About The Old Mill

The Old Mill is an short animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Released on November 5, 1937 by RKO Radio Pictures, the film depicts the natural community of animals populating an old abandoned windmill in the country, and how they handle the changing seasons and various threats to their home.

Making / Production

The Old Mill was designed as a testing ground for advanced animation techniques. It showcases Disney's ability to realistically animate water and wind, set to a musical score. Much of this development was due to the contribution of effects animator Joshua Meador. The film also marked the first use of the multiplane camera, an invention by William Garrity that allowed for more dynamic camera movements and depth perception.

Actors

• The Old Mill does not feature any human characters or spoken dialogues, hence has no credited actors.

Trivia / Interesting Fact

• The Old Mill is the first Silly Symphony short to use a multiplane camera.
• Based on the success of this film's experimental techniques, the multiplane camera would subsequently be used in many Walt Disney's feature films.
• The film is considered as Disney's successful attempt to combine music, animation and artwork in producing a more emotionally immersive experience.

Awards

The Old Mill won the 1937 Academy Award for Animated Short Film at the 10th Academy Awards.

Quotes

• As the film contains no dialogue, there are no specific quotes to highlight.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's original music is composed by Leigh Harline.
• The scores are dynamically used to represent wind, rain, thunder, and other nature’s elements as characters.