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Disney+ might be Disney's dominant form of home entertainment, but that doesn't mean it's the only card up its sleeve. Freeform just announced an entire month's worth of content coming to our screens this June.

Per Freeform's official press release, Disney fans are in for an absolutely packed summer as the network airs a boatload of movies, shows, and network premieres. The release made the following statement.

"Highlights include the world television premieres of Disney Pixar’s “Elemental” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Strange World” and a lineup of must-watch films from the Walt Disney film catalog, including animated classics like “Aladdin” (1992), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) and Disney-Pixar films like “Finding Nemo,” “Brave” and A Bug’s Life."

Freeform is no stranger to airing our favorite movies from Disney and Pixar, but a full month's worth of content is certainly remarkable. In an age where streaming services are dominating over TV networks consistently,...

Just keep swimming! Freeform’s 30 Days of Disney will make a splash this summer with themed weeks full of feel-good favorites and nostalgic classics.

Highlights include the world television premieres of Disney Pixar’s Elemental and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Strange World and a lineup of must-watch films from the Walt Disney film catalog, including animated classics like Aladdin (1992), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), and Disney-Pixar films like Finding Nemo, Brave, and A Bug’s Life.

Embrace your inner Disney princess during the first weekend with enchanting films like Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and the Freeform premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023).

Gather the family together to celebrate Father’s Day weekend with films such as Onward, The Incredibles, and Pinocchio (1940).

Elemental

Join in on epic adventures as we dive into action-packed titles like The Jungle Book (2016) and the Pirates of the Caribbean movie marathon,...

There's always something fascinating about the phenomenon of late-stage sequels. Filmmakers will sometimes wait decades after a film is released to make a follow-up, which only proves that the original has either retained its cultural clout or somehow gained more traction in the mass consciousness over time. It's easy to see why, in 1985, Walter Murch decided to make a sequel to 1939's "The Wizard of Oz" called "Return to Oz." It had been about 46 years since the original had been released, but "The Wizard of Oz" had — and has — remained one of the most famous movies of all time. A sequel would merely tap into the perpetual affection American audiences have for the film.

And, of course, some long-in-the-tooth sequels are merely a matter of timing, interest, and commitment. Why were there over ten years between "Toy Story 2" (1999) and "Toy Story 3" (2010)? No other reason than that the studio was working on other things.

Quick! Who directed the 1950 animated version of "Cinderella?" Did they direct any other movies? Who played the voice of Peter Pan in Disney's 1953 film version? Who played Alice in "Alice in Wonderland?" Or Prince Philip in "Sleeping Beauty?" Who wrote "One Hundred and One Dalmatians?" 

Some readers may have been able to recall that famed children's book author Bill Peet wrote "Dalmatians," and other hardcore Disney Nerds might know that famed child star Bobby Driscoll played Peter Pan, but many of the actual filmmakers of early Disney-released animated features have remained obscure. One would have to look up that Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske served as the supervising directors of "Cinderella," and that they also helmed "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," and "Lady and the Tramp." Heck, they should be better known, as "Cinderella" kind of saved the company.

These people are, of course, all celebrities in the animation world,...

Joe Hale, who spent 35 years as an animator, layout artist and producer at Disney and received an Oscar nomination for his effects work on the 1979 film The Black Hole, has died. He was 99.

Hale died Jan. 29 of natural causes at his home in Atascadero, California, his wife of nearly 60 years, Beverly Hale, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Hale started out as an inbetweener on Alice in Wonderland (1951) and worked on such other classics as Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), Mary Poppins (1964), The Jungle Book (1967), The Fox and the Hound (1981), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Pete’s Dragon (1977).

In 1980, Hale was named a first-time producer on The Black Cauldron (1985), a project that had been languishing at Disney for about seven years, and he oversaw a staff of 300 artists — including a young Tim Burton — and a big budget of $44 million.

When some children found scenes in the...

Early Life and Beginnings

Born on February 7, 1968, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Diego Olivera stepped into the world of acting at a young age. His career began at 12 with the play Escenas de la Calle (Scenes of the Street) at Teatro San Martín. Under the guidance of theater legends such as Alejandra Boero, Carlos Gandolfo, and Héctor Bidonde, he honed his craft, laying a solid foundation for a flourishing career in the entertainment industry.

