Format Color / standard animation

Timing 13:18 (unedited)

Synopsis

Windwagon Smith blows into town with a strange contraption: a conestoga wagon outfitted with a wind sail. The town fathers figure that since a small windwagon does so well, a big one must do better. They set out to build one (while Smith woos the mayor's daughter) and launch it on it's maiden voyage to very unexpected results.

Characters

Windwagon Smith

Mayor Crum

Molly Crum

Jake Shaker

Credits

Director : Charles Nichols

Animation

Julius Svendsen

Art Stevens

Effects Animation : Jack Boyd

Story

Lance Nolley

C. August Nichols

Production Design : Erni Nordli

Layout : Lance Nolley

Color Styling : Walt Peregoy

Music : George Bruns

Lyrics : C. August Nichols

Vocals : Rex Allen and the Sons of the Pioneers

Inside Jokes

One of the storefront signs reads "C. A. Nichols and Co.", a reference to the director, Charles Nichols.

Cut Scenes

The Indian head mast, and some Indian and Chinese stereotypes have been edited out.

Videos

United States

Cartoon Classics : First Series : Volume 12 : Disney's Tall Tales

Germany

Donald Total Verliebt

Italy

Paperino Pippo Pluto e ...

Laserdiscs

Japan

Winne the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore

Disney Cartoon Festival 7

DVD

Region 1 : United States

Walt Disney Animation Collection : Classic Short Films : Volume 4 : The Tortoise and the Hare

Disney Treasures : Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s

Comments

From Ryan R. : The Saga of Windwagon Smith is a great short set on the 19th century Kansas Prarie. The protagonist in the tale reminded me of the typical oafish hero in a Disney tall tale (think Casey at the Bat).

The animation reminded me of the old George of the Jungle cartoons, and some of the characters (including the hero's love interest) are extremely one dimensional.

Still, the story is quite fun, and pure Disney. It's a shame that this short is not more readily available (but then I'm partial to the whole tall tale genre.

From Chris : Great tall tale.

From Baruch Weiss : This cartoon does not have a Disney look to it. Nevertheless, it's still a good one!

From Billy Joe : This short's story is interesting, but the character animation is choppy. If there were any windwagons around today, that would probably save money on oil.

Also, you may find some familar faces in this short. Two of the citizens look similar to Jasper and Horace from "One Hundred and One Dalmatians", which was also released in 1961.

From Jesse : What a fantastical and surreal concept ... sailing on a "sea of wheat fields"! Anyone whose ever seen wheat fields blow in the wind is surly to be reminded of water waves, and your imagination can do the rest! The only other film that I know of to explore this concept is a live action movie with Tim Curry by the name of "Pirates of the Plains".

I have seen "The Saga of Windwagon Smith" and would like to
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