Disney’s Timeless Tales is a collection of six classic cartoons, each running about ten minutes long. It’s a lightweight release with not much to speak of, but it will please the kids, and includes some annoyingly catchy little tunes that are hard to shake. The most famous inclusion here is that of “Casey at the Bat.” One nice add-on worth noting is the small insert which includes the short “Casey” tale in its entirety, so you can follow along as you watch. The classic tale of Casey, which deals with overconfi…ence and its repercussions, could have been executed at a better pace, and, believe it or not, is not the best short featured, despite having one of the most memorable stories.
I would give “best” nods to “The Wise Little Hen,” which features the first appearance of Donald Duck, and carries a message of its own. Donald and Peter Pig play a couple of freeloading friends, who refuse to help with the corn harvest for the Hen, whom they live with. She is forced to harvest the corn by herself with only her baby chicks to help, and remembers Donald and Pig’s refusal come mealtime. Other shorts include the following: “The Golden Touch,” “Morris the Midget Moose,” “Brave Little Hiawatha,” and “Ben and Me.”
Video
All six shorts are presented in full-screen and contain quite a bit of dirt and age. Unavoidable, I’m assuming, given Disney’s usual high standards. Still, it’s viewable, but it certainly looks World War II-era. There aren’t any moments where you can avoid the ravages time has taken with these prints.
Audio
The audio is often unclear and hazy. Represented by a Dolby Digital 2.0 presentation, this one has some real dialogue issues, which get in the way, particularly during the overblown ramblings of “Casey at the Bat.” Still, I can’t imagine these sounding any better than they do here.
Special Features
Beyond the previously mentioned “Casey at the Bat” insert, there’s nothing to see here.
Final Thoughts
These cartoons are worth owning, but I’m not comfortable recommending this disc –maybe as a cheap throwaway purchase, but not as something to be kept and cherished for generations. The good news is that all these cartoons have previously appeared on DVD in the Walt Disney Treasures collections and as additions to other more worthwhile releases. The bad news is the price you’ll have to pay for all of them.
Special Features List
- “Casey at the Bat” insert