Rise to Fame

Diego Olivera first gained widespread recognition as Darío in the Argentine television series Montaña Rusa. This role solidified his status as a beloved teen actor. His versatility as a performer soon led him to take on various roles in musicals, showcasing his singing talent in productions like La Bella y la Bestia (The Beauty and the Beast) and 101 Dálmatas (101 Dalmatians).

International Success

In 2006, while filming La Ley del Amor in Argentina, Olivera...

Disney has created hundreds of cinematic masterpieces with over a century of classics. However, even the best of these incredible stories have some glaring plot holes. And once fans find out about these story mistakes, it's difficult to forget.

While most are understandable as its in service of a more fun and lighthearted story, these plot holes are still big enough for fans to never look at their favorite films the same way again.

Cruella Should Have Been an Original Character

Disney's Cruella was a fun, wild ride, but not everything added up enough to connect to the original to make it a great film.

How Do Anita And Roger Take Care Of 101 Dalmations? One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

One Hundred and One Dalmatians probably has one of the most adorably ridiculous movie premises of all time. In the film, married couple, Roger and Anita, start with their two dogs,...

Is there a perfect animated Disney movie? In our minds that reflects subjective tastes, sure. For some, it could be a classic like "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," or a more recent entry like the refreshingly poignant "Zootopia." There are multitudes to be found in between — and beyond — as the central emotions associated with a personal favorite Disney animated film are nostalgia and catharsis. However, if we are to consider a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score as a metric, 1940's "Pinocchio" is the only Disney animated movie (as opposed to live-action or hybrid entries) with a 100% on the Tomatometer.

If we look back on the history of Disney-helmed animated works, the major sources of inspiration were classic fairy tales and children's novels, the likes that birthed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" or "The Little Mermaid." However, these adaptations were not always faithful, as some of the darker elements were reworked...

Quick Links Disney Hit Its Peak Songwriting Era in the 1990s Disney Replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda in Moana 2 With TikTok Songwriters Lin Manuel-Miranda Is Writing the Music for Mufasa

Disney is doing a rare thing as the studio preps for the release of Moana 2 in late 2024 with a live-action adaptation of the film's predecessor, Moana (2016), in its creative pipeline. In recent years, the company seems to be relying less and less on original material and more on the clout of its prior hits. Disney's success tends to come and go in waves, yet it never completely loses its grip on the viewing public. It helps that the Walt Disney Company's founder and namesake, Walt Disney, laid solid groundwork in its early days when it comes to branding. Maybe that's why whenever the studio finds itself creatively stuck, it relies on nostalgia to keep the home fires burning.

With...

I know I say this every week about Dancing with the Stars, but this week’s theme is definitely a favorite! I mean, how can you not absolutely love Disney Night? I always look forward to it. And this season’s Disney Night did not disappoint! Well…there’s the eliminated team, but other than that!

Spoiler alert! If you have not watched tonight’s episode of Dancing with the Stars, go stream it on Disney+ before you read on.

Dancing with the Stars week 5 is Disney Night so all teams performed a song from an iconic Disney movie. And no, we’re not talking Snow White and Cinderalla, but more modern, Disney flicks such as Deadpool and Wolverine and the beloved Wreck-It Ralph.

In tonight’s episode, the teams also joined up and were split into two groups: Chandler and Brandon and Ilona and Alan and Jenn and Sasha...

Quick Links Disneys The Aristocats Was Being Developed as Early as 1961 The Aristocats Featured Classic Disney Talents and New Studio Favorites The Aristocats Was an Unexpected International Hit for Disney

The Aristocats (1970) is a complicated Disney classic. Beloved by generations since its premiere, it's received criticism in recent years for its portrayal of unsavory racial stereotypes in feline form. Especially in the musical number "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat." Disney addresses this on their streaming platform, Disney+, before audiences are able to screen the film. The sensitivity warning states: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures . . . we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it, and spark a conversation to create a more inclusive future together."

Other Disney films from this time, and especially before, have similar messages attached. The 1970s would have been the beginning of what would be known as the...

While the “Nine Old Men” are well-documented and justly praised as the legendary animators of the Disney classics overseen by Walt — “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) through “The Jungle Book” (1967) — it’s gone unnoticed how the directors made their mark on these movies. That changes with the release of “Directing at Disney: The Original Directors of Walt’s Animated Films” by Disney historian Don Peri and Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer and Oscar-winning director of “Soul,” “Inside Out,” and “Up.”

