Review of One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) by Jacob M — 21 Jun 2013

By 1961, the Disney studio had released acclaimed cartoon films and were praised for their many innovations. For their next film, 101 Dalmatians, a new innovation was created, where the drawings would be created with pen and ink drawings instead of the pencils. While Walt thought that the new technique lost much of the fantasy approach he was looking for, the public didn't mind, and 101 Dalmatians was the highest-grossing film of the year.

101 Dalmatians is about Dalmatian couple Pongo and Perdita, who live with their owners (or pets, as they call them) Roger, a struggling composer, and Anita. Perdita gives birth to 15 puppies, and all goes well until the sinister Cruella de Vil arranges for the pups to be stolen. Using the "Twilight Bark", Pongo and Perdit go on an adventure to rescue their puppies, plus the other 86 Cruella stole in pet stores, from being made into fur coats.

Although Walt hated the pen and ink style animation, I think it's beautiful. One of the things I love about the Disney studio is the bold risks they make in revolutionizing the animation genre, and 101 Dalmatians is a prime example of that.

Although there are 101 Dalmatians shown in the film, plus two if you count Pongo and Perdita, making it 103, there are plenty of pups to enjoy, plus some of the other animal characters shown in the film. There's The Colonel, a dog who had military experience, Sgt. Tibbs, a cat who's dedicated to protecting the pups from Cruella, and even some cows who provide the dogs with fresh milk.

Like in Lady and the Tramp, the humans characters aren't there that much, especially the owners, but since the film is told in the dogs' point of view, that's just fine by me. Now for the villain.

Cruella de Vil is one crazy villain, probably one of Disney's most memorable. She's sick, she's menacing, but has a lot of character. Her dumb henchman, Horace and Jasper, are also evil despite having stupid traits in them. The climax, involving the dogs hitching a ride in a moving van while a reckless Cruella is attempting to get them, is intense and fun.

101 Dalmatians is one, memorable film, with some well-made characters, a great villain, and a story with a heart.