Autumn

Plot

As the vibrant colors of summer fade, the woodland creatures of the forest begin their rhythmic and industrious preparations for the impending winter. Squirrels are seen frantically gathering nuts and corn, engaging in playful but determined labor, while a group of mischievous crows attempts to pilfer their hard-earned harvest. Nearby, a community of beavers works in synchronized harmony to construct a sturdy dam, and a porcupine meticulously collects fallen apples on its quills. The short concludes with a dramatic shift in atmosphere as a biting northern wind signals the first snowfall, prompting a flock of ducks to migrate south in military formation while the remaining animals retreat into their cozy, well-stocked shelters.

Historical Background

In 1930, the film industry was still navigating the 'Talkie' revolution. Disney's Silly Symphonies were at the forefront of this transition, serving as a laboratory for synchronized sound and music-driven storytelling. Historically, this was a time of great risk for the Disney brothers, who were fighting to maintain independence from predatory distributors like Pat Powers. The Great Depression had also begun to take hold, making the whimsical and escapist nature of these musical shorts highly valuable to theater owners looking to draw in audiences.

Making Of

The making of 'Autumn' was overshadowed by the professional divorce between Walt Disney and his top animator, Ub Iwerks. Iwerks, who had been the primary creative force behind the visual style of Mickey Mouse, felt undervalued and was lured away by Pat Powers with the promise of his own studio. Consequently, 'Autumn' represents the end of an era for Disney's early sound shorts. The animation team, which included future legends like Les Clark and Ben Sharpsteen, had to work under immense pressure to finalize the short as the studio's leadership was in flux. The film also showcases the studio's growing interest in 'perspective runs,' such as the ducks flying into the distance, which was a technical obsession of Iwerks at the time.

Visual Style

While a black-and-white production, the film uses sophisticated grayscale shading to simulate the 'furry' texture of animals and the transparency of flowing water. Notable techniques include the use of multi-layered backgrounds to create a sense of depth as animals move through the forest. The 'camera' movements are simulated through complex panning of the background cels, particularly during the migration sequence.

Innovations

The film is noted for its early experimentation with 'overlapping action' and 'follow-through,' techniques that allowed characters to move more naturally rather than in a stiff, stop-and-go fashion. It also features some of the earliest attempts at animated perspective, specifically seen in the way the ducks fly away from the viewer toward the horizon.

Music

The soundtrack, composed by Carl Stalling, is a tightly synchronized 'mickey-mousing' score where every physical action is punctuated by a musical note. It utilizes a variety of orchestral instruments to mimic natural sounds, such as the whistling wind and the rhythmic tapping of the beavers' tails. The score draws from classical motifs to evoke the specific 'mood' of the harvest season.

Memorable Scenes

• The beaver dam construction sequence, where the animals work in perfect rhythmic synchronization to the music.
• The final scene where the ducks fly south in a 'V' formation as the first snowflakes of winter begin to fall across the screen.
• The squirrel cracking open a nut only to find a dancing caterpillar inside.

What Critics Said

At the time of its release, 'Motion Picture News' praised the film as 'well done,' though it noted that it followed the standard cartoon formula of the era. Modern animation historians, such as Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman, view it as a pivotal work that shows a marked improvement in story development over its predecessors. While some critics find it less 'gag-heavy' than the Mickey Mouse shorts, others appreciate its atmospheric quality and the technical ambition of its backgrounds.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences of the 1930s received the Silly Symphonies as high-quality 'prestige' shorts compared to the cruder animation of competitors. The lack of a recurring protagonist like Mickey Mouse was initially a hurdle for audience recognition, but the series eventually gained a following for its artistic merit and synchronized musical choreography.

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