This is the first episode of a new series exploring the feature films of Walt Disney Studios, where we'll uncover the production secrets and historical context behind these iconic movies. As a warning, this video and all videos in this series will contain some spoilers, so I would highly suggest watching the films before-hand if you haven’t already! I hope you’ll join us on this journey!

Inspiration

According to Statista.com the current YouTube monthly active user base is around 2.5 billion around the globe as of October 2023, of that 240 million are recorded to be from the United States. Instagram and TikTok have around 2 billion and 1.5 billion users respectively. In the top 10 types of video content produced on YouTube, number 10 is educational content [Geyser, 2024]. This type of content is viewed by adults, teens, and kids at home, on the go, or in the classroom. This is not only true of long-form videos, but short-form as well with educational content being popular on Instagram Reels and TikTok as well. 

Recently, Iowa State University uploaded some of their archival holdings onto YouTube. They garnered around 52,000 views after around 50 videos had been uploaded (Christian & Zanish-Belcher, p. 36). These are decent numbers for raw footage of more niche interests. In Nancy H. Dewald’s piece, “Future Voices In Public Services”, she shared the example of a library that went “viral on YouTube with more than 2.3 million views as of October 2010” with an Old Spice ad spoof to promote their library. This is the perfect example of potential reach that an archival institution can have. The key difference in the two examples above – Iowa State’s channel and the library – is raw, unedited content. The content the library posted was edited, engaging, and original content that the audience hadn’t seen before. 

I have created a prototype of a YouTube video from a film archive. In this example, it might be something like the Walt Disney Archives who is creating an educational segment on their YouTube about the history and making of their feature films. Video essays are extremely popular on YouTube gaining millions of views on single upload. If archives were to take advantage of this platform, they would need to engage with a format that keeps the audience engaged. Similarly sections of this long-form video can be cut for short-form content, like TikTok or Instagram Reels to reach a wider audience. Additionally, it would be best to take advantage of YouTube Closed Captions, that can be toggled on or off depending upon audience preference and needs. If the archive has the time and resources to devote, they can also provide captions in other languages in order to reach a global audience of learners. 

Another innovative element to consider is the use of VTubing in video essay content. VTubers, or virtual avatars, can bring an extra layer of visual engagement and creativity to educational videos. By presenting as an animated character, archives could appeal to younger audiences who are familiar with and drawn to this format, which is popular on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch. A VTuber avatar styled to align with the theme—such as a whimsical archivist or historian—could make complex topics feel more approachable and fun. This format not only enhances the overall presentation but also allows for a consistent and recognizable brand identity across both long-form and short-form content.

Educational Activities

K-3 Activities

  1. Character Crafting: After watching the video, students can choose one of the dwarfs or Snow White to create using craft materials. They can describe why they chose this character and what personality trait or action they like best.

  2. Expressionism Art Project: Introduce students to the idea that Snow White’s forest scenes were designed to show her fear. Have students paint or draw their own scenes, using colors and shapes that make them feel certain emotions.

4th-6th Grade Activities

  1. Storyboard Scene Recreation: Show students a few storyboard frames from the production process, then ask them to storyboard a favorite scene from a different fairy tale or their own story, keeping to the same black-and-white sketch format.

  2. Dwarf Personality Debate: After learning about how Disney assigned personalities to the dwarfs, students can debate in small groups, arguing why their personality trait is best or most valuable in the group. Then have the students present to the class which dwarf their group chose. This can help with understanding character development and teamwork.

7th-9th Grade Activities

  1. Fairy Tale Comparison Essay: Discuss the differences between the Grimms' version and Disney’s adaptation. Students can write a short essay or create a visual chart comparing the two, analyzing how the changes impact the story’s themes.

  2. Technological Innovations Poster: Assign students to research and create a poster about one of the technological advancements discussed (like rotoscoping or the multiplane camera), explaining how it influenced animation.

10th-12th Grade Activities

  1. Expressionist Film Study: After introducing German Expressionism, have students watch the forest scene from Snow White alongside scenes from Metropolis or Nosferatu. They can analyze how Disney used similar techniques to evoke emotion and fear, writing a short analysis.

  2. Visual Influence Research Project: Students research an artist who inspired Disney’s visuals, such as John Bauer or Wilhelm Busch. They can present their findings, showing how this artist’s work influenced certain elements of the movie's style. Students should also be encouraged to think out of the box, and present arguments for other artists not mentioned in the video and how they think those artists influenced Disney. 

