Le protégé de Pluto

Anybody who likes Pluto- count me as one of them, though Goofy, Donald and even Mickey are stronger characters- will like Pluto's Fledgling. Like with most Pluto shorts it is unexceptional and fairly routine story-wise. But it also has some amusing if not always hilarious gags and several cute moments, the baby bird is so adorable and naturally so. The animation has been more vibrant and more fluid before and since but still looks detailed and beautiful, there is an old-fashioned quality to it but that's part of the charm. The music synchronises with the humour, sweet parts, gestures and facial expressions to great effect, it also has great character and the lush orchestration is most appealing. Pluto is a likable lead character and his energy never falters neither does our sympathy for what he goes through in Pluto's Fledgling waver. To conclude, very winning and with a lot to like about it. Not a masterpiece, nor does it in all fairness try to be, but a really pleasant 6-7 minutes. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Pluto's Fledgling (1948) is probably one of Walt's most viewed short animations (people just don't fully realize it).

The movie/short of Pluto playing mother/father to a small bird/fledgling that really wants to fly (so much so that it pesters Pluto to teach it how to do so) is shown in front of Disney's 2002 release Return to Never Land.

The short has a good story and good animation. It holds your interest for the 5 minutes or so its on screen and in many cases performs better than the movie that follows its 2002 re-release.

I don't know if the re-release is some way for Disney to hold onto its copywrite for Pluto for another 25-40 years (as it seems that this copywrite issue is why Disney is making a bunch of direct to video sequels), or perhaps they are trying to make the movie (Return to Never Land) have more monetary value (as all recent Disney/Pixar releases have had shorts in front of them).

In either case the short has nothing to do with the movie that follows (other than the Disney name of course) and it is good for those whom are interested, short enough for those who are not, and as usual will be missed/non-viewed by people whom are late for the movie.

It is a win-win-win situation.

Rating: 8

Despite looking a little dated, "Pluto's Fledgling" is a nice and perfectly enjoyable little classic of animation. The designs and colors (as well as their quality) are old fashioned but pretty good and thousands of times better than the CGI creations. Besides, the animation is great and the story calls the attention.

On this short, Pluto teaches a baby bird how to fly and becomes his protector. It also shows us that, although Pluto is often an impatient and temperamental dog, he has a heart of gold. He can be a hero and he is indeed on this one.

The story starts with a baby bird that is left behind by his mother and brothers, who are already flying and forget about that one. He desperately tries to fly, but he falls in Pluto's water plate. Pluto feels touched by this, rescues him and takes him carefully inside his mouth (and between his tongue) to his place. Then Pluto falls in a funny way until he reaches his dog house.

A bit later, however, the little bird tries to fly again and falls once more, this time on Pluto's nose. In a very quick defensive reaction, Pluto doesn't realize that in the next moment the little bird is in his mouth again. After that is when Pluto realizes that the bird can't fly and feels bad for the tiny creature. But Pluto is a smart and clever dog, so he teaches the little bird how to fly... a mission which is successfully made in the end. Now they are both happy because of their mutual success.

This is a nice little cartoon featuring Pluto, whose nap got disturbed by a little bird, who is having a hard time learning how to fly. Pluto takes on a new role as flying instructor, giving the bird lessons - from flying the bird like a kite to launching it with a slingshot. What results are some pretty funny results with Pluto being the one tumbling to the ground a couple of times.

It's nice seeing Pluto being a teacher of some sorts - displaying a little frustration but determination in helping the bird fly. Pretty funny cartoon.

Grade A-

A Walt Disney PLUTO Cartoon.

A tiny bird becomes PLUTO'S FLEDGLING when he falls out of his nest and into the Pup's water dish.

The enjoyable story in this little film relives the rather routine animation. Although a cute wee fellow, this would be fledgling Orville's only cartoon appearance for Disney.

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.