Disney Classics Cartoon Canon Index

These are the animated films that make up the official oeuvre of the Walt Disney studios, or what is often referred to as the official Disney Classics Cartoon Canon Index. There may be some films that you may not consider animated that are on this list, and conversely there may be many films you instantly associate with Disney that are not considered part of the animated Disney film list. But for whatever reason, this is the list. Do you think Mary Poppins, Pete’s Dragon or even Victory Through Air Power should be on the list? You are not alone… and you would be wrong. Not enough animation. Heck, even the now-classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit doesn’t make the list!

What Films Are On The Disney Animated Film List?

Then there is Dinosaur on the list- most people have not even seen that one. And yet it was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, the division of Disney that makes the official films. Contrast that to Toon Disney or other sub divisions that make animated films- even feature-length and theatrically-released films like Return To Never Land and Planes– and those don’t count. Sort of confusing, isn’t it.

Thus this list. One place to come to to see all the official Disney animated films in one place. If you want to see all the Disney animated films- chronologically- just head over to the Disney Studio page at BCDB. That’s Toon Disney and WDFA… and a LOT of other stuff. But for the purists, here are the official Disney Feature Animated Films….

Disney Classics Cartoon Canon Index

#	Picture	Title	Release Date	Director	Writer	DVD	Blu-ray
The Disney Classic Animated Films Era These are the classic films that started it all. Walt Disney hand-crafted each of these with his personal vision of what he wanted. Each film seems to take huge steps forward in the art, from the opening multiplane shot of Pinocchio to the naturalism of Bambi.
1		Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs	December 21, 1937	David Hand. Sequence Directors: Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Ben Sharpsteen	Dorothy Ann Blank, Richard Creedon, Merrill De Maris, Otto Englander, Earl Hurd, Dick Rickard, Ted Sears, Webb Smith
2		Pinocchio	February 7, 1940	Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton S. Luske.	Ted Sears, Otto Englander, Webb Smith, William Cottrell, Joseph Sabo, Erdman Penner, Aurelius Battaglia. Based on the Original Serial By: Carlo Lorenzini (Collodi).
3		Fantasia	November 13, 1940	Ben Sharpsteen. Sequence Directors: Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Nutcracker Suite: Sam Armstrong (as Samuel Armstrong). The Sorcerers Apprentice: James Algar. The Rite of Spring: Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield. Pastoral Symphony: Hamilton S. Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe. Dance of the Hours: T. Hee, Norm Ferguson. A Night on Bald Mountain: Wilfred Jackson.	Orchestral Sequence: Joe Grant, Dick Huemer. Toccata in D Minor Sequence: Lee Blair, Elmer Plummer, Phil Dike. The Nutcracker Suite Sequence: Sylvia Moberly-Holland, Norman Wright, Albert Heath, Bianca Majolie, Graham Heid. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Sequence: Perce Pearce, Carl Fallberg. Rite of Spring Sequence: William Martin, Leo Thiele, Robert Sterner, John McLeish. Pastoral Symphony Sequence: Otto Englander, Webb Smith, Erdman Penner, Joseph Sabo, Bill Peet, Vernon Stallings. Bald Mountain/Ave Maria Sequence: Campbell Grant, Arthur Heinemann, Phil Dike
4		Dumbo	October 23, 1941	Ben Sharpsteen	Joe Grant, Dick Huemer
5		Bambi	August 13, 1942	David D. Hand	Story Director: Perce Pearce. Story Adaption: Larry Morey. Story Development: Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright. Original Novel: Felix Salten
The Disney Anthology Film Era After World War II, audiences decline and income from films had fallen, and Disney needed to produce films on a tighter budget. These next films helped control costs by combining shorter segments into one film. Many of these films also combined live-action with animation (There are other films made during this period that do not make the list because they are predominately live-action, such as Song of the South.)