Peri and Docter, who spent more than a decade on the book, reveal for the first time the organizational structure for directing at Disney and how the role of the director progressed. Peri, who had a fundamental understanding of how films were made at Disney, spent years at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, combining interviews, documentation, and a diary into a methodology of the directors’ roles...

The fashionable and evil Cruella De Vil graces collectors with her presence thanks to a new Darkness Descends Series doll from Mattel. This may be the best the One Hundred and One Dalmatians character has ever looked since Glenn Close played her in 1996.

The doll, priced at $100, will be available for pre-order at 9 Am Pt on May 6.

The best part of this doll is the packaging. While Cruella may be glamorous in doll form, the back of her box showcases the villainess we know from the classic 1961 film.

Yes, they put that terrifying Medusa-like image of Cruella on the back of the collector’s box. Oh, if only the doll had an alternate head with that nightmare-inducing face.

“From Disney’s 1961 film ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians,’ Cruella De Vil will stop at nothing to own the ultimate fur coat. This special collector doll celebrates Cruella’s transformation from miserable to maniacal,...

Disney's animation style has evolved over time, combining 2D and 3D techniques like in the recent film Wish. Innovations like Xerox technology in One Hundred and One Dalmatians influenced character designs. Characters like Ursula in The Little Mermaid and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty showcase Disney's artistic creativity.

Walt Disney Animation Studios celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2023 and throughout their long, innovative history, the designs of Disney's beloved characters have only grown in creativity. Disney's animation style, from 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to their latest film, Wish, has evolved as the years have passed. The techniques for creating realistic and emotive characters have improved as technology has advanced, with 1985's The Black Cauldron being noted as the first Disney feature film to incorporate CGI. Since then, Disney has found new ways to tackle their roster of characters, including the multiple Dalmatians in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Other human features,...

Quick Links For Almost 30 Years, Illustrator Bill Peet Was an Animator for Walt Disney Bill Peet Presents a Gruff Image of Walt Disney in His Autobiography After Leaving Walt Disney Animation, Bill Peet Found Success as a Children’s Book Author Bill Peet worked as a key animator on many films during the Golden Age of Disney. Walt Disney and Bill Peet often had an antagonistic relationship during their time working together. Upon leaving Walt Disney Animation after almost 30 years, Bill Peet found success as a children's book author.

Disney enthusiasts might know about Walt Disney's "Nine Old Men." Animators of the Disney Golden Age that D23.com lists as his "key animators in the 1950s." The last surviving member of these Disney legends, Ollie Johnston, passed in 2008. Missing among this list of animation greats, however, is animator and children's book author and illustrator Bill Peet. Peet worked on a...

Sleeping Beauty's 1959 box office bomb halted Disney's princess stories for 30 years. Disney slowly moved away from animation after Sleeping Beauty's failure. The lack of marketing and critical reception contributed to Sleeping Beauty's theatrical flop.

The Disney Princesses are one of the company's most beloved series of films, but the 1959 version of Sleeping Beauty had a box office bomb that was so large it killed the franchise for 30 years. The company got its start in 1937 with the now-classic film Snow White and The Seven Dwarves before moving on to other well-known projects such as Pinocchio and Bambi. Princesses were largely ignored by the company until the premiere of Cinderella in 1950, which was a critical success.

With this success, Disney began to branch out into television and live-action, though animation was still the primary focus of the company. However, despite Cindrella's strong reception, Disney continued to focus on animating non-princess-themed stories.

Heritage Auction’s The Art of Disneyland event will allow fans of Disney Legends Marc and Alice Davis to bid on rare art and props from the company’s golden age! Items include original production art for Snow White, audio-animatronics, animation cels, and more!

The auction will start on April 5 and run through April 8. The collection includes over 1,800 items and can be bid on in person or via Heritage Auction’s site. If you’d like to see some of the pieces first-hand, a partial preview of the collection will happen from April 1-5 at 9478 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Those who collect cels will be excited to know that a few will be offered up in the Davis auction, including ones from Pinocchio, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, and the rare Figment educational shorts!

Considering we’re not sure what will become of the Country...

Disney Cruise Line has just posted a video announcing the name and theme for their next cruise ship setting sail in 2025. The sister ship to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure will be called the Disney Destiny, and the theme will focus on “Heroes and Villains.”

Disney released this video to announce the name and theme.

The theme of “Heroes and Villains” will take inspiration from Disney characters and Disney theme park attractions!

