The 1950s were a magical time for animation. Part of the Golden Age of American Animation (1928 to the late 1960s), the 50s boast some of the most amazing animated films the world had seen so far. During this time, Walt Disney Productions released a number of award-winning animated films such as Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), and Sleeping Beauty (1959), among others. And by the end of the decade, other animation studios emerged such as Hanna-Barbera Productions. Founded in 1957 by former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Hanna-Barbera created some of the world’s top animated series such as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, and the Jetsons.
The first computer animation was introduced by Anna Lee Saxenian in 1950, and in 1953, the first 3D Film Bwana Devil opened. That same year, Gumbasis became the first animation to introduce the character Gumby to the public. The first color anime feature film was produced by Toei Animation during the fifties (Hakujaden “The Tale of the White Serpent” 1958), Warner Bros. released Knighty Knight Bugs (1958), which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, and in 1959 Charlie Brown & Lucy appeared in animated form for the very first time. Disney's Sleeping Beauty was nominated for Oscar that same year.
The 1950s also saw the introduction of color TV to a country where 15 million TV sets in American homes allowed viewers to watch the Emmy Award-winning Huckleberry Hound Show, Mighty Mouse, The Ruff and Reddy Show, Tom & Jerry, Quick Draw McGraw, Bugs Bunny, and many other now-famous animated productions.
While a large number of animated films and series were produced during the fifties, both in the U.S. and overseas, not all are considered “classics.” The animated films of the 1950s listed below are true classics, and they are as popular today as they were back in the then. This means, you’ve probably seen the films on our list many times and already know everything there is to know about what happens at the end. However, we’re guessing that you don’t know everything about these productions, so we found a few fun facts that might surprise you. Take a look.
1. Cinderella (1950), Walt Disney Productions
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wilfred Jackson
Premiere Info: Boston opening February 15, 1950; New York and Chicago openings: February 22, 1950
Fun Fact: Eleanor Audley performed the voice of Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother. Later, she would also play the villainous Maleficent in "Sleeping Beauty." Disney animators designed both characters to look like Audley as well. -Moviefone
2. Alice in Wonderland (1951), Walt Disney Productions
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wilfred Jackson
Premiere Info: World premiere in London, England July 26, 1951; New York opening: July 28, 1951
Fun Fact: Alice in Wonderland is actually a 1903 British silent film adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel. It is the first adaptation of the children’s book. The film was adapted again in 1915, 1933, 1949, 1951 (Disney’s version), 1966, and many other times spanning all the way up to today. The TV and film adaptations of the book have a total of two Oscar wins, four primetime Emmys and several Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations to show for their various successes. –Metro.co.uk
3. Peter Pan (1953), Walt Disney Productions
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wilfred Jackson
Premiere Info: World Premiere Chicago February 5, 1953
Fun Fact: An entire live action film was shot to help the animators who worked on Peter Pan. After recording their voiceovers, the actors made a live action (not intended for audiences) film so that the animators could use it as a reference. –Ohmy.disney.com
4. Animal Farm (1954), Halas & Batchelor Cartoon Films, Ltd., Louis de Rochemont Associates
Directed by Joy Batchelor and John Halas
Premiere Info: New York opening December 29, 1954
Fun Fact: Based on the George Orwell book Animal Farm, this classic was first given the big-screen treatment in 1954 with the first ever British animated feature to get a theatrical release. A live-action remake featuring the voices of Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammar and Pete Postlethwaite was released to mixed reviews in 1999. –Metro.co.uk
5. Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy (1954)
Directed by John Paul
Premiere Info: New York opening October 10, 1954; Los Angeles opening: December 16, 1954
Fun Fact: Despite its European, "old world" look, Hansel and Gretel was made in New York City. The film was shot using conventional stop-motion puppets (notwithstanding the producer's claims to using some sort of mysterious "electronic" method) in the main room of an abandoned courthouse, which is still standing at the corner of Second Avenue and Second Street in New York City. The large set was built in the main chamber on the second floor, now the largest of several theaters in what is currently (2005) the Anthology Film Archives. –IMDb.com
6. Lady and the Tramp (1955), Walt Disney Productions
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske
Premiere Info: Los Angeles and New York openings June 23, 1955
Fun Fact: The first animated feature to be in widescreen (CinemaScope) became the last film Wolfgang Reitherman worked on as an animator. He went on to direct films such as Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats. –Ohmy.disney.com
7. Sleeping Beauty (1959), Walt Disney Productions
Directed by Clyde Geronimi and Wolfgang Reitherman
Premiere Info: World premiere in Los Angeles January 29, 1959
Fun Fact: Sleeping Beauty was the first animated feature to be filmed in the wide-screen 70MM Technirama format. It was also the last Disney cartoon feature to use hand-inked cels (the foreground transparencies on which the characters are painted). -Moviefone
Sources
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