6		Saludos Amigos	February 6, 1943	Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske (as Hamilton S. Luske), Wilfred Jackson	Homer Brightman, Ralph Wright, Roy Williams, Harry Reeves, Ted Sears, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant
7		The Three Caballeros	February 3, 1945	Norm Ferguson (as Norman Ferguson). South American Director: Harold Young	Homer Brightman, Ernest Terrazas, Ted Sears, Bill Peet (misspelled Peed), Ralph Wright, Elmer Plummer, Roy Williams, William Cottrell, Del Connell, James Bodrero
8		Make Mine Music	April 20, 1946	Jack Kinney (Casey at the Bat), Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske (as Hamilton S. Luske), Bob Cormack, Josh Meador, Joe Grant	Homer Brightman (Casey at the Bat), Dick Huemer (Peter, the Wolf), Dick Kinney, John Wallbridge, Tom Oreb, Dick Shaw, Eric Gurney (Peter, the Wolf, Casey at the Bat), Sylvia Holland, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, Dick Kelsey, Jim Bodrero, Roy Williams, Cap Palmer, Jesse Marsh, Erwin Graham
9		Fun & Fancy Free	September 27, 1947	Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske (as Hamilton S. Luske), Bill Roberts	Homer Brightman, Harry Reeves, Ted Sears, Lance Nolley, Eldon Dedini, Tom Oreb. Bongo Based On a Book by: Sinclair Lewis
10		Melody Time	May 27, 1948	Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney	Winston Hibler, Erdman Penner, Harry Reeves, Homer Brightman, Ken Anderson, Ted Sears, Joe Rinaldi, William Cottrell (as Bill Cottrell), Art Scott, Jesse Marsh, Bob Moore, John Wallbridge. Book, “Little Toot“: Hardie Gramatky
11		The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mister Toad	October 5, 1949	Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar	Erdman Penner, Ted Sears, Joe Rinaldi, Homer Brightman, Winston Hibler, Harry Reeves. Book “The Wind In The Willows“: Kenneth Grahame. Book “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow“: Washington Irving.
The Disney Silver Era of Animated Films With the strict budgets of the anthology period over, Disney returned to fairy tales. Bright colors prevail, with art direction from Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle. The new Xerography process is added in 1961, which all but saves animation at Disney after the colossal failure of Sleeping Beauty. The later films from this era saw Walt Disney’s influence waning, drawn away from films by television and the new park in Anaheim California and plans for a second park in Florida.
12		Cinderella	February 15, 1950	Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske (as Hamilton S. Luske), Clyde Geronimi	Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Homer Brightman, Ken Anderson (as Kenneth Anderson), Erdman Penner, Winston Hibler, Harry Reeves, Joe Rinaldi. Original Story Cendrillon by: Charles Perrault
13		Alice In Wonderland	July 28, 1951	Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wilfred Jackson	Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Joe Rinaldi, William Cottrell (as Bill Cottrell), Joe Grant, Del Connell, Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Milt Banta, Dick Kelsey, Dick Huemer, Tom Oreb, John Wallbridge. Books “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“, “Through the Looking Glass“: Lewis Carroll
14		Peter Pan	February 5, 1953	Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson	Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Bill Peet, Winston Hibler, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Ralph Wright, William Cottrell (as Bill Cottrell). Original Play: Sir James M. Barrie
15		Lady And The Tramp	June 16, 1955	Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson	Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ralph Wright, Don DaGradi. Book “Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog“: Ward Greene
16		Sleeping Beauty	January 29, 1959	Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, Les Clark	Erdman Penner Additional Story: Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, Milt Banta Traditional tale “La Belle au Bois Dormant” By: Charles Perrault
17		One Hundred And One Dalmatians	January 25, 1961	Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske (as Hamilton S. Luske), Clyde Geronim	Bill Peet. Book “The Hundred, One Dalmatians“: Dodie Smith
18		The Sword In The Stone	December 25, 1963	Wolfgang Reitherman	Bill Peet. Book “The Sword In The Stone“: T. H. White
19		The Jungle Book	October 18, 1967	Wolfgang Reitherman	Larry Clemmons, Ralph Wright, Ken Anderson, Vance Gerry. Based on “The Jungle Book“: Rudyard Kipling
The Disney Animation Dark Age This period began with the death of Walt Disney, and continued through the Ron Miller period. This era also saw the retiring of the original Disney animators, and a new group emerge as the main animators at Disney. Largely, the company is directionless for most of this period.
