Disney+ will share 28 newly restored Walt Disney Animation Studios short films over the next several months in honor of the company’s 100th anniversary.
The short films include 1929’s “The Skeleton Dance,” which will premiere on July 7. Also among the restored collection are “Donald’s Nephews” (the first on-screen appearance of Huey, Dewey, and Louie), “Trolley Troubles” (starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit), and “Playful Pluto” (the first short centered on Pluto). Read the full press release from Disney, including the full list of short films, below.
Disney+ to Debut 28 Newly Restored Walt Disney Animation Studios Classic Shorts to Celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary
Disney+ will begin debuting a collection of 28 newly restored Walt Disney Animation Studios classic shorts starting on Friday, July 7, featuring such iconic stars as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale, and the studio’s first star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This year marks the centennial of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, which is being honored as part of the ongoing Disney100 celebration.
Ranging from classics to lesser known titles, this package of short films includes examples of Disney’s earliest theatrical shorts, as well as a wide range of entertaining shorts featuring Disney’s most beloved characters. ‘Chips Ahoy,’ a 1956 CinemaScope short starring Donald Duck and his chipmunk rivals, will conclude the series in October, leading up to The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary on Monday, October 16.
The restorations were spearheaded by Walt Disney Studios Restoration and Preservation team, led by director Kevin Schaeffer, working in close collaboration with creative advisors from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The latter included Dorothy McKim, special projects and 2D animation producer, along with color supervision by Mike Giaimo and animator Eric Goldberg. This same team recently restored Cinderella and are currently working on a restoration of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.‘
‘We are thrilled to be working with Kevin Schaeffer and the Studio’s restoration team in presenting these beautifully restored versions of classic Disney animated shorts,’ McKim says. ‘Two of our top artistic talents have lent their expertise and passion to the project to make sure that the films look their very best and are authentic to the creative intentions of the original filmmakers. We’re very excited to be sharing these wonderful shorts with the Disney+ audience. They have never looked or sounded better.‘
Premiering Friday, July 7:
- “The Skeleton Dance” (1929)
- “Building a Building” (1933)
- “Bath Day” (1946)
- “Figaro and Frankie” (1947)
- “Goofy Gymnastics” (1949)
- “Aquamania” (1961)
Premiering Friday, August 11:
- “Barnyard Olympics” (1932)
- “Mickey’s Steam Roller” (1934)
- “Donald’s Nephews” (1938)
- “Goofy and Wilbur” (1939)
- “Donald’s Cousin Gus” (1939)
- “The Flying Jalopy” (1943)
Premiering September 5–8:
- “Trolley Troubles” (1927)
- “All Wet” (1927)
- “The Barn Dance” (1929)
- “Playful Pluto” (1934)
- “Mickey’s Kangaroo” (1935)
- “Merbabies” (1938)
- “Bone Trouble” (1940)
- “Pluto, Junior” (1942)
Premiering Friday, October 6:
- “When the Cat’s Away” (1929)
- “Fiddling Around” (1930)
- “Camping Out” (1934)
- “Wynken, Blynken and Nod” (1938)
- “Old Macdonald Duck” (1941)
- “Inferior Decorator” (1948)
- “Chips Ahoy” (1956)
Are you excited to see some of these old classics restored to new and improved quality? Let us know in the comments.
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