Here’s what the Disney Parks Blog said about the Disney Destiny:

Onboard, guests will encounter heroes and villains alike – including those from beloved Walt Disney Animation stories like “The Lion King,” “Hercules” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” – within spaces, experiences and entertainment throughout their voyage.

Minnie Mouse will be the main hero of the ship. The Disney Parks Blog posted that,

“Minnie Mouse embodies the spirit of the Disney Destiny in this brand-new filigree artwork...

The influence of manga and anime for many years now has long left the confines of the country of Japan and has become a worldwide staple for many fans from different parts of the world. This success can be attributed to a few series from the early days, specifically, the Dragon Ball anime series that started the propagation of the culture across the globe.

A still from Dragon Ball Z

The influence and popularity of this series despite it being four decades old has to be attributed to the great work that creator Akira Toriyama did with it. And just like any great mind, he too was inspired by legendary creators and their creations before him.

More specifically, the Mangaka was inspired by many Disney animated features from the ’50s and ’60s, one of which was a feature song from the film Cinderella called Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, which became the reason behind the names of Bibidi,...

Cruella star Emma Stone recently gave an update on the long-awaited sequel that some Disney fans may find disappointing.

During a recent interview with Variety, Stone was asked when Cruella 2 might begin filming. "You tell me. Hopefully sooner, rather than later," Stone said, confirming that there are currently no plans in place. She also remained coy when asked if she had read the script, revealing only that there was "a work-in-progress kind of thing going on. Yeah, yeah. We'll see..." However, she admitted that she enjoyed playing the character, stating, "She's a blast, so we'll see."

Related Mickey Mouse Horror Film In Production as Disney's Steamboat Willie Copyright Expires Many filmmakers begin production on their own Mickey Mouse movies as Disney's Steam Boat Willie enters the public domain. Emma Stone says the #Cruella sequel is a "work in progress" and will begin shooting "hopefully sooner, rather than later." https://t.

With this year being the 100 year anniversary of The Walt Disney Company and the release of their latest animated title, Wish, we wanted to know what animated Disney film has been your favorite over the years? We stuck to films specifically released by Disney, so no Pixar titles are included. What struck me while compiling the list is the progression of their films. From the innocence of their early work to what many consider their heyday in the early 90’s to the emergence of the CGI era. For many of us, Disney films defined our youth, but which is the one that has remained with you all these years? As always, if you don’t see your favorite listed, please click “Other” and let us know what it is in the comments section as well as any fond memories you have of these timeless classics.

What is your favorite Disney Animated Film?...

Spoilers for "Wish" follow.

The villains from Walt Disney Animation's feature films have traditionally been so striking and scary that the company has thought to separate them into their own brand. The brand tends to focus on Maleficent (Eleanor Audley) from 1959's "Sleeping Beauty," Cruella de Vil (Betty Lou Gerson) from 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," Ursula the Sea Witch (Pat Caroll) from 1989's "The Little Mermaid," the Evil Queen (Lucille La Verne) from 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Captain Hook (Hans Conreid) from 1953's "Peter Pan," Hades (James Woods) from 1997's "Hercules," and Dr. Facilier (Keith David) from 2009's "The Princess and the Frog." 

Occasionally, one might find Gaston (Richard White) from 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" in the mix or Chernabog from 1940's "Fantasia." These characters are all memorable for their scary designs, their misguided lust for power or destruction, their resentment, their hatred of the world,...

It took a village of creatives at Disney Animation to pull off “Once Upon a Studio,” the animated short that celebrates 100 years of stories and magic. Iconic characters like Snow White and Peter Pan feature alongside Robin Williams’ Genie in a cast of 543 characters from more than 85 feature-length and short films. And it all came together without any artificial intelligence involved.

Directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy were seeking a way to honor the studio’s legacy. “Once Upon a Studio” takes place at the end of a work day at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank. The studio becomes a magical place once Disney Legend Burny Mattinson, who worked there for 70 years on films such as “Lady and the Tramp” (1955) and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961), leaves. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse step out of a photo and call for their friends to gather for an official 100th Anniversary Studio portrait.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

Disney fans and physical media collectors, rejoice! This November will see the release of a gargantuan 100-film Blu-ray collection called the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection. The catch? It’ll cost you $1,499.96.

The boxed set officially releases on Nov. 14, but preorders are currently available exclusively at Walmart’s website.

Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection $1,499.96 Buy Now

The collection is packaged as a three-volume set, featuring animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. But unlike other behemoth boxed sets, this one isn’t filled with lame direct-to video snoozers but beloved titles that includes classics and recent favorites. For example, the long-running list includes all the “Toy Story” movies, both of “The Incredibles,” “The Black Cauldron,” “Frankenweenie” and “Robin Hood.” It even includes films as recent as this...

As part of Disney’s 100 year anniversary celebrations it has opened its vault doors and revealed the enchanting real world places that inspired Disney’s magical world. For the first time a list of 30 landmarks across Europe, Middle East and Africa that have inspired its movies, parks and fan’s hearts over the last century has been unveiled. It has been released in the run-up to Disney 100 The Exhibition which is being held at London’s Excel from 13th October.

From Big Ben in London to the colourful province of Cinque Terre in Italy and even to the Masai Mara, Kenya, the list of landmarks covers 13 countries and showcases the spots that have inspired some of Disney’s most famous stories. We all recognise Notre Dame Cathedral, France as featured in is name sake The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and of course St Paul’s Cathedral, London as featured in...

If you’re a Disney fan who wants each and every animated movie they’ve ever made in one place, then you’re in luck. The Walt Disney Company announced the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which features 100 animated movies from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Pixar on Blu-ray. Everything from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Elemental is included, encompassing nearly one hundred years of storytelling.

Related Disney and Pixar’s Elemental comes to Disney+ on September 13th

The Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection is a self-standing, three-volume set that will be available for pre-order on September 19th, but only on Walmart.com. There will be a limited amount of sets available, so each will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. The set will also feature digital codes for each title, along with a collectible lithograph from Disney Animation’s all-new musical comedy Wish, and a collectible...

The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a hefty new Blu-ray box set containing 100 of its best animated films.

Officially titled the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, the box set comes with three volumes that open up to feature the original theatrical artwork for each film. Additionally, the package offers digital codes to all 100 movies, a certificate of authenticity, a lithograph from the upcoming feature Wish, and a collectible set of crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with “Disney 100.”

Drawing films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and the now-closed DisneyToon Studios, the collection offers a pretty comprehensive timeline of the company, founded in 1923. The box set features early classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, 1990s renaissance films like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story, and more modern offerings — many of which got the direct-to-Disney+ treatment thanks to Covid — including Soul,...

Since the Writers Guild of American and Screen Actors Guild are both still on strike, this year's Destination D23 convention down in Orlando, Florida didn't really have much of anything to showcase. Sure, the studio showed some footage from Disney's upcoming animated movie "Wish," and they announced that "Haunted Mansion" would be hitting Disney+ in October. But there was one other announcement that might be intriguing for anyone who is both a Disney fan and a physical media collector.

This fall, the House of Mouse will be releasing the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which collects 100 animated films from both Disney and Pixar, reaching as far back as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and up through this summer's "Elemental" from Pixar. All of the movies come in a big three-volume set that unfolds in collectible storybooks. The Disney100 Blu-ray box set also includes the original theatrical poster art for every movie within the storybook,...

Disney is releasing a limited edition box set of 100 animated movies to celebrate their 100th anniversary, priced at $1,500. The box set includes classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, as well as newer films like Encanto and Turning Red. While the price may seem steep, the box set comes with bonus collectibles and is a comprehensive collection that would be difficult and costly to build on one's own.

The price tag for Disney's new DVD collection set that contains 100 animated movies has been set at a hefty $1,500. With Disney's 100th anniversary set on October 16, the renowned company has been celebrating the milestone all through the year. The Disney theme parks began the official celebration by kicking off Disney 100 in January, a series of special events taking place in parks across the globe all year long. However, Disney will soon offer a way to bring part of the celebration into audiences' own homes.

Disney has unveiled the ultimate bundle of animated content, featuring 100 films from Disney and Pixar going from 1937 to 2023.

At the Destination D23 Walt Disney Studio Showcase event, Disney announced on Sunday that they would soon release what's called the "Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection." The massive Blu-ray set contains a hundred films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Pixar. The set will be releasing officially on Nov. 14, 2023, though a limited number will be made available to pre-order through Walmart.com starting on Sept. 18, 2023. Each of these sets will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. Of course, the set isn't exactly cheap given the content included, as it will be priced at $1,500.

Related: Top 10 Pixar Movies, According to Rotten Tomatoes

The discs will come in a unique, self-standing three-volume set that unfolds like a storybook. Along with a plethora of Blu-ray discs for 100 animated movies, the collection also includes digital codes for each title.

