99 Fun Facts About Disney Movies

What was the first full-length animated feature film produced by Walt Disney?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature and the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history.

Which Disney character was originally going to be named 'Mortimer'?

Walt Disney originally wanted to name Mickey Mouse 'Mortimer Mouse,' but his wife Lillian convinced him that Mickey sounded better. The name Mortimer was later used for Mickey's rival.

In 'The Lion King' (1994), what is the name of Simba's mother?

Sarabi, voiced by Madge Sinclair, is Simba's mother and Mufasa's queen in The Lion King (1994); she leads the pride's lionesses on the hunt.

Which Pixar short film, shown before 'The Incredibles,' features a sheep that gets sheared?

Boundin' (2003) is a Pixar short about a dancing sheep who loses confidence after being sheared, but is taught by a jackalope to keep bouncing back. It was shown before The Incredibles in theaters.

What is the name of the villain in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'?

Ursula is the sea witch villain in The Little Mermaid (1989). She was voiced by Pat Carroll and was inspired by the drag queen Divine.

Which Disney Renaissance film features the song 'A Whole New World'?

'A Whole New World' from Aladdin (1992) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was performed by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga as the singing voices of Aladdin and Jasmine.

Who voiced Woody in the 'Toy Story' franchise?

Tom Hanks has voiced Woody since the original Toy Story (1995). His brother Jim Hanks voices the character in many video games and merchandise.

What year did Disneyland open in Anaheim, California?

Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955. The opening day was famously chaotic, with counterfeit tickets, melting asphalt, and plumbing problems, leading Walt Disney to call it 'Black Sunday.'

In 'Frozen,' what is the name of the kingdom where Elsa and Anna live?

Arendelle is the fictional Scandinavian kingdom in Frozen. It was inspired by the real Norwegian town of Arendal and the fjords of western Norway.

Which Disney film was the first animated feature up for the Best Picture Academy Award?

Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the first animated film ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, before the Best Animated Feature category existed.

What is the name of the clownfish father in 'Finding Nemo' who searches for his son?

Marlin is Nemo's overprotective father who embarks on an epic ocean journey to find his son after Nemo is captured by a scuba diver. He is voiced by Albert Brooks.

Which actress voiced Elsa in Disney's 'Frozen'?

Idina Menzel voiced Elsa and performed the mega-hit 'Let It Go.' Kristen Bell voiced Elsa's sister Anna.

Disney paid about $7.4 billion in stock for Pixar Animation Studios in which year?

The all-stock deal, agreed on January 24, 2006, valued Pixar at about $7.4 billion and made Steve Jobs Disney's largest individual shareholder.

What is the name of Moana's pet pig?

Pua is Moana's pet pig in Moana (2016); he stays home on Motunui while the dim-witted rooster Heihei stows away on her voyage.

Which Disney Princess was the first to be based on a real historical figure?

Pocahontas (1995) was based on the real historical figure Pocahontas (c. 1596-1617), a Native American woman of the Powhatan people. Mulan (1998) was based on a legendary figure from a Chinese poem.

In 'Moana,' what is the name of the demigod voiced by Dwayne Johnson?

Maui is the shapeshifting demigod who accompanies Moana on her journey. Dwayne Johnson also performed the song 'You're Welcome' for the character.

What was the first Pixar film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature?

Finding Nemo (2003) was the first Pixar film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The category itself was first awarded in 2002, when Shrek won.

Which Disney villain has a pet raven named Diablo?

In Sleeping Beauty (1959) the raven does her scouting and spying.

In 'Coco' (2017), what is the name of the holiday that inspires the film's setting?

Coco is set during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday where families honor deceased loved ones. The Pixar team spent years researching Mexican culture for the film.

Which Disney animated film features a character named 'Baymax'?

Baymax is the inflatable healthcare companion robot in Big Hero 6 (2014). The film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name.

Who composed the orchestral score for 'The Lion King' (1994)?

Hans Zimmer composed The Lion King's score and won the Oscar for it; he was hired on the strength of his African-set scores for A World Apart and The Power of One. Elton John and Tim Rice wrote the songs.

In 'Tangled', the magic flower Mother Gothel uses to stay young grew from what?

In Tangled (2010) the golden flower grew from a drop of sunlight that fell to earth; the king's soldiers dig it up to heal the ailing pregnant queen, and its power passes into Rapunzel's hair.

