Disney+ restores animated classics
June 16, 2023
Disney+ will begin debuting a collection of 28 newly restored Walt Disney Animation Studios classic shorts starting on July 7th, 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 honoured as part of the ongoing Disney 100 celebration.
The package of short films includes examples of Disney’s earliest theatrical shorts (Trolley Troubles and All Wet, both from 1927 and starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit), Silly Symphony classics like The Skeleton Dance, Merbabies and Wynken, Blynken and Nod, as well as a wide range of shorts featuring Disney characters. Chips Ahoy, a 1956 CinemaScope short starring Donald Duck and his chipmunk rivals, will conclude the series in October, leading up to Disney’s 100th anniversary on October 16th.
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 animation icon, Eric Goldberg. This same team recently restored Cinderella, and are presently working on a restoration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
McKim commented: “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. 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.”