Although the narrative might not have aged too well, the film has gained a particular charm from a visual and sometimes even directorial perspective, especially in the few moments when the animators let loose their frustrations in brief bursts of macabre and expressionistic artistry. I'm not an expert in the field, but I've always found it fascinating how early animation used to be all about creativity and visual absurdities to highlight everything that cinema of the time couldn't achieve. That's why you're treated to minutes of animals dancing and doing domestic chores rather than focusing on the narrative. Slapstick gags and mellifluous songs abound, yet without pushing my tolerance level too far. I had completely forgotten about all those bits meant to teach children basic hygienic norms, which is quite absurd considering that might be the whole point of the film.

Despite Snow White and the Prince being paper thin, mostly dull characters, the dwarfs singlehandedly steal the show, dominating the scene in 90% of cases. The Evil Queen rules before and during her transformation, but she eventually becomes a somewhat ridiculous caricature. The middle part of the film could have been significantly trimmed in favor of more introductory scenes. The castle is briefly presented as deserted, without the slightest interaction between the characters before the story starts (it’s all delegated to the opening narration).

Setting aside its undeniable historical significance, it’s now an enjoyable but ultimately skippable film, unless you have a particular taste for vintage aesthetic.