Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "The Ugly Duckling" is a 1931 black-and-white cartoon, so this one is already over 85 years old now. Wow. It is based on a tale by the legendary Hans Christian Andersen, who had already been dead for over half a century when this was released. It runs for 6.5 minutes only and is one of the many many works by one of Disney's finest Wilfred Jackson, who was only in his mid-20s when he worked on this one. And even if this Silly Symphony cartoon is far from forgotten today, it is nowhere near as famous as the 1939 version and I personally think it should be this way as the one from almost a decade later is superior in almost every regard, but most of all story-telling, the key differences and there are many. I will get to that later. And the visual component, i.e. the animation also improved so drastically during that time. The one thing I liked the least is that it's about the duckling becoming a hero in order to be excepted by his admittedly pretty shallow "mother". Then again, it is just what would have happened in reality too that she would have neglected him right? The parts with the duckling leaving and trying unsuccessfully to find solace from other animals is not half as effective as it could have been. The entire things comes pretty short in terms of emotion and that meets the eye immediately as this is the exact area where the later, Oscar-winning, slightly longer version (also by Disney) I mentioned earlier already succeeds the most. But still this one here may not be a great watch, but it somehow succeeds in its own right, even if nothing stands out in terms of greatness. It's fine though as for its time, it is definitely a solid achievement and among the better if not best cartoon works from the early 1930s. As an individual achievement, I give this one a thumbs-up and recommend checking it out, especially to old cartoon lovers.

OllieSuave-007 This is a touching Silly Symphony cartoon from Walt Disney - a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's tale, The Ugly Duckling. Here, a mother hen hatches some chicks, but one turns out to be an ugly duckling; therefore, it is immediately repulsed.The ugly duckling was actually pretty adorable and will immediately grab your sympathy and heart as you see him try to get along with his new family. But, the poor thing couldn't catch a break and deemed to remain lonely. However, that is until he might prove a sense of belonging by braving through a tornado to save his siblings. It's a satisfying sight seeing that even an outcasted creature could be brave enough to save those who once ignored him.A great little cartoon with a great message.Grade A-

TheLittleSongbird I happen to agree with those who prefer the superb 1939 cartoon of the same title, especially in regard to the animation, the 1939 one for me has held up amazingly well and has a succinct story and one of Disney's most emotionally devastating moments. 1931's The Ugly Duckling does have a very impressive tornado sequence, but the black and white animation feels rather primitive and apart from perhaps the title character the character designs seemed awkward to me. However, the music is beautiful and very dynamic with what is going on on screen, the story is interesting if a little less succinct than the 1939 cartoon and the ugly duckling of the title is such an adorable little thing who you feel pity for right from the start. It was the message though that makes this 1931 cartoon work. It is a great message, one that I identified with(prejudice is one of many things I feel very strongly about) and one that I resonated with. What was also impressive was that the message wasn't done in a beat-around-the-head sort of way. In conclusion, a good cartoon with a strong message. 8/10 Bethany Cox

ackstasis Hans Christian Anderson's "The Ugly Duckling" is the classic tale of a young outsider finding his place in the world, despite the persecution of those who consider him to be different. The "ugly duckling" ultimately has the last laugh when discovers that he is, in fact, a cygnet, destined to develop into the most beautiful bird on the pond. As part of their "Silly Symphony" series, Disney made two attempts at adapting this story to the screen, once in 1931 and again in 1939. The contrast between the two films is striking: whereas one features rather primitive black-and-white animation, the other is captured in bright and vivid colours, with a degree of artistic detail for which only Disney was known at that time. However, more telling is the manner in which Wildred Jackson's original version alters Andersen's story, turning it into quite a touching plea for racial tolerance. A duckling, rather grotesquely drawn with a dark body, black face and a grating honk, is born into a family of chickens, and is immediately ostracised from the community.The Mother Hen shepherds her "normal" children away from the duckling in a manner that suggests her saying "don't play with the dark boy down the road." He is constantly bullied by his so-called siblings, ignored by his mother and generally relegated to the status of a second-class citizen. When a whirling tornado threatens the life of his family, the duckling courageously risks his life to rescue those who had previously treated him like dirt, persevering even after his mother unapologetically locks him out of the chicken coop. Eventually, the duck's unique ability to navigate the fast-moving river saves the lives of the chickens, and he is soon accepted as a valuable member of society, and, indeed, as a friend. Though this ending differs drastically from Anderson's original story, I liked its message. Rather than suggesting that "different" characters are happiest with their own kind, Jackson's 'The Ugly Duckling' recognises that everybody – whatever race, creed or colour – should be accepted into the wider community, their differences valued rather than persecuted.