Johnny Appleseed is the main protagonist from the Legend of Johnny Appleseed segment of the 1948 Disney package film Melody Time, which was also released as a standalone film on The Wonderful World of Disney (1954), The Mouse Factory (1972), The Disney Family Album (1984), The Ink and Paint Club (1997), and Disney's American Legends (2001). He is based on John Chapman, the real life pioneer who introduced apple farming to many parts of the Midwest in the early 19th century.
Appearances[]
Melody Time[]
Johnny is first seen picking apples from his orchard in Pittsburgh as he sings with his bird and bee friends to thank the Lord for his blessings.
As he works, he sees a band of pioneers heading West to build new homes. Johnny imagines going with them, but feels a humble apple farmer is useless in the wilderness. He gives up hope when his guardian angel arrives encouraging him to go West. Chiding Johnny for his lack of confidence the Angel assures him his faith, courage and level-headedness are all he needs, and that his knowledge of apples could do great things for the country. Johnny is still reluctant to go with no traps or gear, but the Angel tells him that all he needs are his bag of apple seeds and his Holy Bible to get him through. He also gives him a saucepan to wear as a helmet, and sends him on his way telling him "there's a lot of work out here to do." Johnny's journey across the land begins as his angel disappears.
Johnny travels through the wilderness until he finds an open space to plant his apple trees. The forest animals watch him suspecting him to be a hunter. As Johnny begins plowing, poking holes, and planting seeds, the animals become more unsure whether Johnny is a friend or foe. They allow a skunk to go out and test Johnny as they hide. Johnny continues planting seeds until he accidentally knocks the skunk to the ground with his stick; an act which makes the angry skunk prepare to attack, until he pets him and wins him over. With this, the animals all realize Johnny means them no harm and become his friends. After his work is done, Johnny travels on with his new animal friends.
Years go by, and now Johnny, a bit older, has managed to plant apple trees across the land, which has allowed pioneers and Native Americans to settle in new homes and build farms. As the pioneers and Indians celebrate the harvest together, Johnny passes by and watches from a distance, with his animal friends. Then, Johnny continues his journey.
After forty years later, Johnny has now grown old and planted enough apple trees to fill the countryside. Soon after, Johnny dies peacefully in his sleep under an apple tree with his animal friends beside him. The Angel returns again to tell Johnny his time has come. Angry at first at finding himself deceased, Johnny refuses to go with the Angel and abandon his work. The Angel reassures him that while his work on Earth is done, Heaven has no apple trees. Eager to start planting again, Johnny leaves with the Angel for Heaven, singing again "there's a lot of work out here to do" in the next life.
Walt Disney anthology series[]
Johnny Appleseed made a cameo appearance in "This is Your Life, Donald Duck" of this series along with some other characters.
House of Mouse[]
Johnny Appleseed made cameo appearances in several episodes of this series. In some episodes, he has been featured either as a young or an old man.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True[]
He makes a cameo appearance as a child in Cinderella II: Dreams Come True in the "Aim To Please" segment.
Trivia[]
- He is the first Disney protagonist who had existed in real life, the second is Pocahontas.
- He is the first Disney character who is deeply religious and who has a holy book.
Gallery[]
Concept art[]
Screenshots[]
Melody Time[]
Walt Disney anthology series[]
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True[]
_(2002)_Online_for_Free_-_Viooz53.jpg "Watch Cinderella II Dreams Come True (Cinderella 2) (2002) Online for Free - Viooz53.jpg (32 KB)")
House of Mouse[]
Miscellaneous[]
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