Which Pixar film takes place primarily inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl?

Inside Out (2015) takes place inside the mind of Riley Andersen, depicting her emotions -- Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust -- as characters navigating Headquarters.

In 'Zootopia,' what species is the main character Judy Hopps?

Judy Hopps is a rabbit who becomes the first bunny officer in the Zootopia Police Department. The film uses animal species as an allegory for prejudice and stereotyping.

What is Prince Eric's sheepdog called in 'The Little Mermaid'?

Max is Prince Eric's Old English sheepdog in The Little Mermaid (1989); he is the first to recognise Ariel as the girl who rescued Eric, and Frank Welker voiced him uncredited.

Robin Williams famously ad-libbed much of his dialogue as which Disney character?

Williams was handed topics and let loose, improvising an estimated 52 different characters; the directors had written the Genie for him and pitched it by animating one of his stand-up routines.

Which Disney princess keeps a pet tiger named Rajah?

Rajah is Princess Jasmine's pet tiger in Aladdin (1992); he guards her in the Agrabah palace and chases off the suitors she rejects.

'When You Wish Upon a Star', the Oscar-winning song that became the Disney company's anthem, originates in which animated film?

Pinocchio (1940) gave the song to Jiminy Cricket; it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became the Disney company's anthem.

Which Disney live-action remake grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide in 2019?

The Lion King (2019), Jon Favreau's photorealistic remake, grossed about $1.66 billion worldwide, the second-highest total of 2019 behind Avengers: Endgame.

What is the name of the kingdom in 'Tangled'?

The kingdom of Corona is where Rapunzel is the lost princess in Tangled (2010). The name predates the COVID-19 pandemic by a decade, leading to many internet memes in 2020.

Which Pixar film features the character 'Remy,' a rat who dreams of becoming a chef?

Remy is the protagonist of Ratatouille (2007), a rat with an extraordinary sense of taste and smell who partners with a garbage boy named Linguini to cook at a Parisian restaurant.

In 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), who places the curse on the prince?

An enchantress disguised as an old beggar woman curses the prince after he refuses her shelter in exchange for a rose; the enchanted rose she offered becomes the countdown for breaking the spell.

Which Disney film's development was originally code-named 'Kingdom of the Sun'?

The Emperor's New Groove (2000) was originally a serious epic musical called 'Kingdom of the Sun.' After production troubles, it was reworked into the comedy we know today. The transformation was documented in the film 'The Sweatbox.'

What is WALL-E's primary directive in the Pixar film 'WALL-E'?

WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class) was designed to compact trash on an abandoned, garbage-covered Earth. He has been performing this task alone for 700 years when the film begins.

Which Disney film features the song 'Under the Sea'?

'Under the Sea' from The Little Mermaid (1989) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and performed by Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian.

In Disney's Encanto, what is the name of the sentient magical house, created by the miracle candle, that shelters the Madrigal family?

Casita, Spanish for 'little house', has a personality of its own and helps the family with daily tasks; the candle Alma carries created it in a realm ringed by mountains.

Which Disney film is kept off US home video and Disney+ over its racial stereotypes?

Its romanticised picture of plantation life has kept the 1946 film off US home video and Disney+; only the song 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' stays in circulation.

Dory, the forgetful sidekick of Finding Nemo and star of Finding Dory, is what kind of fish?

Dory is a regal Blue Tang, and after Finding Nemo conservationists warned the films could drive uninformed demand for blue tangs as pets.

Which song from 'Encanto' reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100?

'We Don't Talk About Bruno' by Lin-Manuel Miranda became a cultural phenomenon, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 -- the first Disney song to do so since 'A Whole New World' in 1993.

In 'Toy Story 2,' what is the name of the toy collector who steals Woody?

Al McWhiggin, owner of Al's Toy Barn, steals Woody to sell him as part of a rare Woody's Roundup collection to a toy museum in Japan.

Which Disney Renaissance film follows a woman who joins the army disguised as a man?

Mulan (1998) is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan from the Ballad of Mulan, about a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her father's place in the army.

What is the name of the pub in 'Tangled' where the thugs sing about their dreams?

The Snuggly Duckling is the thugs' tavern in Tangled (2010); Flynn drags Rapunzel there to scare her home, but she charms the thugs into confessing their softer sides in 'I've Got a Dream'.

Which 2020 Pixar film follows jazz musician Joe Gardner into the 'Great Before', the realm where personalities are formed before birth?

