The Walt Disney Company cartoon Three Little Pigs premieres at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the hit song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”
“The Three Little Pigs” is an animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists on May 27, 1933. Directed by Burt Gillett, it is based on the traditional fairy tale about three pigs who build three houses of different materials: one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. The film is significant in the history of animation and holds a special place in Disney’s legacy.
Plot:
The story follows three pigs: Fifer Pig, Fiddler Pig, and Practical Pig. Fifer and Fiddler Pig build their houses quickly out of straw and sticks, respectively, and then spend their time playing music. Practical Pig, on the other hand, builds his house out of bricks, taking much longer but ensuring it is sturdy.
The Big Bad Wolf comes along and easily blows down the straw and stick houses. However, he is unable to blow down the brick house. The wolf tries various schemes to get into the brick house but fails each time. In the end, the pigs are safe inside Practical Pig’s house.
Animation and Music:
The film is notable for its use of character animation, particularly the distinct personalities of the three pigs and the wolf.
The song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” became a huge hit and is one of Disney’s most famous songs. It was composed by Frank Churchill and became an anthem of sorts during the Great Depression.
Impact and Legacy:
“The Three Little Pigs” was a major success both critically and commercially. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1934.
The success of the film demonstrated the potential for character-driven storytelling in animation and influenced future Disney productions.
The cartoon has been re-released several times and remains a beloved classic. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Sequels and Adaptations:
The popularity of the original short led to the production of several sequels, including “The Big Bad Wolf” (1934), “Three Little Wolves” (1936), “The Practical Pig” (1939), and “The Thrifty Pig” (1941).
The characters have appeared in various other Disney media over the years, including comic strips, television shows, and theme park attractions.