From 1929 to 1939, Walt Disney Productions created 75 animated short films in a series called, Silly Symphony. These short animated scenes featured instrumental music and unlike the Mickey Mouse shorts, these cartoons usually did not feature our beloved mouse or the usual Disney characters (although 1934’s “The Wise Little Hen” Silly Symphony was Donald Duck’s first appearance).

The very first of these Silly Symphonies was The Skeleton Dance. It is a dark dance macabre where skeletons and other spooky creatures dance to a minor key foxtrot. As a child (and still today as an adult) this cartoon struck me as a perfect blend of spookiness and fun. It is a wonderful example of how horror imagery can be used for family entertainment – each animated figure is rooted in macabre but the dancing and physical comedy keep the mood light.

Here is the short to view if you dare: