Fun and Fancy Free - Bongo

I've mentioned Fun and Fancy Free before with the Mickey and The Beanstalk segment. Now I'm willing to experience Bongo. I actually re-visited this short film recently and it's still as fun and simply beautiful as I thought it was.

This movie is extremely underrated. I find it better than some of the more beloved Disney movies in the animated canon. I also think the War-Time era is really great too. 

But Fun and Fancy Free, it's a movie I really appreciate, it had some memorable characters and smart color choices in them. 

I really like the Bongo film alot. It's just a very straightforward and sweet story about a bear falling in love and campy but energetic songs.

I managed to capture some neat screencaps. 

This is a stellar frame. 

While I was watching, I love these designs of the squirrels. 

Heck, alot of these Disney movies from this time are comforting. This reminds me of Bambi. 

Can we all be like Bongo? This bear has such an extreme desire for nature. 

Those blue skies and clouds are gorgeous, they sure are realistic looking.

When it comes to traditional 2D animation, sure it's still existent, but reasons as to why I want this style of movies to come back is the atmosphere. Just watching Bongo walking in the forest alongside his animal buddies is why these movies were appealing. I also like their appropriate runtime. This movie is 73 minutes long and to me that's perfect for an animated film.

I'm a sucker for down-to earth, natural settings especially in cinema. It's what I like about paintings, and magazines. 

Disney obviously had one of the best nighttime backgrounds. 

And especially sunrises.

This is truly calming. These colors are vibrantly warm and relaxing. I also feel for Bongo's well assured rest.

I swear, when it comes to cel animation, and color palettes, there was something more rich but fascinating about it. I also love that bird design. I'm geniuely inspired.

Here's another outstanding shot of Bongo and Lumpjaw facing a massive waterfall, this time we get to see more of the landforms like the mountains. 

I'm not sure if this final scene was used with the multiplane camera, to me it kinda does. 

Credits to the background artists - Ed Starr, Claude Coats, Art Riley, Brice Mack, Ray Huffine, and Ralph Hulett.

 Like I was saying, I really like this movie, and the second short of the feature film, Mickey and The Beanstalk is also filled to the brim with spirit and soul. 

Last May I talked about a particular scene from that animated short and if you haven't seen it yet, here's the link to it.

https://sngexplorationblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/mickey-and-beanstalk-starvation-scene.html?m=1