Disney just announced the release of the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, featuring 100 animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. It’s packaged together as a three-volume set that unfolds into your own storybook.

The set is festooned with original poster designs and comes with digital codes for every movie, alongside a lithograph from Disney’s upcoming feature “Wish,” a certificate of authenticity and crystal Mickey Mouse ears engraved with the “Disney 100” logo. The limited-edition collection will be available on Nov. 14, with pre-orders beginning on Walmart.com on Sept. 18. It has a retail price of $1,500.

What’s fascinating about the set is that it includes a wide array of classic Walt Disney Animation Studios features, along with beloved Pixar favorites and a smattering of films (many of them direct-to-video sequels to earlier masterworks) created by the since-shuttered DisneyToon Studios. That includes “Tinker Bell,” “Return to Neverland,” “The...

To mark its 100th anniversary on October 16th, 2023, Disney is set to launch the Disney100 ‘Celebrating Timeless Stories’ limited screening programme, showcasing 100 years of classic and groundbreaking films on the big screen across the UK.

From Friday 4th August, 2023 over 600 cinemas across the UK and Ireland are partnering with Disney on this Disney100 initiative, whereby cinemas have the opportunity to engage audiences in the magic of Disney and screen these timeless stories. The screening programme will run throughout the summer holidays, from August 4th until October 19th, with a different film playing across most weeks.

The ten films included in the programme:

Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) Disney’s “Bambi” (1942) Disney’s “Cinderella” (1950) Disney’s “Peter Pan” (1953) Disney’s “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961) Disney’s “The Jungle Book” (1967) Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” (1995) Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog...

Long ago, the 1950s ended and Disney never really got over it.

With the right kind of eyes, a casual viewer can look at the early days of Walt Disney Studios as their heyday. Walt himself was still alive and using his aggressive business acumen to produce visually innovative and award-winning animated shorts that were helping put the studio on the map. Without the Silly Symphonies, animation would not be the same. Warner Bros. outstripped Disney's fare with their cheekier, funnier shorts in the 1940s and 1950s, but the folks at Warner's Termite Terrace were very open about the fact that Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes were ripping off Disney's Silly Symphonies name. Disney Animation broke onto the scene in 1937 with the release of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," still celebrated as one of the best of all animated films to this day.

The reason early Disney was...

Rolly Crump, a legendary Disney animator and Imagineer, whose designs helped define the early days of Disneyland, has died at the age of 93.

Rolly joined Walt Disney Studios in 1952, working on a number of the period’s animated features in marginal positions, including serving as an in-between artist on “Peter Pan” and as an assistant animator on “Lady and the Tramp,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

In 1959, he was recruited by Walt to join what was then known as Wed Enterprises, later Walt Disney Imagineering. While at Imagineering, he worked on designs for The Haunted Mansion (including the prototypical Museum of the Weird), the Enchanted Tiki Room and It’s a Small World, including the iconic Tower of the Four winds sculpture/statue that accompanied It’s a Small World when the ride debuted at the 1964/65 World’s Fair in Queens.

“People say the term legend can get...

Rolly Crump, one of Disneyland’s most important designers, who made crucial contributions to such attractions as the Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World and the Enchanted Tiki Room, died Sunday at his home in Carlsbad, CA, where he was under hospice care. He was 93.

His death was announced on the Facebook page of his autobiography It’s Kind of a Cute Story.

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“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Roland ‘Rolly’ Fargo Crump passed away peacefully yesterday morning at his home in Carlsbad, CA,” the statement reads. “He was 93 years old.”

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in Anaheim (Getty Images)

Crump, who worked as an...

Stephen Herek is an American film director, producer and screenwriter who has been active in the movie industry since the 1980s. He is best known for directing films such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), The Mighty Ducks (1992), and Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995).

He was born in 1957 in Princeton, New Jersey and grew up in Catonsville, Maryland. After high school he attended Towson University where he graduated with a Bfa degree in theater arts. He then went on to study filmmaking at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he graduated with honors.

Herek first made his mark on Hollywood with his debut film, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – a comedy starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter which became a major hit. Since then he has directed several other successful films such as The Rocketeer (1991) starring Billy Campbell, Donnie Darko (2001) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Critters 4 (1992), 101 Dalmatians (1996) starring Glenn Close and Steve Martin,...

