Paul Bunyan

A Special Cartoon

Release Date : August 1, 1958

Running Time : 16:55

Synopsis

A retelling of the classic Canadian / American tall tale of the enormous lumberjack and his loyal companion, an equally huge blue ox.

Characters

Paul Bunyan
Babe, the Blue Ox
Cal McNab
Chris Crosshaul
Shot Gunderson
Joe Muffaw

Credits

Director
Les Clark
Animation
John Sibley
George Nicholas
Robert Youngquist
George Goepper
Fred Kopietz
Ken Hultgren
Jerry Hathcock
Jack Parr
Backgrounds
Walt Peregoy
Effects Animation
Jack Boyd
Layout
Homer Jonas
Jack Huber
Story
Lance Nolley
Ted Berman
Music
George Bruns
Tom Adair
The Mellomen
Character Design
Tom Oreb
Color and Styling
Eyvind Earle

Awards

Nominated for an Academy Award (Short Subjects - Cartoons)
Nominated for an Academy Award (Short Subjects - Cartoons)

Video

United States
Favorite Stories : Paul Bunyan
American Heroes
Germany
Donald Macht nie Pause
France
Disney Parade 6
Italy
Paperino Pippo Pluto e …

Laserdiscs

United States
Paul Bunyan / The Three Little Pigs
Japan
Disney Cartoon Festival 6

DVD

United States
American Legends
Walt Disney Animation Collection : Volume 4 : The Tortoise and the Hare
Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s

Television

The Ink and Paint Club: Episode 57: From Zero to Hero
Donald's Quack Attack: Episode 25

Technical Specification

Color Type: Technicolor
Animation Type: Standard animation
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1
Negative Format: 35mm
Print Format: 35mm
Cinematographic Process: Spherical
Original Language: English

Comments

From Max Honeycutt : I remember when my teacher showed this cartoon to us in 2nd grade on a 16mm film. I thought it was so awesome that I would shush anyone who was talking during it. Well now I'm 19 years old and I still love this cartoon. I still have the video of it that I got for my 10th birthday.
From Ben : I love shorts that remind us of the grand old pioneering days of this wonderful country. Heroes of all kinds shaped the frontier and were conglomerated into the icon of Paul Bunyan, the Big Man, who tamed the wilderness and brought prosperity to the fledgling west. Paul Bunyan represents a piece of the country we have lost in the last century. There are no more frontiers, no place to venture into the great wide open and pit one man's skill against the stark reality of the land around us. We may have conquered the west, but we lost a piece of ourselves in the process. The pioneering spirit that made this country great is waning. We have to find new frontiers and challenge them everyday. This beautiful country I call my home has never been satisfied with the status quo. We must always strive to be the best, be a world example of freedom and strength, and live up to the legend of Paul Bunyan.
From Ryan : This is basically the retelling of the old Canadian legend. Although the background art is limited, I feel that it still gives the cartoon good quality. I like how the Northern lights had been done.
From Baruch Weiss : Another nicely done classic short.
From Billy Joe : In my opinion, this is a very enjoyable version of the Paul Bunyan legend. It's great for families and Disney fans alike. The background art and character designed made me think of this being a fully animated Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I also love the song, and like Ryan, the Alaskan sky was wicked (how did Disney do that in the fifties?) The almost cried when Paul Bunyan was beaten by a machine. Overall, it's a great Disney cartoon.

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