Feature Films Made By Disney TV
Animation Studios
In the late 80s, when Disney started getting into the Saturday morning cartoon market,
there was an unforseen spin-off. Since most of these cartoons were quite popular, the Disney
muckety-mucks decided that movie versions should be rushed into production. That way, kids
would drag their parents to these movies, and Disney could make more money. But, since the
feature animation people already had their plates full, Disney let their TV animation people
make the movies. Therefore, these ones aren't on the official list because they were made by
Disney Television Animation. The official feature films are made by Disney Feature Animation.
DuckTales: The Movie -- Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)
Disney's first Saturday morning product of the late 80s was the first to get the big screen
treatment. In this one, Uncle Scrooge, Huey, Dewey, Louie and the whole DuckTales gang go on
a quest to recover Aladdin's lamp. They get it, and their wishes are granted, but soon they are
pursued by an evil shapeshifting sorcerer who wants the lamp for his own evil purposes. Being a
huge DuckTales fan, the release of this film resulted in a personal quest to someday see this
film; a quest that wasn't resolved until my freshman year of university in 1996.
Trivia Note: Disney tried to distance this film from their official animated films by calling it a
"Movietoon."
A Goofy Movie (1995)
This one is a personal favorite of mine. Goofy's son Max is on the verge of adolescence, and is
thus experiencing all the pain and angst that comes along with it. Just as Max is finally getting
in good with a girl he likes, his dad (that would be Goofy) whisks him away on a summer fishing
trip. To try and impress the aforementioned girl, Max tells her that his dad is taking him to the
Powerline concert in Los Angeles. Will Max tell his dad about his lie? Will father and son learn
to get along? It's Disney, so what do you think? When released in the spring of 1995, this was a
real surprise hit for Disney. Oh, and this was primarily based on the Goof Troop cartoon.
Trivia Note: Yes, that is obviously Pauly Shore doing the voice of one of Max's friends. For
some reason, Shore went uncredited.
Doug's 1st Movie (1999)
Based on Disney's Doug cartoon, this is another one about the pain of adolescence. I've never
seen it, so I'm not sure what it's about. Something about Doug wanting to ask the girl he has a
huge crush on to a dance while he tries to harbor a sea monster.
The Tigger Movie (2000)
Someone once said that snatching up the movie rights to Winnie the Pooh was one of the
smartest things Walt Disney ever did. And boy, was that person right. This time, Tigger gets his
own film, as he starts wondering if there are other tiggers in the world. His friends in the
hundred acre wood try to help him out, but soon Tigger is on a quest looking for more of his
kind. Again, inspiration primarily came from Disney's The New Adventures of Winnie the
Pooh cartoon.
Trivia Note: Richard and Robert Sherman, who wrote the songs for many of Disney's musicals
of the 1960s (they won Oscars for Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book) came out of retirement
to do the songs for this film.
Recess: School's Out (2001)
Based on Disney's Recess cartoon, this has something to do with kids going on summer
vacation, only to discover an evil plot by an evil superintendent to do away with the whole
concept of vacations. I don't know, I saw the trailer in front of The Emperor's New Groove and
I'm trying to remember the plot from that. That, and I don't watch Recess.
Return to NeverLand (2002)
AHH! The completely unneccesarry sequel to Peter Pan! Wendy's all grown up, and is entertaining her children with
stories of Peter Pan and NeverNeverLand. When her kids are abducted by Captain Hook, she
reunites with Peter Pan and goes off to rescue her kids. Not only are they bastardizing a classic,
they're ripping off Hook!
Trivia Note: Originally intended to be straight-to-video, the Disney execs think that this is so
good it just has to go to theaters. I doubt it'll be as cool as the last Disney movie that was going
to be straight-to-video but wound up in theaters: Toy Story 2.
] Other Films | Straight-To-Video Films |
Pixar Films | Henry Selick's Films
| Unknown Films [
The Straight-To-Video Sequels and
Films
Ever wonder how Disney came up with the concept of doing straight-to-video sequels? I
read the story a few years ago. Back in the spring of 1994, Disney was prepping the Aladdin
cartoon to hit the airwaves that fall. They had strung the first five episodes together into a movie
of sorts, and they were going to show it as a special on the Disney Channel. But then, this one
Disney executive had a brainstorm. "Why don't we release it on video?" the executive said.
