His work introduced to me to The Barber of Seville (‘welcome to my shop…let me cut your mop…let me shave your crop…daintily’), The Ring Cycle (‘kill da wabbit…kill da wabbit…kill da WABBIT!’), and many more, but he also wrote hours and hours of original material that defined the sound of cartoon soundtracks. So, in my estimation, Carl Stalling is the single most important composer in my development.
Animation (Episode 1: WABBIT!) operates under the conceit that it is a ‘lost score’ to a forgotten cartoon. It follows this basic script (with the animators, in this case your imagination, adding innumerable “sight gags”):
1. The movie starts with the opening credits, paying homage to the jaunty melodies that always preceded the main action.
2. We find our hunter, sneaking through the forest in search of prey.
3. He finds our wascally friend enjoying a nice, sunny day, completely unaware (or is he?) that he is being watched.
4. The hunter sneaks up from behind until the rascal spots the hunter.
5. Then the chase is on! The duo runs through the forest as the hunter falls further and further behind.
6. He rounds a corner and suddenly, the most gorgeous creature he has ever seen stands before him.
7. The suspicously furry mademoiselle charms the hunter, who leans in for a kiss…and is slapped for his troubles.
8. Laughter is heard as our hero runs away to the city.
9. A chase in taxis across the busy urban streets takes place until they both arrive at a construction site.
10. The hunter looks up to the top of the building and sees something falling.
11. . An anvil slams into the hunter, causing him to reel around with little birdies circling his head.
12. Furious, he races up the construction site, chasing the wascal until the hunter runs through a fake door and into the open sky.
13. He blinks twice, looking down, before falling to the ground below.
14. As his spirit ascends to the heavens, the varmint winks one last time to the audience, before the credits roll.”
