Disney “Once Upon a Studio” Review

100 years later, Disney is still inspiring fans to wish upon stars.

In celebration of the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, Disney released a short film called “Once Upon a Studio” on Disney+.

More than 40 voice actors joined together to record new lines for the short, bringing iconic Disney characters back to the screen.

The short begins in the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, where an intern discusses the 100th anniversary with Burny Mattinson, who worked for the Disney company for 70 years before his passing.

He says “If these walls could talk,” as he walks out of the studio, and little does he know the walls are about to come to life.

Mickey and Minnie leap out of a painting on the wall and announce it’s time for everyone to gather together for a group picture, which is when the pure magic of this short film begins.

Disney characters from every era begin filling the studio hallway, interacting with each other in ways that seem impossible.

At one point, Moana runs to Merlin the wizard to help get Flounder water, and he solves the problem by using the Mad Hatter's hat as a fishbowl.

These characters span from the 1950s to the 2010s, and seeing them share the screen is nothing short of miraculous.

Throughout the short, old photos from the original Disney animators line the hallways.

There are so many Easter eggs tucked into “Once Upon a Studio,” including one scene where Mickey looks up at a portrait of Walt Disney as a piano rendition of “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins plays in the background.

“Feed the Birds” was Disney’s favorite song from his films, and he had the composers, the Sherman Brothers, play it for him every day in his office.

The moment is nothing short of perfection, with Mickey thanking Walt and then saying “On with the show.”

This felt like a nod to all the Disney fans who didn’t have time to thank the man who started it all since he passed away in 1966.

Even after Disney’s death, the company kept releasing films and adding theme park attractions to enhance the lives of children and adults all over the world.

Disney is essentially a memory-making corporation, and this short film proves that.

When all the characters finally gather together for the picture in front of the studio, Goofy falls off a ladder and smashes the camera.

Everybody starts to leave, but Alan-A-Dale from “Robin Hood” begins strumming “When You Wish Upon a Star” on his little banjo, stopping the characters in their tracks.

They join in the song, and Fix-It-Felix mends the camera for the photo, which Tinker Bell captures.

Before the credits roll, the quote “To all who have imagined with us, laughed with us, and dreamed with us, thank you” graces the screen.

It’s hard to imagine having dry eyes at the end of “Once Upon a Studio,” especially if the viewer grew up with Disney as a part of their lives.

The films and characters have shaped generations and will continue to do so in the coming years.

Rating: 5/5

Kaitlyn Murphy is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm6255@psu.edu