The Original Film
The Reluctant Dragon is a unique film in the Disney cannon. It’s both a package feature (a feature film comprised of animated shorts) and a documentary.
Designed by Disney to be a quick filler piece so the studio could stay afloat during the industry’s animation strike, the film takes you through the animation process step by step while showing animated shorts in between.
In addition, the final short features the first gay couple in Disney cannon. Both the Dragon and the Knight are pressured by society to conform to “societal expectations”. Yet, all they want to do is live happily ever after together writing poetry. The allegory and overtones are quite obvious.
In short, I’d recommend the film to anyone who is either interested in the history and process of traditional 2D animation or LBGTQ representation in animation.
As for the music, which is why this series exists, there is only one song written for the film.
- “The Reluctant Dragon”- Charles Wolcott, T. Hee, and Erdman Penner
Disney Released Remixes and Covers
Only a spinet of the full song is sung in the film, but the the song in it’s entierty was covered by many popular artist of the day.
- “The Reluctant Dragon”- The Kings Men
- “The Reluctant Dragon” - Thurl Ravenscroft
The first gay couple!!! This definitely didn't cross my mind when I watched it!
ReplyDeleteReally? I thought it was pretty obvious, and I'm usually the last person to claim that their might be more to an established friendship.
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