The Ugly Duckling (1931 film)

The Ugly Duckling
Silly Symphonies series
Directed by	Wilfred Jackson
Produced by	Walt Disney
Voices by	Florence Gill
Animation by	Dick Lundy Johnny Cannon Les Clark David Hand
Layouts by	Charles Philippi
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	December 16, 1931
Color process	Black and white
Running time	7 min
Language	English
Preceded by	The Fox Hunt
Followed by	The Bird Store

The Ugly Duckling is an animated black-and-white cartoon released by Walt Disney in 1931 as part of the Silly Symphonies series. This cartoon was later remade into a color version released in 1939.

Although the short film is loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling", the only real similarities are one bird getting confused for another and his unique abilities enabling him to become something special. In this version, a duckling has gotten mixed in among the farmyard chickens. Despite his best attempts to fit in with his chick siblings, things don't work out. However, when the hen's chicks are threatened by a waterfall, due to them being dropped off in a river by a cyclone, the little duckling saves them and is lauded as a hero.

About eight years later, in 1939, the film would be remade and would follow the original Andersen story much more faithfully. This gives The Ugly Duckling the unique distinction of being the only Silly Symphony to be made twice.

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