Soul's Joe Gardner, unwilling to die, tries to escape and lands in the 'Great Before' (the You Seminar), where new souls develop their personalities and interests before going to Earth.

In 'Lilo & Stitch,' what is Stitch's experiment number?

Stitch is Experiment 626, a genetic experiment created by Dr. Jumba Jookiba. He was designed to be a weapon of mass destruction but finds a family in Hawaii instead.

Which Disney animated film pioneered the 'Deep Canvas' technology for 3D backgrounds?

Tarzan (1999) pioneered Disney's 'Deep Canvas' technology, which rendered 3D backgrounds that looked like paintings. This allowed for dynamic camera movements through the jungle environment.

Who gave voice to both Darth Vader and Mufasa?

James Earl Jones voiced a Sith lord and, in 1994, the king of the Pride Lands, and returned as Mufasa for the 2019 remake.

Which Disney film features the villain Dr. Facilier?

Dr. Facilier, the voodoo 'Shadow Man' voiced by Keith David, is the villain of The Princess and the Frog (2009), set in 1920s New Orleans.

Who is the villain of Disney's 'The Great Mouse Detective' (1986)?

Professor Ratigan, voiced by Vincent Price, is the main villain of The Great Mouse Detective (1986). He despises being called a rat despite clearly being one, insisting he is a 'big mouse.'

Which film was Disney Animation's last traditionally hand-drawn feature of the 2010s?

Winnie the Pooh (2011), directed by Stephen Anderson and Don Hall, was Walt Disney Animation's only hand-drawn feature of the 2010s, made largely by the crew from The Princess and the Frog (2009).

In 'Monsters, Inc.,' what is the name of the little girl who enters the monster world?

Boo (whose real name is Mary) is the toddler who accidentally enters the monster world through her closet door. Her bond with Sulley drives the emotional core of the film.

In Dumbo (1941), what kind of animal is Timothy, the young elephant's only friend?

At 64 minutes, Dumbo is one of the studio's shortest animated features, and the mouse-elephant friendship deliberately parodies the old idea that elephants fear mice.

In Bambi, what kind of animal is Flower?

The young skunk got his name because Bambi mistakenly called him 'Flower', and he was so flattered he kept it.

In Cinderella (1950), what is the name of the stepmother's pet cat?

Lucifer is Lady Tremaine's pampered black cat in Cinderella (1950); the mice Jaq and Gus spend the film dodging him until Cinderella's bloodhound Bruno chases him from the house.

Sleeping Beauty (1959) was the first animated film shot in which widescreen process?

Sleeping Beauty (1959) was photographed in Super Technirama 70, the first animated feature in that large-format widescreen process; Eyvind Earle's tapestry-like backgrounds were designed to fill the wide frame.

Which 1955 Disney film was the first animated feature filmed in CinemaScope?

Lady and the Tramp (1955) was the first animated feature filmed in CinemaScope; Peggy Lee co-wrote its songs with Sonny Burke and voiced Darling, Peg and the Siamese cats.

Which 1961 Disney feature cut costs by using xerography to copy drawings onto cels?

101 Dalmatians (1961) cut costs with xerography: Ub Iwerks adapted a Xerox camera so animators' pencil lines went straight onto cels, which gives the film its scratchy, sketchy look.

Which film was the last animated feature produced by Walt Disney himself?

The Jungle Book (1967) was the last animated feature Walt Disney personally produced; he died in December 1966 during production. Louis Prima voiced King Louie, the orangutan who wants the secret of fire.

In The Aristocats, what is the name of the butler who plots to get rid of the cats?

Edgar schemes after overhearing that Madame's fortune goes to the cats first and only reverts to him after they die.

What kind of animal is Robin Hood in Disney's 1973 animated version?

A fox, because the idea traces back to Walt's 1930s interest in the medieval fable of Reynard the Fox, which eventually merged with the Robin Hood legend.

Bob Newhart voiced which mouse in The Rescuers (1977)?

Bernard and Bianca work for the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organization from Margery Sharp's novels, on a case to free an orphan named Penny.

Mickey Rooney and Kurt Russell voiced Tod and Copper in which 1981 Disney film?

The Fox and the Hound (1981) adapts Daniel P. Mannix's novel; Mickey Rooney voiced the adult Tod and Kurt Russell the adult Copper, and it was Jack Albertson's final film role.