"We could call it the sequel to Aladdin!" So, that fall, just as the Aladdin cartoon was
premiering, the "sequel," The Return of Jafar, hit video stores. For a while, it held the record for
largest selling video of all time. Disney then felt there was a market for straight-to-video
sequels, and the rest is history. As with the previous list, these don't count as official Disney
animated films because they are made by Disney Television Animation.
I haven't seen a lot of these, so laugh at my pitiful plot descriptions!
The Return of Jafar (1994)
Taking place in the months after Aladdin, we find the Genie returning to our heroes after a
worldwide trip, and Jafar (imprisoned in his own lamp) being discovered by a wimp. Jafar then
uses the wimp and the wimp's wishes to have his revenge on Aladdin and all the other characters
from Aladdin. Iago the Parrot defects to the side of our heroes, and Jafar is again defeated,
paving the way for all kinds of weekly Aladdin adventures.
Gargoyles the Movie: Our Heroes Awaken (1995)
It's the 5-part premiere of Gargoyles, edited together into a movie! I love this show. "Stone by
day. Warriors by night. We were betrayed by the humans we had sworn to protect, frozen in
stone by a magic spell for a thousand years. Now, here in Manhattan, the spell is broken, and we
live again!" This shows you the betrayal, the freezing, and the awakening in New York. Truly
Disney TV animation's finest hour.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
Disney's first full-blown sequel (i.e. not a bunch of TV episodes strung together) is the end of
the whole Aladdin saga. As Aladdin and Jasmine are finally about to get married, the wedding is
raided by the infamous 40 Thieves. Aladdin goes in pursuit, only to make a startling discovery:
the leader of the 40 Thieves is...his long-lost father! Will father and son reunite, or will factions
within the 40 Thieves again drive them apart? I really only saw this for one reason: Robin
Williams returning to the role of the Genie.
Trivia Note: The song sung by the street merchant at the end of the film is actually a rejected
song from the first, theatrical film.
Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997)
A return to the Winnie the Pooh well! I don't know what this one is about; something about
Christopher Robin going to school. With the hundred acre wood abandoned, Winnie and
company then go looking for him.
Mighty Ducks the Movie: The Face Off (1997)
The five part pilot episode of Disney's Mighty Ducks cartoon! We meet a group of spacefaring
warrior ducks who trace their arch-enemies, dragons, to Earth. Taking the guise of a hockey
team, these ducks then use a variety of hockey-based weapons to protect the Earth.
Trivia Note: Let me quote the closing credits: "Made with the complete cooperation of the
NHL."
Belle's Magical World (1997)
I have no clue what this one is about. From what I can gather, it's a collection of short films
focusing on Belle's adventures in Beast's castle, as she helps out some of those walking, talking,
household appliances. My personal hunch is it was a failed pilot for a Beauty and the Beast
cartoon.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Taking place in the middle of Beauty and the Beast, this follows Belle's adventures during her
Christmas with Beast, as she tries to reach out to him with the spirit of the holidays. The villain
this time around is the castle's composer, who was turned into a pipe organ, as he tries to
manipulate Beast with his music. I'd like to see this one someday, if only because Belle is my
favorite Disney animated princess.
Trivia Note: The first product of Disney TV Animation's Vancouver studio. The studio was
closed two years later due to studio cutbacks. And I'm glad they changed the name. It was
originally going to be called Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Belle.
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)
Pocahontas goes off to England in search of John Smith, and to prevent war between her people
and the English. Or something like that. Like I said, I haven't seen a lot of these.
Trivia Note: Disney couldn't get Mel Gibson to come back as John Smith's voice, so they got
Donal Gibson, Mel's brother. Donal Gibson also voiced Ray Tracer, the Web Surfer, on season
3 of ReBoot.
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)
For this Lion King sequel, we follow the trials and tribulations of Simba's daughter, as he raises
her to be queen someday. But, it turns out her best friend is the long-lost son of Scar, who's
being raised to succeed where his father failed. Will the power of friendship save the day? I
don't really care.
Belle's Tales of Friendship (1999)
Not even the IMDb has a lot of info on this one. Just more
"episodes" of the Beauty and the Beast cartoon, methinks.
Hercules: Zero To Hero (1999)
I have no clue whatsoever what the plot to this one is, but I'm pretty sure it's just a bunch of
episodes of the Hercules cartoon strung together.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
It's a warm, fuzzy Christmas movie featuring those classic Disney characters! Really a
collection of three short films, as we experience Mickey's Christmas, then Donald's, then
Goofy's.
Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)
Released the same time as Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, this takes us on a journey through
Christmas in the hundred acre wood. According to my research, this is just a bunch of holiday
episodes of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh strung together.
An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)
Dudes! It's the straight-to-video sequel to A Goofy Movie! Taking place some years later, Max
is heading off to college, thus giving his dad Goofy a touch of the empty nest syndrome. So,
what does Goofy do? Decide to head back to school, and embarrass his son in all sorts of
college courses!
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)
Ariel and Eric are in the throes of living happily ever after, and have been blessed with a
daughter: Melody. Enamored with her mother's tales of life under the sea, Melody turns herself
into a mermaid. This makes her prey to Ursula's vengeful sister. So, Ariel has to return to her
mermaid roots to rescue her daughter. Or something like that.
Trivia Note: Hey! One of my favorite voice artists does the voice of Melody! Her name is Tara
Strong, and she was also the voice of Batgirl on Batman: The Animated Series, and can currently
be heard as Bubbles on The Powerpuff Girls.
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
The first five episodes of the Buzz Lightyear cartoon get strung together into a movie! Notable
only in that Tim Allen was wooed back to voice Buzz. On the regular series, Buzz is voiced by
Patrick Warburton, who'll soon be seen as The Tick.
Trivia Note: Pixar, co-producers of this cartoon, prepared a special introduction for this film
featuring the Toy Story cast. In fact, the idea for a conventional animation Buzz Lightyear
cartoon began way back in the early drafts of the Toy Story script. The original opening of Toy
Story was to feature Andy and Woody watching the Buzz Lightyear cartoon, but the idea was
scrapped.
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001)
Disney begins going farther back than ten years for straight-to-video sequel ideas. Here, we
meet Scamp, the son of Lady and Tramp. Enamored with his father's stories of life on the
streets, Scamp runs away from home to become a tough street dog. On the streets, he finds love,
and learns that a Jedi does not crave adventure and excitement.
Trivia Note: According to my mother, inspiration from this came from a Scamp comic strip that
Disney ran in the 1960s.
What's next? Well, while researching this list, I learned that Disney's working on The
Hunchback of Notre Dame II, 101 Dalmatians II, Tarzan II, Mulan II, Dumbo II, The Jungle
Book II, Cinderella II, Bambi II, and even Lion King III. As for original works, the idea of a Three Musketeers starring
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy has been tossed around. And who knows what other 5-part openings
to TV shows will get strung together into films?
] Other Films | Straight-To-Video Films |
Pixar Films | Henry Selick's Films
| Unknown Films [
Pixar's Movies
Pixar has been, and always will be, an animation studio completely independent of Disney. All
Disney really does is buy their movies off of them and stick them in theaters. Actually,
according to my Toy Story DVD, this is how the whole Pixar/Disney alliance began. Back in the
late 1980s, Pixar was developing the CAPS system for Disney. (This is the system in which cels
are colored in a computer, then cut-and-pasted onto the scanned-in background. Don't forget,
besides making movies, Pixar is a viable software company, too.) Also in the late 1980s was
when Pixar started winning Oscars for their computer animated short films. So, Disney said,
"Hey Pixar! Why aren't you making movies for us?" So, in 1991, there was a meeting between
Pixar and Disney, in which Pixar pitched the idea of movie where toys are alive, and a cowboy
doll and an astronaut action figure go on an odyssey to find their owner. Disney liked the idea,
and the rest is history.
Toy Story (1995)
The first computer animated movie ever! We meet Woody, a cowboy doll and Andy's favorite
toy. But then, Andy gets a brand new Buzz Lightyear action figure, and it seems the Woody is
being replaced. But, when the two are lost together, they must put aside their differences and go
find Andy! I'm sure you already knew that, though.
Trivia Note: Because it was the first computer animated movie ever, Toy Story director John
Lasetter won a special achievement Oscar.
A Bug's Life (1998)
Another of my personal favorites. When an ant colony is threatened by a gang of grasshoppers,
one lone ant, Flick, sets out to recruit warrior bugs to protect them. But, he unwittingly gets a
circus troupe instead! This one just rocks. Heh heh. "But it's a rock."
Trivia Note: Be sure to stay tuned into the end credits to catch the bloopers! I have an
interesting story about the bloopers, I'll be sure to put it in a column someday.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Pixar's first ever sequel! Andy's off at summer camp, and Woody gets kidnaped by an evil toy
collector! It's up to Buzz and the rest of Andy's toys to mount a rescue mission. I must agree
with Leonard Maltin here: "One of the few sequels to actually top the original."