The animation industry has lost a pioneer. Burny Mattinson, who has worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios on several esteemed projects over the years, has passed away at the age of 87. According to The Walt Disney Company in an official statement, he had passed after a short and undisclosed illness. Working across several departments in the animation company, he worked at The Walt Disney Company for almost 70 years and was due to receive a one-of-a-kind award on June 4, 2023. He is survived by his wife, as well as the families of his son and daughter.

"Burny's artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better," wrote Walt Disney Animation chief creative director Jennifer Lee. "All of us who have had the honor to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on.

Burny Mattinson, who worked as an animator, director, producer and story artist during a 70-year career as the longest-serving “castmember” in the history of The Walt Disney Co., has died. He was 87.

Mattinson died after a short illness on Monday at a Canoga Park assisted living facility in Los Angeles, the studio announced. He was due to receive his 70th anniversary service award — the studio’s first ever — on June 4.

Mattinson was working full time at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a story consultant and mentor at the time of his death.

“Burny’s artistry, generosity and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better — better artists, better technologists and better collaborators,” Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement. “All of us who have had the honor to know him...

Burny Mattinson, a Disney animator, director, producer and story artist, died on Monday, Feb. 27, in Canoga Park, Calif., following a short illness. He was 87.

Mattinson’s death was confirmed by The Walt Disney Company, his longtime employer. Mattinson was the longest-serving Disney employee and was set to receive the first ever 70th-anniversary service award this June.

Born in San Francisco on May 13, 1935, Mattinson was first inspired to pursue a career in animation after seeing “Pinocchio” at age 6. He began drawing in hopes to recreate the Disney animation style. By the time he finished high school, Mattinson joined The Walt Disney Company and in just six months moved from the mailroom to an animation in-betweener on “Lady and the Tramp.”

Academy Award-winning Disney director Don Hall said, “For almost 30 years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ to ‘Big Hero 6’ to, most recently,...

Animator, director, producer and story artist Burny Mattinson, who joined the Walt Disney Company at the end of its first great run of films, when Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942) were new and an in-his-prime Walt Disney was just 42 years old, died today. He was 87. He was the last full-time Walt Disney Studios employee who had worked at the company when Walt Disney still ran it.

Seeing the studio’s Pinocchio at the age of six convinced Mattinson he wanted to work in animation. “Ever since I saw that film, this was my dream—to work in this business,” he recalled years later. “So I worked every day, drawing.”

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2022 was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of Disney and Pixar movies. There were acclaimed successes like Turning Red and flops like Strange World. While there are a lot of things that contribute to what makes a truly great Disney movie, leaving the audience with a great ending is certainly one of them.

Whether it is an all-time Disney classic that ends on a pitch-perfect note or a movie that is only memorable for its final scenes, there are some truly great Disney endings to admire. From the emotionally devastating to the satisfying victories for the heroes to the beloved happily-ever-after romances, these Disney movie endings are the best.

Luca (2021)

Though it received critical acclaim upon its release, Luca feels like an underrated Pixar movie. It is a charming story of a childhood friendship between two sea monsters posing as young boys on the surface world with plans...

Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla has partnered with the UK’s Creative Media Skills Institute.

Iain Smith, the UK producer of Mad Max: Fury Road and Children Of Men, is to help run a filmmaking boot camp for rising talent in Saudi Arabia as part of a new training initiative.

The UK’s Creative Media Skills Institute has partnered with Saudi agency Film AlUla to host a 10-day training programme in northwest Saudi Arabia from February 26.

Smith is among those who will travel to AlUla next month to help educate 25 trainees from the region, who are exploring careers in production...

Disney's original animated movies all have better Rotten Tomatoes scores than their more recent live-action remakes, except for one. Walt Disney Animation Studios made many of the most iconic animated movies in the 20th century, but the more recent live-action adaptations of those stories haven't reached the same heights in Rotten Tomatoes.

While some of Disney's live-action adaptations have been more spiritual remakes or successors, like Christopher Robin or Maleficent, but when it comes to the 11 movies that received direct live-action remakes, including Pinocchio, Dumbo, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Cinderella, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Lion King, Mulan, and Alice in Wonderland, with more live-action Disney remakes on the way including Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Bambi, and more. While most of these movies received positive reviews, there's a stark difference in the Rotten Tomatoes scores earned by the animated movies and the live-action remakes.

Popularly coined by director Alfred Hitchcock, the term MacGuffin has become a fixture of screenwriting and nearly every modern flick has one. Used to describe something of great importance to the characters that sets the movie in motion, the MacGuffin trope is usually applied to objects, but it can include characters as well.

