Monkey Melodies | 1930 | Animated Short

Title: Monkey Melodies | 1930 | Animated Short Director: Burt Gillett Studio: Walt Disney Productions Starring: (animated characters; no credited cast) Based on: Original animated Silly Symphony concept Release Date: September 26 1930 Runtime: Approximately 7 minutes Format: Black and white animated short with synchronized sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation Music Comedy --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Jungle animals gather and music begins 00:01:30 Monkeys swing and dance 00:03:00 Two monkeys court and express affection 00:04:30 Animals join in musical routines 00:05:30 Crocodile threat and chase 00:06:30 Finale with rhythmic jungle antics --- Summary: Monkey Melodies is a 1930 animated short in Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies series centered on a lively jungle where animals, especially monkeys and other primates, sing and dance to synchronized musical sequences. Two monkeys in love engage in rhythmic interplay as the jungle’s creatures participate in various song and dance numbers. As the celebration progresses, moments of danger arise with predators such as crocodiles adding comic tension before the sequence returns to musical animation and movement. The narrative is largely driven by animation and music rather than dialogue, showcasing early sound-era cartoon innovation in rhythm, character animation, and visual gags that reflect both romance and humorous peril in a jungle setting. --- Background: Produced by Walt Disney and directed by Burt Gillett for the Silly Symphonies series, Monkey Melodies was released in 1930 as the thirteenth film in the series. The short features contributions from several prominent Disney animators of the period and integrates popular tunes of the era into its animated sequences. --- Trivia: The short combines classical melodies and popular tunes such as “Aba Daba Honeymoon” with animated jungle performances. Monkey Melodies presents one of the early Disney depictions of tribal animal dance sequences that emphasize rhythm and group choreography. Animators employed varied artistic styles for the monkey characters, leading to inconsistent designs that reflect the era’s evolving animation techniques. The film was released by Columbia Pictures as part of Disney’s early sound cartoon output. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 26 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Walt Disney Productions / Columbia Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #MonkeyMelodies1930 #Disney #SillySymphonies #Animation #ClassicCartoon #PublicDomain