Three Little Pigs

About Three Little Pigs

The "Three Little Pigs" is an animated short film released by Walt Disney Productions on May 27, 1933. The film is based upon a classic eponymous fairy tale about three pig brothers who set off to create their separate homes. The lazy pigs build their homes with straw and sticks while the hard-working third pig constructs his home with bricks. Their peace is disrupted by a wolf who uses both wiles and force to eat them, setting the scene for a conflict between the brothers and the wolf.

Making / Production

Walt Disney directed the production, with Pinto Colvig, Mary Moder, Dorothy Compton, and Billy Bletcher giving voices to the animation. The film was groundbreaking in its use of character animation, where the characters display distinct personalities, a first of its kind. It was one of the most successful shorts in the Silly Symphonies series.

Actors

• Pinto Colvig as Practical Pig. Practical is the smart, industrious pig who builds his house of bricks. Colvig portrayed Practical Pig with a voice that exemplifies wit and determination.
• Mary Moder as Fiddler Pig. Fiddler Pig is playful and carefree, which Moder's upbeat voice captures perfectly.
• Dorothy Compton as Fifer Pig. Fifer Pig, like his brother Fiddler, is also joyful and nonchalant. Compton's voice work was light-hearted and lively.
• Billy Bletcher as Big Bad Wolf. Bletcher's deep, menacing voice gave life to the infamous villain of the story.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The entirety of production took only six weeks, an impressive timeline for a film of its time.
• "Three Little Pigs" was the fourth film in the Silly Symphonies series, and the only one to spawn sequels.
• The cartoon was a critical success and solidified Disney's dominance in the animation industry.

Awards

"Three Little Pigs" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 6th Academy Awards in 1934 and is now preserved in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Quotes

• "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down." – Big Bad Wolf
• "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." – Practical Pig
• "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" – Fifer and Fiddler Pig

Music, Soundtrack

• The film notably features the song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" written by Frank Churchill. It became an anthem of resilience during the Great Depression era.
• The music was composed by Carl W. Stalling, who later became a memorable figure in Warner Bros. cartoons.