Paul Bunyan

Paul Bunyan

Year: 1958

Runtime: 17 mins

Language: English

Director: Les Clark

FamilyAnimation

A retelling of the classic Canadian / American tall tale of the enormous lumberjack and his loyal companion, an equally huge blue ox.

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Timeline & Setting – Paul Bunyan (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Paul Bunyan (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Maine coast, American Midwest (Dakotas, Missouri River region), Pike's Peak, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Falls, Alaska, Land of 10,000 Lakes

The story begins in a Maine coastal lumber town before sweeping across the American frontier into the Dakotas and along the Missouri River. The journey visits iconic western landscapes such as Pike's Peak, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone Falls, illustrating how forests yield to towns and trade. Legends hint that Paul and Babe may wander as far as Alaska, while the Land of 10,000 Lakes marks a memorable geographic milestone along the way.

🏞️ Landscape 🪵 Lumber town 🗺️ Frontier ✨ Legend

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

Main Characters – Paul Bunyan (1958)

Meet the key characters of Paul Bunyan (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul Bunyan (Thurl Ravenscroft)

A towering, gentle giant raised by a lumber town, Paul embodies old-world craft and a stubborn but kind heart. He cleaves forests and leads Babe the blue ox across vast landscapes, guided by loyalty to friends and community. His pride sometimes clashes with modernization, yet his bond with Babe remains unwavering. Through his adventures, he becomes a living legend of the American frontier.

🪵 Giant 🧭 Leader 🌟 Legend

Cal McNab (Dal McKennon)

A rugged, practical lumberjack who finds and raises Paul, embodying loyalty, hard work, and communal spirit. He serves as the moral center of the town, supporting Paul’s choices while navigating the pressures of progress. His friendship with Paul grounds the story in human warmth and responsibility. He represents the enduring value of hands-on labor and care for others.

🪵 Father figure 🛠️ Loyal 🌾 Worker

Babe the Blue Ox

Paul's colossal, steadfast companion whose strength and companionship propel their journey. Babe symbolizes the power of teamwork and the idea that loyalty can be as mighty as any machine. Their bond drives the landscape’s transformation and embodies the heart of their partnership.

🦬 Loyal companion 🧭 Gentle giant

Joe Muffaw

A slick salesman who champions steam power and modernization. He embodies progress, speed, and profit, challenging Paul to embrace a faster, more efficient era. Their rivalry in a high-stakes lumber contest probes whether technology or heart yields true superiority.

💼 Entrepreneur 🧪 Modernity 🪙 Rival

Chris Crosshaul / Prologue Narrator

The prologue narrator who frames the legend, guiding viewers through Paul and Babe's origins. He helps translate a local tall tale into a national myth and sets the tone for the film’s fable-like quality. His presence ties the story to the tradition of oral storytelling.

🗣️ Narrator 🧭 Guide

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

Major Themes – Paul Bunyan (1958)

Explore the central themes of Paul Bunyan (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚒️ Tradition vs Modernity

The film contrasts traditional, hands-on logging with the gleaming promise of steam-powered machines. Paul and Babe prize heart, craft, and community over speed and profit. Joe Muffaw's modernization push tests the value of skill and loyalty against efficiency. The climactic contest embodies the ongoing tension between old and new ways.

✨ Legend & Identity

Paul Bunyan's legend is woven into the landscape itself, turning a giant and his ox into national symbols. The town records their exploits, transforming personal feats into enduring myth. The narrator and villagers frame the tale as a living story passed down through generations. The final aura suggests their legacy persists in the world's geography.

🌲 Nature & Landscape

Nature is a dynamic stage where forests yield to settlements, rivers are redirected to move timber, and lakes emerge from footprints in the snow. Grand features like the Tetons and Yellowstone Falls symbolize nature's grandeur and its interplay with human ambition. The environment shapes choices and moral lessons as the frontier expands.

🤝 Friendship & Community

Cal McNab's mentorship and the town's embrace of Paul and Babe anchor the story in human connection. The bond between Paul and Babe showcases loyalty, cooperation, and mutual dependence in the face of change. The community's support underlines that legends are born from shared effort and trust.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:14

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Paul Bunyan Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Paul Bunyan, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Paul Bunyan Summary

Paul Bunyan Timeline

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Paul Bunyan Timeline

More About Paul Bunyan

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