“Dance of the Skeletons” is considered a turning point in the history of animated films – it was after its broadcast that sound began to appear in other productions of this type. However, the Disney cartoon comes from the golden era of animation (1928-1969) – a lot has changed over the years, including the way viewers perceive certain elements. Perhaps something that we would consider acceptable today – in terms of the level of emotions it evokes – was once considered too dark. This is why “Dance of the Skeletons” was banned in some countries.
Disney is not only a world of fairy tales and magic, but also darkness
Some people associate Disney productions mainly with the adventures of Peter Pan, Cinderella’s love story or Alice’s stay in Wonderland. However, it is known that the studio also produces other horror films. One of them stood out quite a bit from other titles. So much so that in 1929 “Skeleton Dance” was banned. The reason given was that the film turned out to be… too dark.
The film is too dark even for a horror film
At midnight, in a dark cemetery scenery, four skeletons rise from their graves to perform their spooky dance in the moonlight and to the accompaniment of the howling of dogs. This type of scenes is depicted in a short film from 1929. “Dance of Skeletons” is short, because it’s only a five-minute story of one dark night – however, this was enough for the production to be banned due to its too drastic tone and emotional charge.
“Don’t bring your children”
The motif used in the animation brings to mind the medieval danse macabre; a presentation of a spooky procession in which representatives of all states take part. This allegorical dance itself is a suggestion that we are all equal before death. Using this motif in a short animation was therefore a well-thought-out move – many viewers noticed and appreciated it, but ultimately the film was banned in some countries – for example in Denmark.
Global media – such as The New York Times – reported at the time that “Skeleton Dance” is too drastic for some viewers. According to the website filmomaniak.pl, at one point the respected Variety magazine even published a review warning parents against the famous Disney animation. The article ended quite suggestively and emphatically; the last paragraph contained the following sentence:
Don’t bring your children.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
