One Hundred and One Dalmatians is mostly remembered for its villain—the “devil woman” and would-be puppy-killer Cruella De Vil—but she really only appears in a handful of scenes. Betty Lou Gerson gives her a memorable, buzzsaw voice, while the animators emphasize the contrast between her voluminous fur coats and dangerously bony limbs. (I also love the green eye shadow, as well as the nauseous, trailing cigarette smoke.) Still, most of One Hundred and One Dalmatians is devoted to cute puppy antics and the rescue efforts of various dogs (and one brave cat) when said puppies are stolen by Cruella’s bumbling henchmen. The animal animation is exceedingly delicate, expertly shifting between naturalism and anthropomorphism as needed, while the backgrounds of foggy London streets and the surrounding countryside bear the personal touch of delightfully detailed pencil sketches. If Cruella looms over it all, it’s likely due to the jaunty Mel Leven song that bears her name as much as anything else.
