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The China Plate is a 1931 Silly Symphonies animated film.

Plot

The short is based on the Willow pattern legend, with some major differences, including a dragon. There is an oriental scene, the Willow pattern on a china plate, that comes to life, telling the story of two young lovers who are disturbed. First, they have to deal with an angry and overweight Emperor who is the girl's father. He chases after them because the boy disturbed his rest and disapproves of him near his daughter. The two children are then chased by a fire-breathing dragon that eats the emperor (he thought the dragon's open mouth was a cave entrance).

Reception

The Film Daily (June 14, 1931): "Entertainment for both juvenile and adult audiences is to be found in this Walt Disney Silly Symphony. Novelty rather than humor is the keynote. It's real and different entertainment all the way".

Variety (June 30, 1931): "The biggest arena of 'em all the Roxy Theatre has gone cartoon for the last couple of shows. Pen and ink reels aren't being restricted to the supper hour, but are flashing at the deluxe performances right after the newsreel. So far the house has been giving the Disney drawings the break. This is another from that source and good enough to fit any big house layout. This one carries the familiar musical synchronization while unfolding a couple of amusing twists... Short is notable for the absence of dialog. Just sound effects, and it's better this way".

Home media

The short was released on December 4, 2001, on Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies - The Historic Musical Animated Classics.

References

1. ^ Merritt, Russell; Kaufman, J. B. (2016). Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series (2nd ed.). Glendale, CA: Disney Editions. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-4847-5132-9.
2. "Disney Shorts:1931: The China Plate". The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
3. "Reviews of Sound Shorts". The Film Daily: 21. June 14, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
4. "Talking Shorts". Variety: 15. June 30, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
5. "Silly Symphonies: The Historic Musical Animated Classics DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

External links

• The China Plate at IMDb

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• v
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• 1931 films
• 1930s Disney animated short films
• Films directed by Wilfred Jackson
• Films produced by Walt Disney
• Silly Symphonies
• Animated films set in China
• Animated films based on Chinese myths and legends
• Films scored by Frank Churchill
• American animated black-and-white films
• Animated films about dragons
• Columbia Pictures animated short films
• Columbia Pictures short films
• Animated films without speech
• 1930s American films
• 1931 animated short films
• Disney animated film stubs