Every child has a few sets of films that undeniably shaped their formative years, playing a vital role in their development and aiding in their growth over time. Some tend to cross over between generations, which is usually a sign of not only the strength of storytelling, but also emotional brilliance and genuine creativity. This is the main reason why The Walt Disney Company has been considered the gold standard in family entertainment for over a century now, developing from the passion project of a rambunctious animator to the industry leader in a medium that it has single-handedly helped shape into one of the most profitable forms of entertainment of the past several generations. One of the greatest achievements in the studio’s history – and some may argue their best work in general – is Dumbo, in which Disney hands over the reigns to a team of about half a dozen supervising and sequence directors who work together to craft this timeless and engaging narrative about a lonely elephant who is mercilessly mocked for the size of his ears, but who soon discovers that he has the last laugh when he proves everyone wrong with his magical skills that takes every aback. A timeless tale that has transcended generations and proven to be the foundation for many formative moments in the lives of countless children as they experience this dazzling story for the first time, very few films earn the status of bona fide masterpiece with more sincerity and rapidity than Dumbo, a film that is as meaningful as it is profound, the two working together to create a stunning and captivating film that is as charming today as it was nearly ninety years ago, a major achievement for any film, let alone one as small and intimate as this one.

One of the many interesting quirks about Dumbo is that this can be considered the studio’s first proper endeavour into original filmmaking, albeit with something of a caveat – unlike their preceding three feature-length films, all of which were based on well-known and cherished texts, this film was inspired by a story written by someone who had attempted to craft a novelty toy based around a flying elephant, which (pardon the pun), never quite took off. This was a period in which the company was still finding its feet – it had just under two decades in the industry, and had enough cultural cache to be known for their good quality shorts, and their three previous features were all resounding successes – but yet, there was still a sense of underestimation, and Dumbo was part of a continued effort to march forward and find their niche, not resting on their laurels. The smart decision was to step out of the realm of the fairytale and start focusing on something slightly more contemporary, at least for the era in which the film was made, a wise decision and one that was particularly resonant for a film made during an era when the world was undergoing many changes. None of this directly influences this film in the traditional sense, but rather makes its way into the narrative by essentially becoming a story of America in the first half of the 20th century, a period of prosperity and decline, a continuous cycle of building and rebuilding that laid the foundation for the supposed American Dream. Perhaps it is reading too much into the film, but it is difficult to look at any work produced by a major studio at this time and not draw some correlations to the broader social and political milieu, and while its not as pronounced as we may expect, it does lead to some tremendously interesting observations throughout the film that lend Dumbo a sense of gravitas.

Yet, even if we set aside any attempt to shade in Dumbo as anything more than what it presents itself to be at the most fundamental level, this is still a wickedly entertaining film that carries a deep message that is directly conveyed on screen. There is a reason this film continued to strike a chord with global audiences across generations – not only can we relate to the story of this wordless, adorable elephant based on his charming demeanour and curiosity for life, but we also find some sense of resonance in his plight. This was one of the first major films to directly address the subject of bullying, with most of the story focusing on Dumbo’s challenges with being accepted. There are very people people alive who have not felt that all too familiar feelings of discomfort and rejection after realizing that we are being ostracized from a community that we used to believe was our own, and this film captures it simply and beautifully – there are some subjects that words cannot describe, but images do all the work, and this is one such example. Elegant and beautiful in a way that is actively very exciting but also heartbreaking in a subtle way, the emotions that are situated at the heart of Dumbo prove that no studio could tug at the heartstrings quite like Disney, who could evoke such powerful, evocative emotions from the simplest of moments, which are usually the ones that leave the most sincere impression. It’s poignant, poetic filmmaking that is powerful and meaningful, and carries a weight that its more simple appearance may not suggest would be the case, which is all the more reason to re-evaluate Dumbo as more than just a cherished childhood classic, and instead look at it as a formative experience.

More than anything else, the reason Dumbo has lingered in the public consciousness as long as it has is not solely due to the narrative elements, but also the visual component – this is a stunningly beautiful film that is as well-designed as it is beautifully poetic. There have been countless efforts to ensure these films are impeccably preserved as time goes on, to allow them to be accessible to future generations who should also be witnesses to the same incredible work, and the recent restoration that this film underwent only increased its beauty. The colours are brighter and more vibrant than ever, the images sharper and the details even more intricate, leading to a film that draws us in immediately. It’s difficult to not be entirely taken by this film from its first moments, since the commitment to crafting the world in which these characters inhabit, right down to the smallest detail, proves that this was a true labour of love – and the fact that there were six directors assigned to the film indicates just how much work went into the project. The result is a film that may only run an hour, but minute-per-minute, there are few films with a higher ratio of purely iconic moments – sequences such as Dumbo’s first flight, the dancing pink elephants, the heartbreaking rendition of “Baby Mine” and even the opening stork delivery scene are etched in popular culture, being imitated but never entirely replicated, since it is impossible to parrot the pure visual and artistic mastery that went into the creation of this incredible film that is beyond beautiful, capturing something truly extraordinary from its first incredible moments.

Its been over eighty years since audiences first became acquainted with Dumbo, and countless children were raised on the delightful tale of this adorable elephant and his eccentric mouse companion as they overcome challenges and prove to be unexpected heroes – and yet despite its age, it never once feels even vaguely outdated or unnecessarily old, which is a marvel for a film released before many viewers were even born. The rare kind of film that has reached across generations and shattered geographical boundaries (especially since it doesn’t prioritize language – there is some spoken language, but the majority of the film uses music and physical cues, which indicates universal forms of communication), and has touched so many viewers, becoming a beautifully poetic, earnest and engaging animated masterpiece that is genuinely profound in its message, while also being wonderfully engaging, wickedly funny and consistently upbeat in all the areas that we would expect and anticipate, sometimes even taking us by surprise in a few key areas. Engaging, funny and heartfelt in expected ways, Dumbo is just as good as many will remember – and its even better when watching it with a child who has never seen it before, since witnessing their first encounter with this timeless tale is a special experience, and one that will likely linger with them and be passed onto the next generation. If that isn’t the true power of cinema, then absolutely nothing else can even come close.