Animator Walt Disney was among the first to embrace the use of sound in an animated film, in 1929’s Steamboat Willie.
The effect was remarkable. Sound did even more to enhance animation than it did for live-action film. Soon after, Disney was the first to make use of full-color animation. By 1940, animated short films were an established, and popular, medium of entertainment.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening Theme
Overture from Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
Composed in 1816 by Gioachino Rossini. Public domain.
Performed by The Davis High School Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.
Closing Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Mark, How can you possible spend all that time on Technicolor and never mention the origin on the word “Technicolor”. From the WGBH website a quote . . . “Kalmus and Comstock went to MIT — Massachusetts Institute of Technology — and that’s where the term ‘tech’ comes from in Technicolor,” said film producer Richard W. Haines, author of “Technicolor Movies: The History of Dye Transfer Printing.” Why do I care you ask? Because I too am an Alum of MIT, though more recent than the Technicolor guys.
I am guessing that we will need a “round-the-world” summary to setup for WW2, which this next episode on South America starts, I hope. I am anxious to hear your take on what is going on around the world, including Africa, The Middle East, South Asia, China/USSR/Japan, Australia /New Zealand, and the Pacific.
Love the use of a high school orchestra for the Rossini piece. Do they have a version of Bolero?
Alas, Boléro, while in the public domain in most countries, is still under copyright in the USA until 2025. The choice of music was of course an oblique reference to The Rabbit of Seville. I, for one, cannot hear this music without immediately visualizing the cartoon.
You do a pretty good Elmer Fudd 😉
Mark, I am soooo impressed on how you pronounced my name at the end of your podcast. I wasn’t expecting to be mentioned because of my modest donation. But it was appreciated. Regards, Goran.