The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

INTRODUCTION

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is the last package film of the Anthology era, where Walt Disney's animation studio try to recoup their profitability by making less expensive package films of unrelated material after Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi bombed at the box office. Disney wanted to make more than the package films, he wanted to return to the golden days, where he entered feature animation when Snow White opened with critical acclaim and box office popularity. Even though the package films were underwhelming to many and have been forgotten, they weren't a total loss. It's just that they weren't as ambitious as the first five movies of the Golden Age.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, as time went on, splitted its two stories into separate featurettes until in 1998, it was restored as the feature film Walt wanted to be seen as. Today, it's been earning a following, mainly as a Halloween attraction. To me, it's probably the most underappreciated masterpiece within the 56 Disney animated canon.

STORY

Basil Rathbone narrated the first segment of the tow-fer movie, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The main character J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq. has been known as a spirited adventurer, but his adventures and "positive mania for fads" has been bringing Toad Hall into bankruptcy. Bookkeeper Angus MacBadger sends Toad's friends Ratty and Moley to persuade him to stop his recklessness, but Toad wouldn't listen. Then when a motorcar arrived, Toad begins to develop a motor-mania. Despite being under house arrest, Toad ends up taking one step too far when he's been charged by stealing a red motorcar.

Being put on trial, Cyril Proudbottom proclaims that Toad traded Toad Hall for the motorcar from a pack of weasels, much to the shock of his friends, but Winkie claims that Toad was trying to sell him a stolen motorcar. Because of it, Toad was confirmed guilty and being locked away for a long sentence in prison. 

Meanwhile, as Toad was feeling repentant of what he's done, Cyril came to visit in disguise and inspires him to escape. After finding warmth and shelter with Ratty and Moley, they received a surprise from MacBadger that Toad Hall is actually now in possession by Winkie and the weasels. This all leads up to an exciting climatic chase sequence of Toad and his friends are trying to clear his name, with some animation that will be recycled for the later Jungle Book.

Then Bing Crosby narrates and sings the second and final segment, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Lanky, gluttonous, superstitious, yet charming Ichabod Crane arrives in Sleepy Hollow, New York to be the new schoolmaster. Even though he's odd, Ichabod manages to win over the women of Sleepy Hollow. Then one day, Ichabod begins to fall in love with Katrina Van Tassel, the only child to Baltus Van Tassel, but he's actually more interested in her father's money. There is another rival to Katrina's affections, Brom Bones (the original Gaston from Beauty and the Beast), but Ichabod wins Katrina over at every opportunity, making Brom jealous of Ichabod.

Then at the Van Tassel's Halloween party, Brom finally has the advantage of using Ichabod's superstitious beliefs by singing the memorable and impossibly catchy story of the Headless Horseman, who comes every Halloween night to take a head to replace his flaming pumpkin head. This all builds up to the magnificently atmospheric and exciting climax where Ichabod is confronted by the Headless Horseman, and in a surprise ending, Ichabod's fate was left ambiguous.

REVIEW

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is clearly the kind of film that deserves more recognition than it should. The two stories are smartly crafted and filled with atmosphere that's slightly different in tone, they set each other off perfectly. The Wind in the Willows has a Christmas-like warmth while The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has a more creepy Halloween nighttime in the woods. Also, its visual sense of domestic and countryside scenery is very interesting.

I wouldn't be afraid to say it's also one of my personal favorites, alongside Fantasia and Dumbo. By ranking it, I would place it a little higher than Bambi. While it's sad that such a film like this is not getting the reputation like many esteemed Disney animated classics, I feel this needs to be added into the classics library someday.

FINAL WORD

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad continues to be an overlooked, underappreciated masterpiece. I wish this needed attention because it's probably Disney's finest animated feature ever made. Personally, I think it's the most ideal film for Halloween viewings, Christmas viewings, and any time of viewings.

9.5/10