Many of Disney’s most famous stories come from older sources, such as The Brothers Grimm or Aesop. And some just seem like they do. Take, for example, today’s short: Babes In The Woods. It’s a mash-up of elements from various familiar stories, but ultimately tells its own tale. Are the lost children Hansel and Gretel? Well, they’re wearing clogs, so maybe. But in Bert Lewis’ opening song, the narrator sings “…whose names I don’t know.” So are they the babes in the woods from the british folk tale? Other than the title and the fact that they’re lost, nothing else is familiar. And where are the elves from? Rather than look backward, I think the animators (under the able direction of Burt Gillett) were looking forward, experimenting with their newfound technicolor palette to bring to life all different kinds of characters – the animals, the children, the witch, and the elves all have a distinct and unique style. Babes In The Woods set the scene for some of Disney’s greater triumphs.