Bibliography

Research References

  1. Batchelder, D. (2021). Snow White and the seventh art: Sound, song and respectability in Disney’s first feature. American Music, 39(2), 138–153. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/americanmusic.39.2.0138

  2. Bushe, N. (2017, December 21). BBC Arts – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The full-length feature that nearly sank Disney. BBC: Arts; BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/j80DnDLH7L6YbDpmBw72CP/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-the-full-length-feature-that-nearly-sank-disney

  3. Calderwood, B. (2022, March 5). The long reach of “Nosferatu,” now 100 years old. Thefilmexperience.net. http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2022/3/5/the-long-reach-of-nosferatu-now-100-years-old.html

  4. Dixon, S. J. (2024, April 29). Most popular social networks worldwide as of January 2024, ranked by number of monthly active users. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/

  5. Filmic Light. (2013, March 26). 1937 Snow White Photoplay school study guide. Filmic Light – Snow White Archive. https://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2013/03/1937-snow-white-photoplay-school-study.html

  6. Filmic Light. (2014, January 14). 1938 programs from Radio City Music Hall (weeks 1-5). Filmic Light – Snow White Archive. https://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2014/01/1938-programs-from-radio-city-music.html

  7. Geyser, W. (2017, August 2). 12 best types of YouTube content to succeed at growing a YouTube channel. Influencer Marketing Hub. https://influencermarketinghub.com/types-of-youtube-content/

  8. Grafly, D. (1933, July). America’s Youngest Art. The America Magazine of Art, 26(7), 338.

  9. Holliss, R., & Sibley, B. (1994). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Making of the Classic Film. Hyperion.

  10. Into Film. (2014). Animation: Rotoscoping. Intofilm.org. https://www.intofilm.org/films/filmlist/87

  11. Kaufman, J. B. (n.d.). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Library of Congress. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/snow_white_dwarfs.rev.pdf

  12. Kothenschulte, D. (2021). The Walt Disney film archives : The animated movies 1921-1968. Taschen.

  13. Krause, M. F., Witkowski, L., & Ison, S. H. (1994). Walt Disney’s Snow White and the seven dwarfs : An art in its making featuring the collection of Stephen H. Ison. Indianapolis Museum of Art ; New York.

  14. Mason, M. K. (2014). Outreach 2.0: Promoting archives and special collections through social media. Public Services Quarterly, 10(2), 157–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228959.2014.904212

  15. Statista. (2022, May 13). Distribution of YouTube users worldwide as of April 2022, by age group and gender. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1287137/youtube-global-users-age-gender-distribution/

  16. Zanish-Belcher, T., & Christian, M. (2011). Broadcast yourself”: Putting Iowa State University’s history on YouTube. In A Different Kind of Web (pp. 33–40). Society of American Archivists; www.academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/70846749/Broadcast_Yourself_Putting_Iowa_State_Universitys_History_on_YouTube

Image and Video References

  1. Bromwich, D. (2022, October 4). The Political Lessons of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis.” Www.thenation.com; The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/metropolis-workers-class-uprising/

  2. D23. (n.d.-a). Alice in Wonderland (film). D23. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://d23.com/a-to-z/alice-in-wonderland-film/

  3. D23. (n.d.-b). Babes in Toyland Premieres. D23. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://d23.com/this-day/babes-in-toyland-premieres/

  4. D23. (n.d.-c). Hyperion Studio. D23. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://d23.com/a-to-z/hyperion-studio/

  5. Gavin, M. (2018, July 9). Silly Symphony Cartoons Part Eight – 1937: A deeper realism. Inside the Magic. https://insidethemagic.net/2018/07/silly-symphony-cartoons-part-eight-1937-a-deeper-realism/

  6. IFC Center. (n.d.). IFC Center – The Wizard of Oz. IFC Center. https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-wizard-of-oz/

  7. Internet Archive, & Chaplin, C. (2008, March 8). Charlie Chaplin. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/CharlieChaplin

  8. Internet Archive, & Churchill, F. (2018, July 19). Someday My Prince Will Come. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/78_someday-my-prince-will-come_frank-churchill-larry-morey_gbia0055589b

  9. Internet Archive, & Disney, W. (1996, November 13). Disney Favorite Stories: Three Little Pigs/Paul Bunyan (Laserdisc). Internet Archive; Walt Disney Productions. https://archive.org/details/8027AS

  10. Internet Archive, & Disney, W. (2015, November 4). Steamboat Willie. Internet Archive; Walt Disney Productions. https://archive.org/details/SteamboatWillie

  11. Internet Archive, & Walt Disney Productions. (2017, March 14). The Old Mill. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/theoldmill_20170314

  12. Swanson, N. (2022, March 4). “Nosferatu” – Blood sucking [movie review]. Easy Reader & Peninsula News. https://easyreadernews.com/nosferatu-blood-sucking-movie/

  13. The Disney Archives. (10 C.E.). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – In Walt’s words [YouTube]. In www.youtube.com. The Disney Archives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBr2Gfz8lU8&list=PLhOndNwQYfNDXPOsmqNV388qSDffKrPOS

  14. The Disney Archives. (2022a). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Bringing Snow White to Life [YouTube]. In www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQE6JYFqy4&list=PLhOndNwQYfNDXPOsmqNV388qSDffKrPOS&index=3

  15. The Disney Archives. (2022b). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – The One That Started It All [YouTube]. In www.youtube.com. The Disney Archives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVBcTSSc53g&list=PLhOndNwQYfNDXPOsmqNV388qSDffKrPOS&index=2

Disclaimer: All rights to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and related content are owned by The Walt Disney Company. This video is created for educational and informational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.