Interesting facts, trivia about the world's first sound and colour cartoon

13 August,2014 12:20 PM IST |   |  mid-day online correspondent

On this day, August 16th in 1930, the world's first colour and sound cartoon titled 'Fiddlesticks was released. Here are a few things that you may not know about the animated short

'Fiddlesticks', Flip the Frig, first sound and colour cartoon, Walt Disney, 1930, August 16, Ub Iwerks, Mortimer Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, Walt Disney


On this day, August 16th in 1930, the world's first colour and sound cartoon titled 'Fiddlesticks was released. Here are a few things that you may not know about the animated short...

This ground-breaking animated feature was the first directorial venture of Ub Iwerks, previously an animator at Walt Disney's studio. Iwerks is said to have co-created characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse with Disney.


A screenshot from the cartoon, 'Fiddlesticks'. Featured in the picture: The protagonist Flip the Frog (left) playing piano with the unnamed mouse. Pic courtesy/YouTube

'Fiddlesticks' was the first cartoon in the Flip the Frog series.

The recording system for 'Fiddlesticks' was the same for 'Steamboat Willie', the cartoon considered to be the debut of Mickey Mouse.

In a memorable scene in the animated short 'Fiddlesticks', Flip the Frog performs a duet, playing piano alongside an unnamed mouse on violin, who bears a striking resemblance to Mortimer Mouse, the original concept behind Mickey Mouse, both of whom were first animated by Ub Iwerks.


The title cards introducing Flip the Frog and the cartoon 'Fiddlesticks'

'Fiddlesticks' was the first animated sound cartoon that was photographed in two-strip Technicolor.

The cartoon appeared in the music video for rapper Eminem's song The Real Slim Shady.

'Fiddlesticks' was animated at the production studio of cartoonist Walter Lantz, creator of the famous cartoon character, Woody Woodpecker.

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