Which 1985 film was the first Disney animated feature to receive a PG rating?

The Black Cauldron (1985), loosely adapted from the first two Chronicles of Prydain novels, was the first Disney animated feature rated PG; its grim Horned King and undead army drove the rating.

Which singer voiced Dodger, the laid-back Jack Russell terrier, in Disney's 1988 New York take on Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company?

Billy Joel's Dodger leads Fagin's gang, reimagined as dogs in 1980s New York, with Bette Midler as a pampered poodle.

In the 1989 film about Ariel, what kind of bird is Scuttle, the expert on human things?

Scuttle is a seagull in The Little Mermaid (1989), voiced by Buddy Hackett; his 'expertise' on human things includes calling a fork a dinglehopper.

Which Law & Order actor voiced Lumière, the candelabra in the Beast's castle?

Jerry Orbach, Law & Order's Lennie Briscoe, voiced Lumière in Beauty and the Beast (1991), alongside Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts and David Ogden Stiers as the clock Cogsworth.

Which comedian voiced Iago, Jafar's hot-tempered bird sidekick, in 1992?

Gilbert Gottfried voiced Iago, Jafar's parrot, in Aladdin (1992); his squawking delivery became so identified with the role that he reprised it in The Return of Jafar, the TV series and later games.

In the 1994 film about Simba, what kind of primate is the shaman Rafiki?

Rafiki is a mandrill, with that species' red-and-blue face; The Lion King (1994) drew its plot from Shakespeare's Hamlet, with Jeremy Irons voicing the scheming uncle Scar.

Which action star voiced Captain John Smith in Disney's 1995 animated film?

Mel Gibson voiced Captain John Smith in Pocahontas (1995); Irene Bedard voiced the title heroine, and Alan Menken wrote the songs with lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Quasimodo's only companions are a trio of what?

Quasimodo's only companions are three gargoyles, Victor, Hugo and Laverne, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996); Tony Jay voiced Judge Claude Frollo, and the story loosely follows Victor Hugo's 1831 novel.

Who voiced Hades, ruler of the Underworld, in Hercules (1997)?

James Woods voiced Hades, the fast-talking lord of the Underworld, in Hercules (1997); Danny DeVito played Philoctetes, the satyr trainer who once coached Achilles.

Eddie Murphy voiced which small red dragon, a disgraced family guardian, in 1998?

Mushu, voiced by Eddie Murphy, is the pint-sized dragon demoted to gong-ringer in Mulan (1998); Jackie Chan voiced Captain Li Shang in the film's Chinese-language dubs.

Which musician wrote and sang the songs for Disney's 1999 film about a man raised by gorillas?

Phil Collins wrote and performed the songs for Tarzan (1999); his 'You'll Be in My Heart' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Who conducted the classical music heard in Fantasia (1940)?

Leopold Stokowski conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra for Fantasia (1940); its Fantasound system, developed with RCA, made it the first commercial film released in stereophonic sound.

In Fantasia, the demon Chernabog summons spirits in a segment set to which piece?

Chernabog rises in Fantasia's 'Night on Bald Mountain' segment, set to Mussorgsky's tone poem, which flows straight into Schubert's 'Ave Maria' as dawn breaks over the mountain.

Who constructed the Atlantean language for Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)?

Okrand is best known for inventing Klingon; the film's angular look came from comic-book artist Mike Mignola.

Lilo & Stitch (2002) is set on which Hawaiian island?

Lilo & Stitch (2002) is set in a fictional town on Kauai; the soundtrack leans heavily on Elvis Presley songs, and its watercolor backgrounds were a nod to early Disney features.

Who voiced Jim Hawkins in Disney's 'Treasure Planet' (2002)?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt voiced Jim Hawkins in Treasure Planet (2002), alongside Brian Murray as the cyborg cook John Silver and Emma Thompson as Captain Amelia.

Joaquin Phoenix voiced Kenai, the Native Alaskan boy of which 2003 Disney film?

Brother Bear (2003) turns Kenai into the animal he hunted; he receives the bear of love as his totem while his brothers get the eagle of guidance and the wolf of wisdom.

Which 2005 film was Disney Animation's first fully computer-animated feature?

Chicken Little (2005) was Walt Disney Animation Studios' first fully computer-animated feature; Dinosaur (2000) had placed CG characters on live-action backgrounds.

In Bolt (2008), what kind of animal is Rhino, the TV-obsessed superfan?

