Covid-19 Day 72

One Hundred and One Dalmatians is a 1961 American animated adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith.

Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman, it was Disney’s 17th animated feature film.

The film tells the story of a litter of Dalmatian puppies who are kidnapped by the villainous Cruella deVille who wants to use their fur to make into coats.

The story is very straight forward, but well told. After the setup and kidnap comes the adventure and return. All executed with the usual Disney cuteness. This is aided by the wickedly villainous deVille and her two inept henchmen.

The animation of the dogs faces and movement is outstanding, they clearly communicate emotions and intend.

The graphic design is different. Ub Iwerks had been experimenting with Xerox photography to aid in animation. By 1959, he had modified a Xerox camera to transfer drawings by animators directly to animation cels, eliminating the inking process, thus saving time and money while preserving the spontaneity of the penciled elements. However, because of its limitations, the camera was unable to deviate from a black scratchy outline and lacked the fine lavish quality of hand inking.

According to Chuck Jones, Disney was able to complete the film for about half of what it would have cost if they had had to animate all the dogs and spots.