20		The Aristocats	December 24, 1970	Wolfgang Reitherman	Larry Clemmons, Vance Gerry, Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Eric Cleworth, Julius Svendsen, Ralph Wright. Based on a Story By: Tom McGowan, Tom Rowe
21		Robin Hood	November 8, 1973	Wolfgang Reitherman	Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Julius Svendsen, Vance Gerry, Eric Cleworth, David Michener. Head of Story: Larry Clemmons
22		The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh	March 11, 1977	Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery	Larry Clemmons, Vance Gerry, Ken Anderson, Ted Berman, Ralph Wright, Xavier Atencio, Julius Svendsen, Eric Cleworth. Based on the Books by: A.A. Milne
23		The Rescuers	June 22, 1977	Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, Art Stevens	Larry Clemmons, Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Vance Gerry, David Michener, Ted Berman, Fred Lucky, Burny Mattinson, Dick Sebast. Books “The Rescuers“, “Miss Bianca“: Margery Sharp
24		The Fox And The Hound	July 10, 1981	Art Stevens, Ted Berman, Richard Rich	Larry Clemmons, Ted Berman, David Michener, Peter Young, Burny Mattinson, Steve Hulett, Earl Kress, Vance Gerry. Original Book: Daniel P. Mannix
25		The Black Cauldron	July 24, 1985	Ted Berman, Richard Rich	David Jonas, Vance Gerry, Al Wilson, Roy Morita, Ted Berman, Peter Young, Richard Rich, Joe Hale. Additional Story: Tony Marino, Steve Hulett, Melvin Shaw (as Mel Shaw, Burny Mattinson, John Musker, Ron Clements, Doug Lefler. Additional Dialogue: Rosemary Anne Sisson, Roy Edward Disney. Books, the five Chronicles of Prydain by: Lloyd Alexander
26		The Great Mouse Detective	July 2, 1986	John Musker, Ron Clements, Dave Michener, Burny Mattinson	Peter Young, Vance Gerry, Steve Hulett, Ron Clements, John Musker, Bruce M. Morris, Matthew O’Callaghan, Burny Mattinson, David Michener, Melvin Shaw. Book “Basil of Baker Street“: Eve Titus
27		Oliver & Company	November 18, 1988	George Scribner	Roger Allers, Chris Bailey, Michael Cedeno, Mike Gabriel, Vance Gerry, Leon Joose, Kevin Lima, Dave Michener, Jim Mitchell, John Ranft, Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, Peter Young. Based On The Original Novel “Oliver Twist” By: Charles Dickens
The Disney Animated Film Renaissance Disney emerges from the Dark Ages with a bang. The new films are huge successes, bigger than any preceding this period. New studios are opened in Florida and Paris to keep up with the new demand for animated films from Disney. The studio has a stated goal to produce two films a year. Disney CEO Michael Eisner discovers direct-to-video, and makes sequels to nearly every classic Disney film during this period.
28		The Little Mermaid	November 17, 1989	John Musker, Ron Clements	Ron Clements, John Musker. Story: Roger Allers. Original Fairy Tale: Hans Christian Andersen
29		The Rescuers Down Under	November 16, 1990	Hendel Butoy, Mike Gabriel	Jim Cox, Karey Kirkpatrick, Joe Ranft, Byron Simpson Books “The Rescuers“, “Miss Bianca“: Margery Sharp
30		Beauty And The Beast	November 22, 1991	Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise	Linda Woolverton. Story: Roger Allers. Original Story: Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
31		Aladdin	November 25, 1992	John Musker, Ron Clements	Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio Story: Roger Allers
32		The Lion King	June 24, 1994	Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers	Linda Woolverton, Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi Story: Jim Capobianco, Lorna Cook, Thom Enriquez, Andy Gaskill, Francis Glebas, Ed Gombert, Kevin Harkey, Barry Johnson, Mark Kausler, Jorgen Klubien, Larry Leker, Rick Maki, Burny Mattinson, Joe Ranft, Chris Sanders, Tom Sito, Gary Trousdale
33		Pocahontas	June 23, 1995	Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg	Carl Binder, Susannah Grant, Philip LaZebnik Story: Chris Buck, Robert Gibbs, Francis Glebas, Ed Gombert, Joe Grant, Kaan Kalyon, Glen Keane, Todd Kurosawa, Duncan Marjoribanks, Burny Mattinson, Bruce Morris, Ralph Zondag Additional Story: Randy Cartwright, Andrew Chapman, Vincent DeFrances, Don Dougherty, Will Finn, T. Daniel Hofstedt, Broose Johnson, Jorgen Klubien, Tom Mazzocco, Dave Pruiksma, Nik Ranieri
34		The Hunchback Of Notre Dame	June 21, 1996	Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise	Irene Mecchi, Tab Murphy, Jonathan Roberts, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White Story: Tab Murphy Original Novel: Victor Hugo
35		Hercules	June 27, 1997	John Musker, Ron Clements	John Musker, Ron Clements, Don McEnery, Irene Mecchi, Bob Shaw Story: Barry Johnson
36		Mulan	June 5, 1998	Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook	Joe Grant, Rita Hsiao, Chris Sanders, Philip LaZebnik, Raymond Singer, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer Story: Robert D. San Souci. Based on a Poem by: Anonymous
37		Tarzan	June 15, 1999	Chris Buck, Kevin Lima	Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White Based On The Original Book Tarzan of the Apes By: Edgar Rice Burroughs
38		Fantasia 2000	December 31, 1999	The Sorceror’s Apprentice, James Algar. Firebird Suite: Gaëtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi. Pines of Rome, The Steadfast Tin Soldier: Hendel Butoy. Pomp & Circumstance: Francis Glebas. Rhapsody in Blue, Carnival of the Animals: Eric Goldberg. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Allegro con Brio: Pixote Hunt. Host Sequences: Don Hahn	Irene Mecchi, David Reynolds (Hosted Sequences). Story, The Steadfast Tin Soldier: Hans Christian Andersen
The Post Renaissance Disney Films Everything new becomes old, and audiences tire of the Disney “formula.” After seeing the success of Shrek at DreamWorks, Eisner decrees that hand-drawn is dead, and 3D CGI animation is the wave of the future. He closes the satellite studios, fires the traditional animators on staff and heads Disney into the CGI sunset. Toon Disney is spun into sequel hell as Eisner tries to wring every last penny out of all Disney properties. He is opposed (and eventually deposed) by Roy Disney.
