast into a prince.

*Second only to Cinderella in popularity among numerous cultures.

*Has its origins in 2nd Century Roman literature: (Cupid and Psyche)

*Several medieval versions in Italy and Scandinavia.

*The “beast” is sometimes a serpent, white bear.

*Best known version written by Madame Jeanne-Marie Le-Prince de Beaumont, 1756.

*Other thematic stories: “ Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “King Kong”

Cupid and Psyche, 1st Century wall painting, Pompeii

Psyche Revived bythe Kiss of Amor (Love). Marble, Antonio Canova 1793.

18th Century Painting “Titania Adoring the Ass-headed Bottom,” Fuseli, 1790

“Beauty and the Beast”Illustration by Walter Crane, 1874

Belle declares her love that transforms the beast

Jean Cocteau’s “La Belle et La Bete,” 1946

finis