From classic franchises like Star Wars to indie hits like Memento, the choice to make the MacGuffin a character adds depth to the story and gives the audience more to care about. Though film history is filled with classic examples of the trope, only a select few films succeeded with a character in the role.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Returning the franchise to its nostalgic roots, The Force Awakens borrowed many story elements from the original Star Wars films, including its reliance on a character as a MacGuffin. The film follows a new set of heroes,...

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with Disney knows that the studio excels at creating compelling animal characters. In particular, they are known for giving audiences some of the most beloved dogs in the history of the movies. From Pluto to Goofy, from Dodger to Lady, these canine companions have become beloved icons of popular culture.

What allows them to be so interesting, though, is just how unique and fully formed a character each one of them is, so it is worth using the zodiac to drill down a little deeper to discover the fascinating aspects of their personalities.

Updated on November 28th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Not every classic Disney dog is strictly a canine companion to a human character. Some are toys, some are actually alien beings, and some are the real stars of the story. There is a huge variety of Disney dogs. Fans can find one...

Clair Voyance was three years old the first time she watched Hocus Pocus. She can still remember the sound the VHS tape made, and the way a blanket transformed into a makeshift cape when it was wrapped around her shoulders. But she wasn’t focused on the film’s child stars as they navigated their Halloween adventure. No, all attention was on the Sanderson Sisters. The three witches, played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, flounced on screen, singing “I Put A Spell on You” to a transfixed and delighted audience.

Full of campy theatrics and dramatic sartorial looks, Cruella gives the titular villainess an origin story with Emma Stone in the lead. The One Hundred and One Dalmatians franchise has long been a beloved family classic, but is this enough to warrant a sequel to this latest prequel project? 100 percent.

Almost two weeks after hitting theaters in May 2021, Disney confirmed the movie will have a follow-up. "We are very pleased with Cruella's box office success, in conjunction with its strong Disney+ Premier Access performance to date," a Disney spokesperson told People. "The film has been incredibly well received by audiences around the world, with a 97% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes in addition to A's in every demographic from CinemaScore on opening weekend, ranking it among the most popular of our live-action reimaginings. We look forward to a long run as audiences continue to enjoy this fantastic film."

In August 2021, Deadline...

A few weeks ago, there was every reason to be skeptical about “Cruella.” The creative track record for live-action remakes of Disney animated films was middling to dismal. And this wasn’t even a remake of the winsome 1961 cartoon “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”. The new film was to be an idiosyncratic spin-off origin story, clocking in at two hours and 14 minutes. But as audiences have been discovering, “Cruella” isn’t just better than you might have expected. It’s a mordantly witty and rousing delight: the definition of how to make an IP franchise movie with a touch of soul, a kiddie movie that adults can revel in, and — most astonishingly — a Disney movie that’s darkly insolent enough to tickle your punk funny bone. As the mainstream movie world returns to life, here are six thoughts on the minor miracle of “Cruella.”

1. It may be the best movie of the year so far.

Audiences were first introduced to the fashionable villain named Cruella De Vil in Disney's 1961 animated movie, One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Cruella made a name for herself with her sinister smile, black and white hair, and obsession with dalmatians.

Related: Cruella: 5 Ways It's Like Glenn Close's Version (& 5 It's Different)

Fans really got to see the sinister side of Cruella when Glenn Close portrayed the character in the live-action adaptation, 101 Dalmatians in 1996, and the sequel. Close's version took the cake, as Cruella's sinister plan of using puppy dalmatians for a luxurious fur coat was downright evil. With Cruella's conniving laugh, personality, and flare, the character had plenty of memorable lines and scenes in the franchise - as well as outfits.

The world may have been a more wholesome place before Cruella De Vil, but Disney cannot get enough of her.

Before “Cruella” — the live-action prequel to the animated feature “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” — has even entered its second weekend of release, Disney is already in early development on a sequel, with director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Tony McNamara both expected to return. It’s unclear whether star Emma Stone is also set to reprise her performance as the dastardly, fur-loving villain, but it’s also unclear how a sequel would work without her.

The latest in Disney’s line of live-action adaptations of its animated classics, “Cruella” opened on May 28 in theaters and on Disney Plus via an additional $30 purchase through the streamer’s Premiere Access option. To date, the film’s earned $32.4 million domestically and $48.5 million worldwide; although Disney characterizes the film’s Disney Plus performance as “strong,...