Brief Summary
This video explores the signature nostalgic sound of Disney music, particularly focusing on the Disney Renaissance period. It argues that Disney's success lies in its ability to blend animation with musical theater traditions, creating something both new and familiar. The analysis begins with the influence of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" on revitalizing animation and then examines how "The Little Mermaid" successfully integrated Broadway musical elements, setting the stage for future Disney classics.
- Disney maintains a nostalgic sound in their music across different eras.
- The Disney Renaissance, starting with "The Little Mermaid," exemplifies Disney's signature sound.
- "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" revitalized interest in animation, paving the way for Disney's comeback.
- Disney blends animation with musical theater traditions, creating a unique and timeless appeal.
Intro
The video introduces the challenge of defining a unified "Disney sound" due to the company's vast and varied repertoire spanning a century. It suggests examining the Disney Renaissance, particularly "The Little Mermaid," as a case study to understand how Disney consistently evokes a nostalgic feeling through its music, regardless of the era or the viewer's personal history with Disney films. The video aims to pinpoint how "The Little Mermaid" encapsulates the timeless Disney magic and how its music paved the way for the Renaissance.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
The video explains that Disney faced a period of decline following Walt Disney's death in 1966. The animation department struggled, with films like "The Aristocats" and "Robin Hood" receiving mediocre reviews and facing production challenges. Animation's popularity waned in the 60s and 70s, and key animators, including Don Bluth, left to start their own studios. Despite these challenges, Roy Disney encouraged the animation department to continue working on feature films. Eisner partnered with Steven Spielberg to create "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," which became a massive success and revitalized public interest in animation. This film's success led to the creation of Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland and inspired a wave of animated television shows, setting the stage for Disney's comeback.
Broadway Musical
The video transitions to discussing the influence of Broadway musicals on Disney films. It highlights "Showboat" as a genre-defining work that solidified musical theater's potential. The video then discusses the Golden Age of musical theater, with Rodgers and Hammerstein defining the genre with shows like "Oklahoma," "Carousel," and "The Sound of Music." The video draws parallels between the releases of Disney classics and Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, suggesting a musical connection between the two. Howard Ashman, the lyricist and playwright behind "The Little Mermaid," understood the importance of musical theater techniques in Disney films.
The Little Mermaid
The video focuses on how "The Little Mermaid" successfully integrated Broadway musical elements. Ashman, brought on to write the music, understood the need for an "I want" song, similar to those found in Broadway musicals. He also advocated for Sebastian's Jamaican accent to incorporate Caribbean-inspired music. Ashman masterfully transitioned between spoken word and music, creating a seamless experience for the audience. The animators drew inspiration from Divine for Ursula's character design. Ashman aimed to create something new yet familiar, emulating the older Disney style. Alan Menken, who worked with Ashman on "Little Shop of Horrors," composed the score, repurposing music from the songs throughout the film.
Conclusion
The video concludes by emphasizing that Disney knew they wanted to emulate Walt's classic style and create something akin to a Broadway musical. Despite some doubts during production, the success of "The Little Mermaid" proved their approach was effective. Disney has continued to repeat this formula, as seen with "Frozen" in 2013. The video argues that Disney music always sounds nostalgic because it calls back to a collective nostalgia of both animation and musical theater, creating something new in the process.
