About This Quiz
Considering the behemoth that Disney is today, it's hard to believe that it started out as an animation company in the 1920s. That's when Walt Disney started creating short cartoons with characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Well, Oswald didn't last, but Mickey Mouse did! (Credit Disney's wife with the name Mickey; Walt wanted to name him Mortimer.)
After the success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Disney continued making full-length animated films, even as World War II led to a temporary slump at the box office. But after the war ended, Disney took off running, having a string of animated and live-action hits. By 1955, he had opened Disneyland, his first theme park.
Even after Walt died in 1966, Walt Disney Productions continued to grow. Yet it wasn't until 1989 and the decade after that Disney went through a renaissance, returning to its roots by adapting fairy tales and other well-known stories and bringing them to life with soaring music. Since then, Disney has acquired Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel and shows no signs of slowing down.
So let's see how much of Disney's long history you remember with this Disney 101 quiz! It's okay if you miss one or two - hakuna matata!
Si and Am not only upend the furniture in Lady's house, but they also upend Lady's comfortable life! Blaming Lady for the cats' mischief, Aunt Sarah tries to muzzle the innocent dog. Poor puppy!
The three fairies come to the rescue when Maleficent places a curse on Princess Aurora. But their most memorable scene involves the fight over the color of Aurora's dress. Pink! No, blue!
To protect her beloved fox, Widow Tweed drives Tod to a nature preserve to let him go. As she reminisces about their time together, she fights back tears. Who can watch this with dry eyes?
Advertisement
It's "Oliver Twist," set in New York City with dogs. Oliver is an orphaned kitty taken under the wing of Fagin's gang of dogs. Billy Joel's Dodger schools Oliver in "street savoir-faire."
In "The Sword in the Stone," young Wart works as a servant but hopes to become a knight. His luck changes when he meets Merlin, a wizard who prepares him for an even greater destiny. "The Sword in the Stone II" was released directly to video.
The fussy Rabbit is even more upset by Pooh's plight than Pooh is, because his front door is blocked! His attempt to turn Pooh's backside into a decorative moose doesn't go well.
Advertisement
One of the mysteries of "Beauty and the Beast" is Chip's relationship with Mrs. Potts. He calls her "Mama," but she's animated to look like his grandmother. Fans have some wild speculations.
Known for such classics as "Toy Story," "Up" and "Finding Nemo," Pixar, originally called the Graphics Group, started in 1979 and made great strides in computer animation. Its mascot is Luxo Jr., the hopping desk lamp.
General Li Shang has a lot to live up to: his father leads the Chinese army. So imagine Shang's frustration when he's expected to train a ragtag group of men — and Mulan in disguise!
Advertisement
The dark fantasy film from 1985 was a commercial flop and didn't appear on VHS for 13 years. Author Lloyd Alexander said he enjoyed the movie even if it didn't follow his book closely.
Meeko is the mischievous one among Pocahontas' animal friends. He has a hearty appetite, constantly scarfing down food. And he loves to torment Percy, Governor Ratcliffe's snooty pug.
All the naughty boys who go to Pleasure Island soon turn into donkeys. Pinocchio almost meets the same fate, but he's able to escape with Jiminy Cricket. Talk about a dark scene!
Advertisement
Jane and Professor Porter come to study apes but find a much more intriguing subject in Tarzan. It's Clayton the hunter who harbors bad intentions toward the gorillas, Tarzan's family.
If Basil is a mouse detective based on Sherlock Holmes, then Ratigan is modeled after Holmes' greatest foe, Moriarty. He feeds his underlings to his cat Felicia when they displease him.
Scuttle has elaborate explanations for every item Ariel finds in shipwrecks. Of course, he's always wrong! How many little kids have brushed their hair with forks because of Ariel?
Advertisement
The major theme of the movie is that family means "no one gets left behind or forgotten." Stitch learns how to be part of a family, and Lilo and Nani realize that they're still a family. Aw!
The female Indian elephant shows both a snarky and a sweet side. She's not afraid to speak her mind to Colonel Hathi when he's being pompous, and she insists on helping look for Mowgli.
