This Day in Disney History: The Fox and the Hound (07/10)

The Fox and the Hound is the 24th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series released on this date in 1981. It tells the story of two unlikely friends, a red fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper, who struggle to preserve their friendship during their childhood despite their emerging instincts and the surrounding social pressures demanding them to be adversaries. The film features the voices of Kurt Russell, Mickey Rooney, Pearl Bailey, Sandy Duncan, Paul Winchell, and Corey Feldman (what?!?). At the time of release it was the most expensive animated film produced to date, costing $12 million.

This Day in Disney History: The Great Mouse Detective (07/02)

The Great Mouse Detective is the 26th feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, released on this day in 1986. The main characters are all mice and rats living in Victorian London. Based on the children's book series Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, it draws heavily on the tradition of Sherlock Holmes with a heroic mouse who consciously emulates the detective; Titus named the main character after actor Basil Rathbone, who is best remembered for playing Holmes in film. Sherlock Holmes also mentions "Basil" as one of his aliases in the Arthur Conan Doyle story "The Adventure of Black Peter".

After the failure of Disney's previous animated feature film The Black Cauldron, this simpler film proved to be a success upon its initial release in 1986. As such, the new senior management of the company were convinced that their animation department was still a viable enterprise and this set the stage for the Disney Renaissance.

This Day in Disney History: Ratatouille (06/29)

On this day in 2007, Pixar/Disney released Ratatouille. It is the eighth film produced by Pixar and refers to a French dish, "ratatouille", which is served at the end of the film, and is also a play on words about the species of the main character. The film stars the voices of Patton Oswalt as Remy, an anthropomorphic rat who is interested in cooking; Lou Romano as Linguini, a young garbage boy who befriends Remy; Ian Holm as Skinner, the head chef of Auguste Gusteau's restaurant; Janeane Garofalo as Colette, a rôtisseur at Gusteau's restaurant; Peter O'Toole as Anton Ego, a restaurant critic; Brian Dennehy as Django, Remy's father and leader of his clan; Peter Sohn as Emile, Remy's older brother; and Brad Garrett as Auguste Gusteau, a recently deceased chef. The plot follows Remy, who dreams of becoming a chef and tries to achieve his goal by forming an alliance with a Parisian restaurant's garbage boy.

The film grossed $623.7 million at the box office and received critical acclaim. The film later won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, among other honors.

This Day in Disney History: Hercules, and WALL-E (06/27)

Another busy day as far as Disney is concerned with two more releases:

From zero to hero, yes indeed!

1997: Hercules. The 35th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The film is loosely based on the legendary Greek mythology hero Heracles (known in the film by his Roman name, Hercules), the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology. Produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance, Hercules received positive reviews, and earned $252.7 million in box office revenue worldwide.

This Day in Disney History: The Lion King, and Cars 2 (06/24)

Disney continues a busy history of June releases with two more:

1994: The Lion King. It is the 32nd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. The story takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa, and was influenced by the biblical tales of Joseph and Moses and William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. The film was produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance. Its songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with an original score by Hans Zimmer. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cheech Marin.

This Day in Disney History: Pocahontas (06/23)

You can own the earth and still, all you'll own is earth until you can paint with all the colours of the wind.

Pocahontas, the 33rd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series was released on this day in 1995. It was produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance. The film is inspired by the known history and folklore surrounding the Native American woman Pocahontas, and portrays a fictionalized account of her historical encounter with Englishman John Smith and the Jamestown settlers that arrived from the Virginia Company. Critics praised the film for its animation and music, but criticized the film's story and historical accuracy. Nevertheless, the film was a commercial success, grossing $346 million at the worldwide box office. Pocahontas received two Academy Awards for its achievement in music; Best Original Score for Menken's score and Best Original Song for "Colors of the Wind".

This Day in Disney History: Lady and the Tramp, The Rescuers, and Brave (06/22)

Today is yet another day with multiple Disney releases.

1955: Lady and the Tramp. The 15th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, it was the first animated feature filmed in the CinemaScope widescreen film process. Based on Happy Dan, The Whistling Dog by Ward Greene, Lady and the Tramp tells the story of a female American Cocker Spaniel named Lady who lives with a refined, upper-middle-class family, and a male stray mutt named Tramp. When the two dogs meet, they embark on many romantic adventures.

The sequence of Lady and Tramp sharing a plate of Italian spaghetti – climaxed by an accidental kiss as they swallow opposite ends of the same piece of spaghetti – is considered an iconic scene in American film history.

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1977: The Rescuers. The 23rd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, this film is about the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organization headquartered in New York and shadowing the United Nations, dedicated to helping abduction victims around the world at large. Two of these mice, jittery janitor Bernard (Bob Newhart) and his co-agent, the elegant Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor), set out to rescue Penny, an orphan girl being held prisoner in the Devil's Bayou by treasure huntress Madame Medusa.

