Movie Essay: The Creation Of Dumbo

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The creation of Dumbo was one of Disney’s first films that largely toyed with pathos. A heart wrenching story, Dumbo largely tugs at the heartstrings of audience members of all ages while telling the tale of an incarcerated mother and her lonely son, Jumbo Jr., who was unfortunately nicknamed Dumbo because of his abnormally large ears. At just sixty minutes, this film is short and sweet, and a work of visual poetry.
Disney animators really stepped up to the plate in this one, with their iconic pink elephant scene that takes place after Dumbo sips some champagne. The scene borders on narcotic and trippy, and it takes the story to a whole new level. The accompanying song, “Pink Elephants”, helped bring the scene together, making it one of the
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A pivotal moment in the film is when Dumbo and his mother, Mrs. Jumbo, lovingly entangle their trunks together, in attempt to be close to one another. This scene is a real tear-jerker. Mrs. Jumbo is kept locked up for attacking a trainer, because she cared too much for her son and didn't want to see him taunted, teased, and made a circus act because of his large ears. And while the film was produced minimally and cheaply, the simple animation techniques allows us to focus on the emotion the story itself evokes, rather than the art and animation. This filmmaking choice allows its viewers to fall in love with the characters. One cannot help falling in love with shy little Dumbo, or having their heart ache for the misfortune of his loving mother. However, in true Disney fashion, the story ends on a high note when Dumbo meets his mouse friend, Timothy. This relationship parodies the stereotypical animosity that is usually seem between elephants and mice—a gag, as Disney would call it, to make the audience love this film even more. Timothy helps Dumbo see his potential, and Dumbo learns that his ears are a blessing, not a curse. He discovers that he can use his large ears to fly, and become a headlining circus act not because he was abnormal, but because he was