Disney's RATTLED BY RATS (1925)

Disney represents the pinnacle in sophisticated animation. It's easy to forget that the art form was completely re-invented by Disney artists during the decade prior to SNOW WHITE (1937).

These backgrounds are from Disney's RATTLED BY RATS (1925). It is downright amazing to think animation art this primitive paved the way for the studio's future brilliance.

But Walt was innovating even in his silent films, combining live action with animation, which ultimately led to classics like MARY POPPINS.

"The old Maestro" actually animated the first six Alice comedies himself. Their modest success allowed him to hire more artists.

I'm not sure exactly when Walt quit animating, but it's not impossible that Walt himself might have drawn one or more of these BGs!