The film is based on a series of books by Margery Sharp, most notably The Rescuers and Miss Bianca. Due to the film's success, a sequel entitled The Rescuers Down Under was released in 1990.

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If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?

2012: Brave. Brave is an American computer-animated fantasy-comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. To create the most complex visuals possible, Pixar completely rewrote their animation system for the first time in 25 years. It is the first film to use the Dolby Atmos sound format. 

Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film tells the story of a princess named Merida who defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in the kingdom by expressing the desire to not be betrothed. After consulting a witch for help, Merida accidentally transforms her mother into a bear and is forced to undo the spell herself before it is too late.

The film won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it.

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This Day in Disney History: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lilo & Stitch, and Monsters University (06/21)

A popular month for summer releases, Disney has released not one, but three different animated features on this date.

1996: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This film is 34th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. The plot centers on Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame and his struggle to gain acceptance into society.

The film's voice cast features Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, David Ogden Stiers, and Mary Wickes in her final film role. Produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance, the film is considered to be one of Disney's darkest animated films as its narrative explores such mature themes as infanticide, lust, damnation, genocide, and sin.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released to largely positive reviews and was a commercial success, grossing over $325 million worldwide and becoming the fifth highest-grossing release of 1996. The film received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Menken's musical score.

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This Day in Disney History: Mulan (06/19)

I've heard a great deal about you, Fa Mulan. You stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese Army, destroyed my palace, and... you have saved us all.

On this day in 1998, Disney released its 36th animated feature Mulan. Ming-Na, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer and BD Wong star in the English version, while Jackie Chan provided his voice for the Chinese dubs of the film. The film's plot takes place during the Han Dynasty, where Fa Mulan, daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou, impersonates a man to take her father's place during a general conscription to counter a Hun invasion.

Released during the Disney Renaissance, Mulan was the first of three features produced primarily at the Disney animation studio at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. Development for the film began in 1994, when a number of artistic supervisors were sent to China to receive artistic and cultural inspiration. Mulan was well received by critics and the public, grossing $304 million, earning Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, and winning several Annie Awards including Best Animated Feature.

This Day in Disney History: Tarzan and Toy Story 3 (06/18)

Released on this day in 1999, Tarzan is an American animated adventure musical film by Walt Disney Pictures. The 37th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, it is based on the story Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan is considered to be the last major box office success of the Disney Renaissance before the studio's decline in the early 2000s. At the time of its release, its production budget of $130 million made it the most expensive animated film ever made, until topped by Disney's own $140 million Treasure Planet in 2002. The film grossed $448.2 million worldwide and was also the first Disney animated feature to open at first place at the North American box office since Pocahontas (1995).

This Day in Disney History: Finding Nemo (05/30)

Finding Nemo is a American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on this day in 2003. Written and directed by Andrew Stanton, it tells the story of the overprotective clown fish named Marlin who, along with a regal tang named Dory, searches for his abducted son Nemo all the way to Sydney Harbour. Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and let Nemo take care of himself.

The film received widespread critical acclaim, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and was nominated in three more categories. It was the second highest-grossing film of 2003, earning a total of $936 million worldwide. Finding Nemo is also the best-selling DVD of all time, with over 40 million copies sold as of 2006. It is the 29th highest-grossing film of all time, as well as the 5th highest-grossing animated film.

This Day in Disney History: Up (05/29)

On this day in 2009, Disney/Pixar released the movie Up. The film centers on an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen and an earnest young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his dream to see the wilds of South America and to complete a promise made to his late wife. 

The film became a great financial success, accumulating over $731 million in its theatrical release. Up received critical acclaim, with most reviewers commending the humor and heart of the film. Ed Asner was praised for his portrayal of Carl, and a montage of Carl and his wife Ellie aging together was widely lauded. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, making it the second animated film in history to receive such a nomination following Beauty and the Beast (1991).

This Day in Disney History: The Emperor's New Groove (12/15)

The Emperor's New Groove is a 2000 American animated buddy comedy film created by Walt Disney Feature Animation. It is the 40th film in Disney's animated features canon. It was directed by Mark Dindal, produced by Randy Fullmer, written by David Reynolds, and stars David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton and Wendie Malick.

The film was altered significantly over its six years of development and production. It began as a musical epic titled Kingdom of the Sun, to have been directed by Dindal and Roger Allers (co-director of The Lion King), and was changed by Disney executives into a light-hearted buddy comedy. The documentary The Sweatbox details the production troubles that the film endured.

The film received generally positive reviews and is considered to be one of the best films of Disney's post-Renaissance era. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "My Funny Friend and Me" performed by Sting, but lost to "Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan from Wonder Boys.

This Day in Disney History: The Princess and the Frog (12/11)

The Princess and the Frog is an American animated musical romantic fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on this day in 2009. The 49th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film is loosely based on the novel The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker, which is in turn based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "The Frog Prince". 

Set in 1920s New Orleans, Louisiana, the film tells the story of a hardworking waitress named Tiana who dreams of owning her own restaurant. After kissing a prince who has been turned into a frog by an evil witch doctor, Tiana becomes a frog herself, and must find a way to turn back into a human before it is too late.

