'101 Dalmatians' (1961)

Rating: 9/10 (22 November 2012)

'101 Dalmatians' has all of the conventions to stand the test of time and rightfully claims it's place among the rest of the Disney classics. To me, it will always be one of my favorites, it is fast-paced, well-written and adapted from a book that I have never seen nor read. The characters are all colorful personalities that almost stand out as Charles Dickens-esque creations, and being that the story takes place in and around the city of London and it's neighboring countryside, it seems only fitting.
The animation is nicely done, and the static backgrounds at times remind me of other 1960's animated cartoons, specifically 'Jonny Quest' or 'Birdman' which I also happened to love when I was a kid. And the opening sequence is definitely something to brag about, trippy as hell, and was probably inspirational to acid freaks and sober minds alike who were lucky enough to see '101 Dalmatians' when it was released in 1961.
Disney villains are always something to be talked about, and '101 Dalmatians' is no exception: Cruella De Vil, voiced by Betty Lou Gerson, is one of the most memorable of all Disney villains, as are Jasper and Horace. The ending sequence is a suspenseful chase scene down a snowy mountainous road that still holds me in it's grasp today. Definitely stands the test of time, and definitely still worth watching.
101 DALMATIANS -----9/10.