Trivia Note: Originally intended to be straight-to-video, but Disney thought it was so good they
put it in theaters. And we're glad they did!
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Pixar's next takes us to the other side; into the world of monsters. Here, we find that kids are a
vital part of the economy, as their screams are the energy source of the monster universe. But,
children themselves are toxic to monsters, so all kinds of hilarity ensues when a little girl gets
stuck in the monster universe.
Trivia Note: Don't have any yet.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Check it out! A movie about fish! Here, we follow the exploits of a clownfish who sets out into
the ocean for the first time to find Nemo, his missing son.
Trivia Note: This is going to be the solo directorial debut for Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote all
of Pixar's films to date, and was co-director of A Bug's Life.
And what does Pixar have lined up next? Well, John Lasetter, the man behind the Toy Story
films and A Bug's Life, is working on his next original idea. Plus, Brad Bird, director of my all-time favorite movie The Iron Giant, is also working on his next original
idea with Pixar. Oh, and Disney's really turning up the heat to get them to make
Toy Story 3.
] Other Films | Straight-To-Video Films |
Pixar Films | Henry Selick's Films
| Unknown Films [
The Stop-Motion Animated Films of Henry Selick
I had to include these because they're personal favorites. Oh, and these don't count because,
they were made by a different arm of Disney.
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Dude, I love this one! We follow the adventures of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween, as
he desires to do something different. So, he decides to use his skills to do Christmas, and what
follows is the most bizarre mixing of holidays ever.
Trivia Note: Tim Burton sold this idea to Disney when he was one of their animators way back
in the early 1980s! It wasn't until Burton became a superstar director that Disney finally decided
to make it. Since Burton was too busy to direct it himself, he turned directing duties over to
stop-motion genius Henry Selick. Oh, and when Disney feared that it would be too scary for
kids, the decided to release it through their Touchstone Pictures subsidiary.
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Roald Dahl's classic tale comes to life, as we follow the adventures of James and all the giant
bugs he meets inside a giant peach. Wanting to flee from his evil aunts, James and the bugs take
flight in the giant peach and set course for New York City.
Trivia Note: Tim Burton was involved in this film, too, but only as a producer. Hollywood had
been trying to make a movie version of this for years, but Dahl kept turning Hollywood down.
Dahl thought it would be too ridiculous as a live-action movie, and watered down too much if
done as an animated film. Doing it like this, though, was proposed to him before his death in
1990, and he said, "It could work."
Not much new is happening on this list, as Selick and Disney parted ways after James and the
Giant Peach. Selick is freelance, now, with his latest movie, Monkeybone, not doing so well at
the box office.
] Other Films | Straight-To-Video Films |
Pixar Films | Henry Selick's Films
| Unknown Films [
The Ones That I Just Don't Know Where To Put
The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
This one follows the adventures of a bunch of household appliances as they go on an odyssey to
find their human master. I've seen it a few times, and it's kind of cute. It confuses me because
it was released by Disney, but it came out in 1987. Their TV animation unit had just started, so
this film couldn't have been made by them. I'm guessing that, just like the Pixar films, this one
came about by a Disney partnership with another animation studio.
The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars (1998)
The straight-to-video sequel to Brave Little Toaster! I've never seen it, don't intend to, and
therefore have no clue as to what it's about. I don't know why it's down here. It should
rightfully be up on the straight-to-video list. But, since I put the first one down here, I thought
I'd put this one down here, too.
The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue (1999)
More of that wacky toaster. This one just about got left
off the list until I discovered it hiding at the back of the
video store.
Dinosaur (2000)
Or, The Dino King, as it does come across a bit like a little movie about a little lion. We follow
the adventure of an iguanodon, who's raised by lemurs, and is reunited with his own kind when a
meteor hits the Earth, and they begin a trek to the only unaffected land they know of. This is
how it confuses me. All the characters are computer animated, courtesy of Walt Disney Feature
Animation. But, all the backgrounds are live-action, filmed by Walt Disney Pictures. So, is it a
live-action film with computer animated special effects, or an animated film with live-action
backgrounds? Or, is it some hybrid, a new beast to start a new list?
] Other Films | Straight-To-Video Films |
Pixar Films | Henry Selick's Films
| Unknown Films [
And then who knows what the future might hold...?