The film was successful at the box-office, ranking first place on its opening weekend in North America, and grossing $267 million worldwide. It received three Academy Award nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards: one for Best Animated Feature and two for Best Original Song. It lost to Up and Crazy Heart, respectively.

This Day in Disney History: Fantasia (11/13)

Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. With story direction by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer, and production supervision by Ben Sharpsteen, it is the third feature in the Disney animated features canon. The film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Music critic and composer Deems Taylor acts as the film's Master of Ceremonies, providing a live-action introduction to each animated segment.

Disney settled on the film's concept as work neared completion on The Sorcerer's Apprentice, an elaborate Silly Symphonies short designed as a comeback role for Mickey Mouse, who had declined in popularity. As production costs grew higher than what it could earn, he decided to include the short in a feature length film with other segments set to classical pieces. The soundtrack was recorded using multiple audio channels and reproduced with Fantasound, a pioneering sound reproduction system that made Fantasia the first commercial film shown in stereophonic sound.

This Day in Disney History: Saludos Amigos (08/24)

Released on this day in 1942, Saludos Amigos is the sixth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It is the first of six package films made by Walt Disney Animation Studios in the 1940s. Set in Latin America, it is made up of four different segments; Donald Duck stars in two of them and Goofy stars in one. It also features the first appearance of José Carioca, the Brazilian cigar-smoking parrot. Saludos Amigos was popular enough that Walt Disney decided to make another film about Latin America, The Three Caballeros, to be produced two years later. Saludos Amigos garnered positive reviews and was only reissued once, in 1949, when it was shown on a double bill with the first reissue of Dumbo.

This Day in Disney History: Bambi (08/13)

Released on this day in 1942, Bambi became the fifth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series.  It was based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten. The main characters are Bambi, a white-tailed deer (originally a roe deer but changed since those are not common in the U.S.), his parents (the Great Prince of the forest and his unnamed mother), his friends Thumper (a pink-nosed rabbit), and Flower (a skunk), and his childhood friend and future mate, Faline. The film received three Academy Award nominations: Best Sound, Best Song (for "Love Is a Song" ) and Original Music Score. 

In June 2008, the American Film Institute presented a list of its "10 Top 10"—the best ten films in each of ten classic American film genres. Bambi placed third in animation. In December 2011, the film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

This Day in Disney History: Alice in Wonderland (07/28)

Released on this day in 1951, Alice in Wonderland became the 13th of Disney's animated features. It was based on the Alice books by Lewis Carroll. The film features the voices of Kathryn Beaumont (who later voiced Wendy Darling in the 1953 Disney film Peter Pan) as Alice, and Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter. Disney first attempted unsuccessfully to adapt Alice into an animated feature film during the 1930s, and finally revived the idea in the 1940's. The film was originally intended to be a live-action/animated film, however, Disney decided to make it an all-animated feature in 1946. While the film was critically panned on its initial release, the movie proved to be ahead of its time and has since been regarded as one of Disney's greatest animated classics, notably one of the biggest cult classics in the animation medium, as well as one of the best film adaptations of Alice.

Whatever, this is one messed up movie y'all...

This Day in Disney History: The Black Cauldron (07/24)

The Black Cauldron is an American animated dark fantasy adventure film released on this day in 1985 by Walt Disney Pictures. The 25th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, it is loosely based on the first two books in The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, a series of five novels which in turn is based on Welsh mythology. Set in the mythical land of Prydain during the dark ages, the film centers on the evil Horned King who hopes to secure an ancient magical cauldron and rule the world with its aid. He is opposed by a young pig keeper named Taran, Princess Eilonwy, the bard Fflewddur Fflam, and a wild creature named Gurgi who seek to prevent him from ruling the world by destroying it.

While it both was the most expensive animated film ever made at the time and costing $44 million to produce, the film was a box office bomb, grossing only $21.3 million domestically. It was so poorly received that it was not distributed as a home video release for more than a decade after its theatrical run. Adding insult to injury, the film was also beaten at the box office by The Care Bears Movie ($22.9 million domestically), which was released several months earlier by Disney's much-smaller rival animation studio Nelvana. It was also the last Disney animated film completed at Walt Disney Pictures in Burbank, California. The animation department was moved to Glendale in December 1984, and, following corporate restructuring, became a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios known as Walt Disney Feature Animation (later Walt Disney Animation Studios).

This Day in Disney History: Cars (06/09)

Cars is an animated comedy adventure film released on this day in 2006. It was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's final independently produced motion picture before its purchase by Disney. Set in a world populated entirely by anthropomorphic cars and other vehicles, it features the voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman (in his final non-documentary feature), Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, and John Ratzenberger among others. It is also the second Pixar film, after A Bug's Life, to have an entirely non-human cast. The film was accompanied by the short One Man Band for its theatrical and home media releases.