The Busy Beavers is a 1931 Silly Symphonies animated film, directed by Burt Gillett.[1]

The Busy Beavers
Directed byBurt Gillett
Produced byWalt Disney
Music byFrank Churchill
Animation byCharles Byrne
Harry Reeves
Production
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Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • June 22, 1931 (1931-06-22)
CountryUnited States

Plot

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The short shows a community of beavers building their dam and soon shows one particular beaver trying to save it when it is threatened by a flash flood.

Reception

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Variety (July 14, 1931): "One of the Silly Symphonies and among the better of that group. At the Roxy, shown on the wide screen, the cartoon took on added attractiveness. Good anywhere. Runs with a sense of continuity which other cartoons fail to get despite the fact that only the quack-quack noises of the inked beavers and some interpolating sounds are heard by the customers. One good moment is when a cloudburst pummels one of the beavers Another is where a tree falls on one of them. However, he stays alive to be razzed by a plucked owl for a laugh finish."[2]

The Film Daily (July 19, 1931): "Walt Disney made a 'knock-out' when he produced this Silly Symphony. Gags that are really new, animation that is smooth and clever and synchrony that never misses a beat. Disney has taken a theme which shows beavers building a dam as only cartooned beavers can do it. It finishes with a flood and one lone beaver attempting to save the dam from destruction. The reel is fast, funny and fine."[3]

Home media

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The short was released on December 4, 2001, on Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies - The Historic Musical Animated Classics.[4][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Merritt, Russell; Kaufman, J. B. (2016). Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series (2nd ed.). Glendale, CA: Disney Editions. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-1-4847-5132-9.
  2. ^ "Talking Shorts". Variety: 17. July 14, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "Sound Shorts". The Film Daily: 11. July 19, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "Silly Symphonies: The Historic Musical Animated Classics DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
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