Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)

Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)


That short probably gets more use than any other Disney short. Still being shown in schools.


Donald in Mathmagic Land is a 27 minute Donald Duck featurette released on June 26, 1959. It was released on a bill with Darby O'Gill and the Little People. In 1959, it was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Documentary - Short Subjects). In 1961, two years after its release, it had the honor of being introduced by Ludwig Von Drake and shown on the first program of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.

The film was made available to schools and became one of the most popular educational films ever made by Disney. As Walt Disney explained, "The cartoon is a good medium to stimulate interest. We have recently explained mathematics in a film and in that way excited public interest in this very important subject."

Despite this being a mathematics educational film, a character incorrectly recites the value of the mathematical constant pi. The character states, "Pi is equal to 3.141592653589747, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." The correct value of pi (to the same amount of digits) is actually 3.141592653589793.



Part 1 (Music and Golden Rectangle: Shapes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_ssR7M5Px0



“Well, what do you know? Square roots!”


Part 2 (Geometry in Architecture, Sculptures, Paintings, Nature, & Games):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tyRPerr6c



5:11 – Donald turns into Alice. =^)


Part 3 (Billiards & 3D Shapes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QifFucusbR4




Enjoy!

- TAE