Rhino is a hamster who rolls everywhere in a plastic ball in Bolt (2008); John Travolta voiced Bolt, a dog convinced his TV superpowers are real, with Miley Cyrus as his owner Penny.

In Peter Pan (1953), Hans Conried voiced Captain Hook and which other character?

Hans Conried voiced both Captain Hook and George Darling in Peter Pan (1953), following the stage tradition of doubling the two roles; Bill Thompson voiced Mr. Smee.

In Strange World (2022), the Clade family sets out to save which miracle plant?

The land of Avalonia is walled in by an endless ring of mountains, and Pando is its only source of energy.

Frozen (2013) was loosely inspired by which Hans Christian Andersen tale?

Frozen (2013) loosely adapts Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' (1844), recasting the icy queen as the sympathetic Elsa; it grossed over $1.28 billion worldwide.

In Frozen II, the fire spirit Elsa befriends is what kind of creature?

The fire spirit Bruni is a salamander, tiny and blue, in Frozen II (2019); the sequel sends the sisters into the Enchanted Forest, homeland of the Northuldra people.

Which pop star voiced Gazelle and sang 'Try Everything' in Zootopia (2016)?

Sia and Stargate actually wrote the song; Shakira only performed it and voiced the pop-star gazelle.

In 2006 Disney regained Oswald the Lucky Rabbit by trading which sportscaster to NBC?

Disney got Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back from NBCUniversal in 2006 by releasing sportscaster Al Michaels from his ABC/ESPN contract; Walt had lost Oswald in 1928 and created Mickey as a replacement.

Who voiced Sisu, the last dragon, in Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)?

Awkwafina voiced Sisu, the last dragon, in Raya and the Last Dragon (2021); Kelly Marie Tran replaced the originally announced Cassie Steele as Raya during production.

The magical Madrigal family of Encanto lives in which country?

Colombia is home to the Madrigals' Encanto, where every family member but Mirabel receives a magical gift, which is exactly why she ends up saving them.

Which actor voiced the sorcerer-king Magnifico in Wish (2023)?

Chris Pine voiced King Magnifico in Wish (2023), a film made for Disney's centennial that serves as an origin story for the wishing star; Ariana DeBose voiced Asha.

Who directed Toy Story (1995), the first entirely computer-animated feature film?

John Lasseter directed Toy Story (1995), Pixar's first feature; Joss Whedon was among the screenwriters and Randy Newman wrote the score and songs.

Who voiced the superhero costume designer Edna Mode in The Incredibles (2004)?

Bird also wrote and directed the film, which is set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1960s.

Which Oscar-winning actor voiced Doc Hudson, the 1951 Hudson Hornet, in Cars (2006)?

Newman was a serious racing driver himself; the town of Radiator Springs sits on a forgotten stretch of Route 66.

In Up (2009), what does Russell name the giant flightless bird he befriends?

Russell names the bird Kevin in Up (2009), though 'he' turns out to be a mother with chicks; the film opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Which Pixar film was the studio's first with a female protagonist?

Brave (2012) gave Pixar its first female protagonist, Merida, who also became the first Disney Princess created by Pixar; the film was originally titled The Bear and the Bow.

Which was the first animated film to gross $1 billion at the worldwide box office?

Toy Story 3 (2010) was the first animated film to pass $1 billion worldwide; Andy's toys end up at Sunnyside Daycare, run by the strawberry-scented bear Lotso.

In Coco (2017), Miguel's dog Dante is what breed?

Dante is a Xoloitzcuintle, the hairless Mexican dog breed, in Coco (2017); in the Land of the Dead he and the cat Pepita appear as alebrijes, brightly colored spirit guides.

In Domee Shi's 2022 Pixar film, 13-year-old Mei transforms into which animal?

A red panda, thanks to a hereditary curse; Shi, who previously made the short Bao, based Turning Red on growing up in Toronto.

Maya Hawke voiced which new emotion in Pixar's 2024 sequel set inside Riley's mind?

Maya Hawke voiced Anxiety, the frazzled orange newcomer in Inside Out 2 (2024); the film grossed about $1.7 billion, the highest-grossing film of 2024 worldwide.

Which of the seven dwarfs communicates only through sounds and pantomime?

Dopey, the youngest dwarf, never speaks a word in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937); Walt Disney received an honorary Oscar for the film: one full-size statuette plus seven miniature ones.