Goliath II a forerunner of Jungle Book?

[disneyfella]

I pulled out my Disney Rarities disc today to watch some classic Disney during this snowstorm....and had an epiphany. Leonard Maltin said that "Goliath II" was released with Toby Tyler in theatres....which was in 1960! The elephants in that short film look an awful lot like the elephants from The Jungle Book. In fact some of the same gimmicks used with the elephants marching in a line and a tiny kid elephant whose dad was the leader, etc. were also used. This was 7 years before The Jungle Book! I haven't read anywhere any reference connecting the two films, but the resemblances are striking. Is there any connection?

I actually found a TON of similarities on this short. There were multiple scenes that looked like they were almost duplicate animation from Dumbo. Also the crocodile looks like the exact same crocodile character from Peter Pan. It is kind of fun to find established Disney characters making cameos in other films......

[PeterPanfan]

They probably based the elephants off of the ones in The Jungle Book to make it easier. I wouldn't say it's a "prequel" or "continuation" of the elephants or anything.

Neat find though.

[Siren]

They recycled old animation. Just like Robin Hood and Marion's dance is from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

[Voiceroy]

They recycled old animation. Just like Robin Hood and Marion's dance is from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

A LOT of Robin Hood looks recycled--very familiar character designs from other Disney movies from that period. And it recycled its own animation in a few scenes too.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

It is quite clear that a lot of Disney's animation in the 60s and 70s included much recycled material from older films. They had a strong focus on cost-cutting then.

[UmbrellaFish]

It is quite clear that a lot of Disney's animation in the 60s and 70s included much recycled material from older films. They had a strong focus on cost-cutting then.

May I ask, what does "recycled animation" mean. I've always been confused by that.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Where do we start? Have you watched DVD bonus features or read books that describe how traditional animation of the Disney kind is created? In short, it includes a lot of drawings, up to 24 slightly different ones in a second. That way the illusion of movement is achieved. When animation is recycled the character has been given a new look and the background, which is another part of the creative process anyway, is different - but the movement is the same. This is typically done with single, slightly tricky, sequences. A lot of work, and therefore money, can be saved by finding a piece of animation "on the shelf" that can do the job.

[UmbrellaFish]

Wow, that's cool! Thank you for informing me about that, Lars Vermundsberget.

[disneyfella]

I also watched "Summer Magic" last night, and saw a bunch of footage from the True Life Adventure "Beaver Valley". If any has the film, watch the part in the movie where the mom sings the title song "Summer Magic" and when it cuts away to all the footage of the animals.....it is almost all edited from Beaver Valley!!!!! It is kind of fun to watch it now knowing what I know because it makes me want to pull out my old TLA DVDs........

[feedmelinguini]

it makes me want to pull out my old TLA DVDs........

Old? Already? Kinda premature to start calling them old, don't you think?

-Lon