The Goddess of Spring

The Goddess of Spring is a 1934 Silly Symphony telling the story of Persephone and Pluto.

Synopsis[]

The cartoon begins with Persephone, the Greek Goddess of Spring, seated on a throne, while animals and flowers dance happily around her, and birds place a floral coronet on her head. At this point, Pluto, the God of the Underworld (not to be confused with Pluto, Mickey Mouse's dog, or Hades, God of the Underworld in Hercules), ascends from beneath the earth on a rotating platform and, as his demons chase away Persephone's friends, declares that he will make her his wife. He takes her to the Underworld, where the demons celebrate; some dance around fires while another plays a hellish organ.

Though she is given gold and jewels, Persephone is (understandably) depressed, causing the world above to become an icy wasteland. This upsets Pluto for being unable to make her happy and he asks her what he can do. She pleads to return to the earth, and is allowed to do so, provided she returns for six months. This differentiates the seasons, spring and summer taking place while Persephone is on the surface.

Cast[]

• Kenny Baker as Narrator
• Tudor Williams as Pluto
• Jessica Dragonette as Persephone
• Diana Gaylen as Persephone (singing voice)

Notes[]

• The cartoon was the first attempt by Disney animators to animate 'realistic' human figures, in preparation for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The characters were designed by Albert Hurter, who suggested certain poses and gestures that the animators were not yet skilled enough to emulate. After realizing that a greater knowledge of anatomy was required in order to produce believable human animation, Disney hired Don Graham, who held anatomy classes in order to prepare the animators for their first feature.
• The short is based on the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, which "explains" why there's a winter season instead of an eternal spring.

Releases[]

Television[]

• The Mickey Mouse Club, February 20–21, 1957
• Walt Disney's Mickey and Donald, episode #44

Home video[]

VHS

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Fanciful Fables

Laserdisc

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Fanciful Fables

DVD

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition
• Walt Disney Treasures: More Silly Symphonies

Blu-ray

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition

Streaming[]

• Disney+, November 12, 2019

Gallery[]

See also[]

• The Goddess of Spring (song)

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1929 The Skeleton Dance • El Terrible Toreador • Springtime • Hell's Bells • The Merry Dwarfs 1930 Summer • Autumn • Cannibal Capers • Frolicking Fish • Arctic Antics • Midnight in a Toy Shop • Night • Monkey Melodies • Winter • Playful Pan 1931 Birds of a Feather • Mother Goose Melodies • The China Plate • The Busy Beavers • The Cat's Out • Egyptian Melodies • The Clock Store • The Spider and the Fly • The Fox Hunt (1931 short) • The Ugly Duckling (1931) 1932 The Bird Store • The Bears and Bees • Just Dogs • Flowers and Trees • King Neptune • Bugs in Love • Babes in the Woods • Santa's Workshop 1933 Birds in the Spring • Father Noah's Ark • Three Little Pigs • Old King Cole • Lullaby Land • The Pied Piper • The Night Before Christmas 1934 The China Shop • The Grasshopper and the Ants • Funny Little Bunnies • The Big Bad Wolf • The Wise Little Hen • The Flying Mouse • Peculiar Penguins • The Goddess of Spring 1935 The Tortoise and the Hare • The Golden Touch • The Robber Kitten • Water Babies • The Cookie Carnival • Who Killed Cock Robin? • Music Land • Three Orphan Kittens • Cock o' the Walk • Broken Toys 1936 Elmer Elephant • Three Little Wolves • Toby Tortoise Returns • Three Blind Mouseketeers • The Country Cousin • Mother Pluto • More Kittens 1937 Woodland Café • Little Hiawatha • The Old Mill 1938 The Moth and the Flame • Wynken, Blynken and Nod • Farmyard Symphony • Merbabies • Mother Goose Goes Hollywood 1939 The Practical Pig • The Ugly Duckling