After taking Ariel's voice in their treacherous bargain, Ursula sets out to ensure Ariel loses the bet — by stealing her man! Disguised as Vanessa, Ursula places Eric under a spell.
Advertisement
When Vanellope visits the Disney website, she befriends the Disney princesses, who discuss their "daddy issues" and the challenges they've overcome. Time for a princess slumber party!
Joy and Sadness have to restore Riley's core memories to headquarters, or Riley won't know how to navigate moving to a new home and starting a new school! The two emotions are perfect foils.
Alan Tudyk actually imitated Ed Wynn's voice for King Candy as a tribute to the actor and comedian. Wynn appeared in a number of Disney films, notably as the laughing, floating Uncle Albert.
Advertisement
Dodie Smith, the author of the children's book on which the film is based, coined the term "twilight bark," the way dogs seem to communicate with each other in the evening with a barking chain. There's a song called "Twilight Bark" in "101 Dalmatians: Animated Storybook."
Jeremy Irons' deep voice made him sound suitably menacing, like a growling, snarling lion. Plus, the Machiavellian Scar has one of the most chilling Disney villain songs, "Be Prepared."
Two gargoyles are named after French author Victor Hugo. The writers wanted to name them Chaney, Laughton and Quinn after past Quasimodo actors, but the idea didn't work out. C'est la vie!
Advertisement
Although named after P.T. Barnum, the famous circus showman, P.T. Flea seems to have less success with his accident-prone bug troupe. One "act" involves P.T. getting set on fire. Ouch!
The English musician wrote songs describing Tarzan's thoughts and feelings because the character doesn't sing himself. "You'll Be In My Heart" won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
The rooster minstrel Alan-a-Dale introduces Robin Hood and Little John and narrates their adventures. Who can forget him strutting around, plucking his mandolin and singing "Oo-De-Lally"?
Advertisement
When Bernard and Bianca arrive in Devil's Bayou in search of Penny, they meet a group of swamp critters, including Evinrude. The helpful dragonfly powers a leaf boat for the two mice.
Jafar serves as the sultan's adviser while lusting for ultimate power. And Aladdin and Genie exploit this by tricking Jafar into becoming a genie himself. "Itty-bitty living space!"
The trippy "Pink Elephants on Parade" sequence inspired the Winnie the Pooh song "Heffalumps and Woozles." Who knows what was really in that drink Dumbo drank, but we think we'll pass.
Advertisement
The Philoctetes of Greek myth was not a Satyr, but a skilled archer. Danny DeVito voiced the grouchy, horse-legged satyr who thinks Hercules is his last chance to train a legendary hero.
Grumpy's gruff, irascible exterior hides a soft spot for the sweet, innocent Snow White. When he senses she's in danger, he leads the charge as the dwarfs chase off the wicked queen.
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" stands out for its overt religious themes. With her prayer, Esmeralda reveals empathy for her people, the Gypsies, who face persecution in 15th century France.
Advertisement
After Cody rescues Marahute from a trap, she repays him with a feather and a thrilling ride through the Australian skies. But soon it's up to two little mice to rescue both bird and boy!
Bobby Driscoll starred in several Disney projects as a child, but he struggled to find roles as an adult. Sadly, the actor who played the boy who never grew up died relatively young, at 31.
The Filipina singer with musical theater background memorably sang for two popular Disney princesses. Fans also know her for her performances as Fantine and Eponine in "Les Miserables."
Advertisement
"Frozen" was loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen." Originally Elsa was supposed to be a villain, but the writers changed course and made Anna and Elsa sisters working out their relationship.
Ashman teamed up with composer Alan Menken on films of the Disney Renaissance. Their music played a big role in the success of "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin."
"Bambi" was actually the fifth Disney film released, in 1942. "Fantasia" was the third film, released in 1940 between "Pinocchio" and "Dumbo." "Snow White," of course, was the first. ("The Reluctant Dragon" was released in 1941, but it's not considered a classic.)
Advertisement
With his distinctive red and blue snout, Rafiki is a mandrill, although his tail is much longer than a real-life mandrill's tail would be. He's a type of primate distinct from a baboon, even if he does say to Simba teasingly, "You're a baboon. And I'm not."