39		Dinosaur	May 30, 2000	Eric Leighton, Ralph Zondag	Thom Enriquez, John Harrison, Robert Nelson Jacobs, Ralph Zondag Additional Written Material: Shirley Pierce Additional Story Material : Rhett Reese
40		The Emperor’s New Groove	December 15, 2000	Mark Dindal	David Reynolds. Story: Roger Allers, Mark Dindal, Matthew Jacobs, Chris Williams
41		Atlantis: The Lost Empire	June 15, 2001	Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise	Tab Murphy Story: Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Bryce Zabel, Jackie Zabel, Tab Murphy Head of Story: John Sanford Storyman: Kevin Harkey
42		Lilo & Stitch	June 21, 2002	Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois	Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois Based On An Idea By: Chris Sanders
43		Treasure Planet	November 27, 2002	John Musker, Ron Clements	Ron Clements, John Musker Screenplay: Ron Clements, John Musker, Rob Edwards Animation Story: Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio Adapted from the novel “Treasure Island” By: Robert Louis Stevenson
44		Brother Bear	November 1, 2003	Aaron Blaise, Bob Walker	Tab Murphy, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman Story: Broose Johnson
45		Home On The Range	March 21, 2004	Will Finn, John Sanford	Will Finn, John Sanford, Michael Labash, Sam Levine, Mark Kennedy, Robert Lence Additional Dialogue: Shirley Pierce
46		Chicken Little	November 4, 2005	Mark Dindal	Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman, Ron Anderson Story: Mark Dindal, Mark Kennedy Additional Story Material: Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson Additional Screenplay Material: Sara Parriott, Josann McGibbon Additional Dialogue: David Reynolds, Sandra Tsing Loh
47		Meet The Robinsons	March 30, 2007	Steve Anderson	Jon Bernstein, Michelle Spitz (Bochner), Don Hall, Nathan Greno, Aurian Redson, Joe Mateo, Stephen Anderson Based on the Book “A Day with Wilbur Robinson” By: William Joyce
48		Bolt	November 17, 2008	Chris Williams, Byron Howard	Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams Story: Chris Sanders
The Disney Animation Revival and the Future of Disney Animated Films Disney seems to right itself again. Now having bounced to both ends of the spectrum, Disney has found that it cannot be either a hand-drawn animation company nor a CG company, but must find it’s own middle ground. With John Lassiter’s entrance from Pixar and his steering the ships focus from Eisner’s fancination on new technologies back to a studio-wide priority on solid, well-told and well-constructed stories, Disney has weathered another storm and once again emerged from a sea of troubles to take the crown as the animation studio. Disney’s films gain in popularity, and with Frozen once again rivaling the great success of The Lion King, the studio seems to be back in charge. Until the next dip.
49		The Princess And The Frog	December 18, 2009	Ron Clements, John Musker	Ron Clements, John Musker, Rob Edwards Original Story By: Ron Clements, John Musker, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland Based On The Story By: Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm
50		Tangled	November 24, 2010	Byron Howard, Nathan Greno	Dan Fogelman. Fairy Tale: Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm
51		Winnie The Pooh	April 13, 2011	Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall	A. A. Milne (Original Books, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner), David Benedictus (Original Book, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood)
52		Wreck-It Ralph	November 2, 2012	Rich Moore	Jennifer Lee, Phil Johnston
53		Frozen	November 27, 2013	Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee	Jennifer Lee. Story: Shane Morris, Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee. Original Story, The Snow Queen: Hans Christian Andersen
54		Big Hero 6	November 07, 2014	Don Hall	Jordan Roberts. Based On the Original Comic Book Series By: Steven T. Seagle, Duncan Roulea
55		Zootopia	March 04, 2016	Byron Howard, Rich Moore. Co Director: Jared Bush	Jared Bush, Phil Johnston. Story: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Rich Moore
56		Moana	November 23, 2016	John Musker, Ron Clements	John Musker, Ron Clements, Taika Waititi
57		Gigantic	2018	Nathan Greno