Tyree McQueen W5: Prompt 1

In Walt Disney’s 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie,” sound is employed to emphasize the activities of the eponymous character Mickey by imbuing him with personality and enhancing the storyline itself. Songs used to enhance the story have always been a staple of Walt Disney Animations, particularly with their animated short series “Silly Symphony,” and just as those shorts flawlessly combined visual effects and music to define their characters’ emotions and dispositions, Steamboat Willie did the same with its unique narrative plot structured around an intriguing musical choice. Not only does the music in “Steamboat Willie” serve as one of the earliest sequenced cartoons to incorporate sound, but it also serves as an integral advancement within the animation industry.  There have been numerous animated shorts with synchronized sound and animation in the past, but what made “Steamboat Willie” so distinctive was the fervent and vivacious personality of the Mickeys’ character, with the music assisting in conveying his mischievous, fun-loving nature as he ventures through the uproarious world in which he is portrayed in. This is also true for all of the other supporting characters. The numerous diverse cadences and distinct melodies utilized to introduce new characters not only assist distinguish them from our eponymous character but also help them develop their own sense of identity. For instance, with Minnie’s introduction rushing to the boat, it’s a considerably higher-pitched rendering of Mickey’s introduction. It demonstrates that, despite the gender difference, she is an extension of Mickey herself,  not quite her own character yet, and appears to envy Mickey’s playful attitude, demonstrating their similar nature and special relationship.