I saw this theatrically, twice at time-of-release, and then decades later in re-release. The rich tapestry of animation, plot, and marvelous Tschiakovsky music make this mandatory viewing and listening for all except the very young.
I recall at the time missing the original and lush Disney-style animation I had grown up with. Having seen "Snow White", "Pinocchio", "Fantasia", "Dumbo", "Cinderella", "Alice in Wonderland", and all the other Thirties-Forties Disney Studios classics, "Sleeping Beauty" uses a somewhat more sparse and flat look then in vogue with avant-garde animators. In retrospect, however, I think the 'look' of "Sleeping Beauty" has held up well, unlike many of the experimental super-minimalist animation efforts of that time. Background artist Eyvind Earle had said he was attempting a 'primitive' look, with emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines, in the manner of Botticelli but with Persian and Japanese influences. (Notice that the trees are squared.) Looking back, this creativity does lend a mood of fantasy and surrealism, in order with the theme.
If I missed the "Bambi" look in 1959, however, today I miss the "Sleeping Beauty" look, and sound, among all the recent Disney efforts!
This really was the end of an era at Disney, a 'serious' and romantic story with glorious songs and music. Here Disney once again elevated his audience, giving us immortal music with a full chorus and the incomparable voice of Mary Costa (and compare to the feeble, forgettable tunes and 'pop'-style singers of recent Disney offerings).
See and hear "Sleeping Beauty" and remember how it was before the 'knack' was seemingly lost.
Highly recommended. ****
I recall at the time missing the original and lush Disney-style animation I had grown up with. Having seen "Snow White", "Pinocchio", "Fantasia", "Dumbo", "Cinderella", "Alice in Wonderland", and all the other Thirties-Forties Disney Studios classics, "Sleeping Beauty" uses a somewhat more sparse and flat look then in vogue with avant-garde animators. In retrospect, however, I think the 'look' of "Sleeping Beauty" has held up well, unlike many of the experimental super-minimalist animation efforts of that time. Background artist Eyvind Earle had said he was attempting a 'primitive' look, with emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines, in the manner of Botticelli but with Persian and Japanese influences. (Notice that the trees are squared.) Looking back, this creativity does lend a mood of fantasy and surrealism, in order with the theme.
If I missed the "Bambi" look in 1959, however, today I miss the "Sleeping Beauty" look, and sound, among all the recent Disney efforts!
This really was the end of an era at Disney, a 'serious' and romantic story with glorious songs and music. Here Disney once again elevated his audience, giving us immortal music with a full chorus and the incomparable voice of Mary Costa (and compare to the feeble, forgettable tunes and 'pop'-style singers of recent Disney offerings).
See and hear "Sleeping Beauty" and remember how it was before the 'knack' was seemingly lost.
Highly recommended. ****