King Neptune (film)
Encyclopedia
King Neptune is a 1932 cartoon by Walt Disney
, the second in the Silly Symphonies
series produced in Technicolor
. While Flowers and Trees
was originally intended as a black and white cartoon, King Neptune was meant to be in colors already from the start, and was able to take full advantage of this.
While the film is included in the 1980s VHS release of Silly Symphonies
, it was not selected for the Platinum Edition DVD collection. Some have speculated that this may be because the mermaids appear topless. While the mermaids lack anatomical detail, it was probably considered inappropriate for a modern audience.
is holding court at the bottom of the ocean, being entertained by his various sea creature
subjects. His favorites are a gaggle of mermaids who appear hand-sized next to the larger-than-life king. Once dismissed from the king's presence, the mermaids surface to lounge on a rock and comb their hair. They are spotted by a band of lecherous pirates who attempt to capture them. All of the mermaids are brunettes with the exception of a single strawberry-blond. She has the misfortune to be lassoed and hauled onto the deck of the pirate ship where she does an admirable job of fending off her captors.
Enraged that one of his most beloved subjects has been taken hostage, King Neptune launches an assault on the pirates and a fantastic naval battle
ensues. The sea creatures work together to mimic such war machines as airplanes and bombs, submarine torpedoes, and other such modern equipment. The pirates do a fair job of fending off their attackers, so Neptune rises to the surface and summons a storm while stirring up huge whirlpools with his trident. In the end, he jumps on top of the pirate ship, plunging it straight to the bottom of the ocean.
There is no trace of the pirates except a single chest that begins to jump around on its own. The blond mermaid pops out of it, decked in gold and pearls. Her friends hurry to festoon themselves with jewelry and they perform another beautiful water ballet for King Neptune's pleasure.
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
, the second in the Silly Symphonies
Silly Symphonies
Silly Symphonies is a series of animated short subjects, 75 in total, produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939, while the studio was still located at Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles...
series produced in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
. While Flowers and Trees
Flowers and Trees
Flowers and Trees is a 1932 Silly Symphonies cartoon produced by Walt Disney, directed by Burt Gillett, and released to theatres by United Artists on July 30, 1932...
was originally intended as a black and white cartoon, King Neptune was meant to be in colors already from the start, and was able to take full advantage of this.
While the film is included in the 1980s VHS release of Silly Symphonies
Silly Symphonies
Silly Symphonies is a series of animated short subjects, 75 in total, produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939, while the studio was still located at Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles...
, it was not selected for the Platinum Edition DVD collection. Some have speculated that this may be because the mermaids appear topless. While the mermaids lack anatomical detail, it was probably considered inappropriate for a modern audience.
Summary
King NeptuneKing Neptune
King Neptune may refer to:* King Neptune , a pig that was used to raise $19 million in war bonds during World War II* King Neptune, an officiator in a naval Line-crossing ceremony...
is holding court at the bottom of the ocean, being entertained by his various sea creature
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
subjects. His favorites are a gaggle of mermaids who appear hand-sized next to the larger-than-life king. Once dismissed from the king's presence, the mermaids surface to lounge on a rock and comb their hair. They are spotted by a band of lecherous pirates who attempt to capture them. All of the mermaids are brunettes with the exception of a single strawberry-blond. She has the misfortune to be lassoed and hauled onto the deck of the pirate ship where she does an admirable job of fending off her captors.
Enraged that one of his most beloved subjects has been taken hostage, King Neptune launches an assault on the pirates and a fantastic naval battle
Naval battle
A naval battle is a battle fought using boats, ships or other waterborne vessels. Most naval battles have occurred at sea, but a few have taken place on lakes or rivers. The earliest recorded naval battle took place in 1210 BC near Cyprus...
ensues. The sea creatures work together to mimic such war machines as airplanes and bombs, submarine torpedoes, and other such modern equipment. The pirates do a fair job of fending off their attackers, so Neptune rises to the surface and summons a storm while stirring up huge whirlpools with his trident. In the end, he jumps on top of the pirate ship, plunging it straight to the bottom of the ocean.
There is no trace of the pirates except a single chest that begins to jump around on its own. The blond mermaid pops out of it, decked in gold and pearls. Her friends hurry to festoon themselves with jewelry and they perform another beautiful water ballet for King Neptune's pleasure.
Facts
According to the DVD of "Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies (Volume 2),"- The director of the short, Burt Gillett, used King Neptune in Van Buren's Neptune's Nonsense, which starred Felix the CatFelix the CatFelix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
and was released in 1936. - Two scenes of the short, involving a whale hovercraft carrier and some octopus-helicopters, were animated by Dave Hand, who would go on to direct 1943's Victory Through Air PowerVictory Through Air Power (film)Victory Through Air Power is a 1943 Walt Disney Technicolor animated feature film based on the 1942 book by Alexander P. de Seversky. De Seversky appeared in the film, an unusual departure from the Disney animated feature films of the time....
. (He probably had a thing about flying-machines!) - Disney used King Neptune again in the 1936 Mickey MouseMickey MouseMickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
short Thru the Mirror and in the 1945 feature film The Three CaballerosThe Three CaballerosThe Three Caballeros is a 1944 American animated feature film, produced by Walt Disney and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The film premiered in Mexico City on December 21, 1944. It was released in the United States on February 3, 1945...
. - The design of King Neptune is actually a 1930s Disney archetype. Disney would use the same design for Santa in another 1932 Silly Symphony called Santa's Workshop and again in the 1933 Silly Symphony The Night Before Christmas.