By Michael Lyons
Disney hasn't just cornered the market on animated mice. This was evident this past weekend with the Studio's latest animated hit, Raya and the Last Dragon. The film introduced us to Sisu; a magical creature called a "water dragon' (voiced by Awkwafina).
Sisu joins a long list of "Disney dragons" that date back 80 years. With Raya and the Last Dragon now joining the increasingly impressive list, it's time to look back at some of Sisu's long lost cousins from the Studio:
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
A long-forgotten Disney feature that’s both live-action and animated (which begins in black and white and ends in color). The live-action sections revolve around a tour of The Disney Studio, given to humorist Robert Benchley. He gets to see several short, animated films and ends his tour by seeing the title short, The Reluctant Dragon.
An adaptation of a book by author Kenneth Grahame tells the tale of a young boy who enters a dragon’s lair and meets a dragon who would prefer to read poetry over fighting a knight.
The segment is funny and charming enough (especially the dragon's character design and personality), with full animation one would expect from Disney at this time, but don’t be fooled by the title. The film is a studio tour with The Reluctant Dragon only comprising the last ten minutes or so of the film.
Still, it all makes for engaging Disney history lessons for any film fan.
Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty (1959)
The climactic battle of Disney’s beautifully animated fairy tale features the already imposing villainous Maleficent transforming into a fire-breathing dragon in one of the Studio’s iconic sequences.
Disney Legend, animator Marc Davis created and animated Maleficent, but another legend at the Studio, animator Eric Cleworth is responsible for the scenes involving the dragon. Cleworth based the creature’s movement on a striking rattlesnake, which added a level of realism to the scene and made it one of Disney’s most memorable moments.
Madame Mim in The Sword in the Stone (1963)
The “Wizard’s Duel” is by far one of the highlights of Disney’s animated tale of Young King Arthur (adapted from T.H. White’s novel). Sorcerer “Mad” Madame Mim promises Merlin the wizard that during the duel, she won’t transform into “make-believe things” like “pink dragons.” Of course, that’s precisely what she does, in a memorable conclusion to the duel, made all the funnier by “Dragon Mim’s” cartoonish appearance and her comeuppance, as well.
Elliot in Pete's Dragon (1977)
In Disney’s live-action/animated musical, a young boy befriends a dragon named Elliot in a Maine small town. The combination of the live-actors with animation allows for some very entertaining moments, and Elliot's design is pure Disney character magic.
He was crafted by artist Ken Anderson, another Disney Legend, who provided the character with a unique look - a large jaw, pink hair, tiny wings, and a pot-belly, along with vocal sounds provided by comedian Charlie Callas. He is so charming that when Elliot has to use his invisibility power, we as the audience can’t wait for him to be back on the screen. It’s no wonder that Elliot and the film have become a favorite of a generation.
Mushu in Mulan (1998)
In this adaptation of a famous Chinese folk tale, in which the title character takes her father’s place, joining the army and going off to war, Mulan gets assistance from a pint-sized dragon named Mushu (‘travel-sized for her convenience”).
Eddie Murphy’s lightning-fast, funny vocal performance makes Mushu welcome comic relief. Animator Tom Bancroft based the character’s quick movements on those of Brer Fox from Song of the South, which is evident as Mushu is tough to keep up with, but we are always happy when we do.
Elliot, again, in Pete's Dragon (2016)
In keeping with the Disney trend of remaking their past films in live-action comes this serious take on the musical original. The difference between the two films is what makes this film worthwhile and entertaining in its own right.
Opening in 1977 (a nice nod, as this was the release year of the original), the remake once again tells the tale of a young boy and his dragon. That’s basically where the similarities end, as this is a more mystical, E.T.-like take on the story (the film even goes on to take place in the 80s) complete with its own, different (and shaggier) version of Elliot.
Now that you’ve seen Raya and you’re in an animated, mystical mood, consider “dragon” out some Disney history with these movies.
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