Sword in The Stone

There are several things that have always stood out to me in Disney’s Sword in the Stone making it an enduring favorite. The colors used in animating the Disney films of this era are very distinct to the time and I think Sword in the Stone makes use of those colors in such a striking way. To me they still dazzle my eye to this day above and beyond any of the other Disney animated movies. Slowly through the course of the film I feel more and more like a kid again, lost in the arresting palette adorning each scene. This could be attributable to personal nostalgia from when I first saw the movie as a kid but it is still one of the big reasons I’m such a fan. The film is loosely told in an episodic fashion displaying specific lessons young Arthur receives from his mentor Merlin while in the larger story arch Arthur thanklessly attends his foster brother and father as a squire, servant and maid as they ready for a jousting tournament that will determine the new King of England. I have always much appreciated the narrative structure of the story but I can understand how it might feel choppy to others. Ideas take precedent over action in Sword in the Stone which also makes it a unique Disney offering in that it explores openly universal themes untapped previously by animated features. Again this serves the particular vibe of the narrative extremely well introducing the audience to age-old wisdom through fantastical magical adventures such as Merlin and Arthur’s day as a squirrel and later as fish. Another wonderful component to Sword in the Stone are the characters. Arthur for one is a likable protagonist who embodies the underdog spirit with such conviction that the triumphant conclusion is always worthy of cheers. Merlin is also quite a card and his interactions with his pet owl Archimedes is played wonderfully with many laughs. Sword in the Stone has a charming sense of humor and this is another substantial positive component for me. The humor, because it is mostly character driven, feeds into the affability of the entire cast. So Don’t overlook Sword in the Stone and keep in mind that it is a slightly different Disney animated film that is inspired more by its ideas than its battles.