10 Great Disney Movies You've Probably Never Heard Of
1. The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad
The company released this film in 1949, and like the previous entry, it is a fascinating insight into the early days of the Disney company. The film combines two classic stories being told in animated form. The first is Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows and the second a retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The world of Wind in the Willows seems perfectly fit for Disney, with its anthropomorphised characters and wholesomely crafted world. This short shows as Mr Toad is forced by all of his colleagues and friends to halt his obsession with reckless driving. It is an utterly satisfying animation that accurately captures the innocent but dark world of Grahame's story.
Following this comes the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It shows as Ichabod Krane visits the town of Sleepy Hollow and encounters the horrifying Headless Horseman. The short doesn't shy away from showing the darkness and fear of this tale. The Horseman is drawn with great gothic inspiration and has a horrifying cheer that shows how much he revels in attacking our protagonist.
The two stories combined present a lovely blend of horror and joy. It has faded into obscurity and is rarely mentioned when discussing the company. It is still worth viewing even now, though.