Production The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

in 1938, shortly after release of snow white , 7 dwarfs, james bodrero , campbell grant pitched walt disney idea of making feature film of kenneth grahame s 1908 children s book wind in willows. bodrero , grant felt wind in willows, anthropomorphised animals, produced using animation. disney skeptical, however, , felt corny acquired rights in june year. film intended single narrative feature film title of same name.

by 1941, basic script complete, along song written frank churchill called re merrily on our way . although intended low-budget film (much dumbo), disney hired many animators prestigious bambi (which complete) , production began in may year. within 6 months, 33 minutes of film had been animated. however, studio s ability produce full-length feature films had been drastically diminished, because world war ii had drafted many of animators military , had cut off foreign release market. thus, in october 1941, disney put production of wind in willows on hold.

then in december 1941, united states became embroiled in war after pearl harbor attacked. government asked disney studio produce several propaganda films rally support war effort. during time, of disney s feature output made of so-called package films . beginning saludos amigos in 1942, disney ceased making feature films single narrative due higher costs of such films, drain on studio s resources caused war.

walt disney , artists felt animation of cartoony anthropomorphized animals in wind in willows far below standards of disney animated feature. decided wind in willows better off being part of package film.

walt disney started production again in 1945. many scenes in wind in willows such toad buying several cars before allowance cut off, rat , mole visiting mcbadger in sanatorium, toad making elaborate escape bedroom , toad tricking washer woman helping him escape prison had not yet been animated. therefore, in order condense story package film, disney cut these scenes , completed remaining animation.

under title 3 fabulous characters tried pair mickey , beanstalk , gremlins. however, after gremlins failed materialize, title changed 2 fabulous characters. mickey , beanstalk cut fabulous characters in favour of pairing bongo under title fun , fancy free released in 1947. other segments chosen film including pecos bill , brave engineer retitled film in fun .but these 2 segments later released separately pecos bill being shown on melody time, while brave engineer released own short.

meanwhile, in december 1946, disney started production on new animated feature film, adaptation of washington irving s legend of sleepy hollow . however, filmmakers found running time legend of sleepy hollow not long enough feature film , more suited package film.

finally, in 1947, walt disney decided pair wind in willows legend of sleepy hollow under new working title adventures of ichabod , mr. toad. well-known celebrities basil rathbone , bing crosby cast narrators in order provide mass audience appeal.

the adventures of ichabod , mr. toad last of package films, disney returned single-narrative features 1950 s cinderella, , despite package feature, disney continued produce independent shorts on regular basis until mid-1950s.