This is my favorite segment of this movie, with a bullet.
The volcano is no phoenix, it is pure malevolence, only the fire, it plays no part in the recovery. The nymph plays the phoenix role if there is one, recovering the (near) total destruction.
There is plenty of room for interpretation here but here's mine. The whole thing seems to be about the persistence of life against the destructive forces of nature despite the fact that they are as essential to the existence of life on earth as the superficially more benevolent ones, but in excess would clearly end life on earth. The life force is represented by a Disney charming single minded but somewhat vulnerable nurturing female being, the destructive force by a malignant demon of volcanism ever gathering its strength for its next destructive outburst, which it will inflict without mercy. The Elk, a fortunate survivor, seems to function as a kind of patient steward who nudges the life being back into action after an appropriate rest interval. The intermediate interchange seems to be "It's time", "No, it's too hard.", "No, it's time, I'll help, but it's time now." "Ok, I'll try" and she picks up steam rapidly thereafter to the big triumphant finish. The demon is spent for the time being and does not even affect the sides of the mountain as it had earlier. Curiously effective and affecting. A fine antidote to the religiously maudlin conventions of the Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria segment in Fantasia. I wonder if there was not criticism from religious sources for the heterodox resurrection model based on nature not theology here.
The mountain looks as if rotoscoped from Mt. St. Helens (it probably was rendered directly from Mt. St. Helens by some process). The vertical shot during the recovery is looks a bit too much like a graphics program in action, executing a circle drawing routine with frills. Despite that, it is still my favorite segment.
CB
Good Times, Noodle Salad
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