Steps Towards Maturity and Health

Duration:

Year Published: 1968

Creator: Disney

Complete Record: Uses animation and live action to point out how the responsibility of caring for one's body passes from nature to parents, and then to the individual. Points out that the ultimate health and maturity of man depends on the extent and strength of his social, mental, and physical bearing. The film opens with images of men drawn in an ancient Greek style. The film advocates the importance of a person’s social, mental and physical health, this is represented with a triangle. The next sequence begins with the early stages of reproduction. As this sequence continues, a fetus is shown in the womb growing until it is delivered. After the child is born, the scene changes from a cartoon image of a baby to a live action baby. The next sequence shows a series of animals feeding and protecting their babies. The film then returns to cartoon. The following sequence shows an infant boy and girl playing together and follows them into adult hood, showing their physical and personality changes. As they grow up the film cuts to an image of the triangle which is also forming. As the triangle fully forms, the boy and girl step out of it happily hand in hand. They begin walking and are suddenly in a park and several other people are walking happily behind them. The next seen shows a heavier man scarfing down food and suddenly gets bigger and his complexion becomes unclear, he is startled and upset. The next seen shows a boy and a girl having car trouble and the boy looses his temper, upsetting the girl. A boy cuts in line and the people behind get upset and the boy becomes embarrassed, turns red, shrinks and goes to the end of the line. The boy redeems himself by sharing his pop corn with the girl in front of him. The next scene shows the triangle fully formed.