I wouldn't dare rank these, and in many cases it has simply been too long for me to remember adequately a good bunch of them, but I can list my favourites.
Personally, I feel that the best Silly Symphonies come from the colour era. With the earlier, black and white shorts I think that Walt Disney and company were still finding their footing.
Silly Symphonies I love:
1.
The Skeleton Dance (1928)
So entertaining almost a hundred years after it debuted! I've shown this one to my primary school students in class, and I was amazed that in an age of
Gumball and narrowing attentions spans, they really enjoyed it and requested I play it again for them on the interactive whiteboard!
2.
Flowers and Trees (1932)
You hear a lot about this one, since it was Walt Disney's first three-strip Technicolor short, but I think it's just a plain excellent cartoon, colour or not. The Disney charm is full bloom here.
3.
Father Noah's Ark (1933)
A delight from start to finish. Excellent musical score, and lovely rubberhose animation goodness.
4.
The Pied Piper (1933)
This might be my favourite Symphony! I love the operetta style and the music is to die for. The only part of the music I find trite is the very end, when the children are in their dreamland.
5.
The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934)
Preachy morals have never been this much fun!
6.
The Goddess of Spring (1934)
Yes, the human animation is absolutely rubbery in some scenes, but I dislike that this film is always brought up in the context of "Ew! Look how the Disney animators weren't ready to handle human animation in 1934!" Personally, I think they did pretty darn good for a first attempt, and the animation of Persephone in the underworld is a lot better than her floaty dancing up top. Terrific effects animation that nobody ever mentions.
7.
The Golden Touch (1935)
Much maligned cartoon is the last personally directed by Walt Disney, and he reportedly got hot under the collar if anybody mentioned it in the years following its production. I think it is a fine cartoon, which imaginative visuals and staging. I just dislike the "modern touches" and infrequently cringey dialogue. I know I wouldn't mind having this film on my CV.
8.
The Cookie Carnival (1935)
A delightful confection sweeter than the cookies onscreen. What a joy! I am always charmed by the dance animation in this film, when the anthropomorphic foodstuffs are trying to woo the May Queen. Just look at the lovely squash and stretch, and perfect timing on those drunken cupcakes!
9.
Who Killed Cock Robin? (1935)
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. I need to watch it again.
10.
Music Land (1935)
Supremely imaginative. A first class effort, from animation to colour and styling, to musical scoring and sound design.
11.
Woodland Café (1937)
Spectacular show-piece in which your toes can't help tapping along. Amazing Ward Kimball animation on the jazz band.
12.
Wynken, Blynken and Nod (1938)
Some people may find this kitschy, but I think the film can be forgiven for presenting a simple, innocent, beautifully illustrated tale that is designed to make you go "Aaaaawwww!"
13.
Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938)
Loads of fun!
14.
The Practical Pig (1939)
The short gives me Looney Tunes vibes. Favourite scene: The wolf in his ridiculous mermaid costume complete with island, vegetation and patch, arranging his hair and harp and trilling, "Nee nee nee nee neeeeeeeeeee!"
15.
The Ugly Duckling (1939)
A perfectly elegant adaptation of the classic tale without extra, unneeded frills. Beautiful animation and art direction. I love the implication of adultery by the male duck at the beginning of the film. I suppose that's a rather adult, "unneeded frill," that would have flown over kids' heads in 1939, but it makes perfect sense and I'm glad it's in the film.
That's all folks!
And a bunch more Mickey shorts will be in the public domain too: