THE RESCUERS

1977

The Rescuers is Walt Disney's 23rd animated feature, which was based on the series of books by Margery Sharp. The original idea of an adaptation of the series was placen in the early 60s, but it was until a decade later (after more of The Rescuers' books were published) that production started.

It marks the end of an era, as it is the last film directed by Wolfgang Rietherman, who had been head of the previous 6 Disney Animated features, and was also the last film on which Eric Larson worked on as Animation Director, and in which Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl and Frank Thomas worked on together.

But it is also the start of a new generation of animators that would later go on to make brilliant movies for Disney, such as Glen Keane, who we see for the first time in the credits.

WINNIE THE POOH

1977

Based on the stories by Alan Milne, Winnie the Pooh is Disney's 22nd animated feature. Even though now it is considered a feature film (since it has been released as a single movie) the original version was divided three separate short films, Winnie the Pooh and the honey tree, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, Winnie the Pooh and the Tigger Too, released from 1966.

Pooh was created by AA Milne based on his son (Christopher Robin) favourite stuffed animal, and named after the bear Winnipeg from the London Zoo. The various stories of Pooh and his friends started as bedtime stories for Christopher, but soon where compiled in a book called "When we were very young". Accompanied by the beautiful illustrations by EH Shepard, the book has a huge success in the UK.

ROBIN HOOD

1973

Based on the XIII century legend, usually told over ballads, Robin Hood is Disney's 21st animated feature. The story was originally proposed as an animated version of Reynard the Fox by Ken Anderson, but Walt thought it wouldn't be good to portray Reynard as a hero. The same character design was used as reference years later.

Ken was the main person responsible for the use of the Xerox process in Disney's previous animated features, and was also one of the main character designers from the studio, and even though Walt hated the aesthetics of the Xerox movies, the studio continued to use this process due to the low budget that was needed to produce them.

ARISTOCATS

1970

The Aristocats is Disney's 20th animated feature film, and the first one entirely produced after Walt Disney's death in 1966. Since the 50's, Walt had started working on other projects like amusement parks and tv programs, so the animation team was used to his absence (which grew bigger with each year), and had learned to think like Walt, so when he was gone, they could still work on a new feature that Walt would be proud of.

 But Walt wasn't completely unaware of what the studio's next feature would be. He actually gave the thumbs up to the team to start work on the Aristocats story.
The film was originally intended as a 2-part live-action film for Disney's weekly tv programme, but Walt decided it would be better as an animated feature.

JUNGLE BOOK

1967

The Jungle Book is the nineteenth animated feature in the Disney Classics collection, and the last movie in which Walt Disney worked. Even though Walt had left the animation department to focus more on Disney's amusement parks and tv series, the idea of working on an adaptation of this story led him to be as involved as ever in an animated project.

After completing the production of 101 dalmatians, Walt asked Bill Peet () to choose a new project for their next animated feature. It was Peet who advised Walt on acquiring the rights to The Jungle Book, since he considered that it would be a good opportunity to develop great animal characters.

Based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling, the script was originally Bill Peet's last screenplay for Disney, but his version of it was too dark, closer to the original story. So Walt didn't like it very much, since he preferred simpler tory lines with richer characters. In the end, the script was scrapped and Larry Clemmons stepped in to work on the new version.

THE SWORD IN THE STONE

1963

Based on the novel by T.H. White, The Sword in the Stone (also known in some places as Merlin the Magician) is Walt Disney's 18 animated feature.

It was the last film in which Bill Peet would work as a writer. Peet, who had worked for Disney as a writer and character designer would leave the studio just before the production of The Jungle Book (his original screenplay was scrapped) when his relationship with Walt started falling apart.

But it would eventually be the last feature that Walt would see completed. Although he was very active in the production of this movie, Walt would never be able to see it screened in theatres. Due to lung cancer, he died just a year before The Jungle Book's release.

Walt's brother Roy would take over Walt Disney Productions .

101 DALMATIANS

1961

One Hundred and One Dalmatians is Disney's 17th animated feature, and as many of Disney's movies had done before, this one used new technologic applications that changed the way animated movies were done. But 101 Dalmatians wasn't only innovative for its technological advances, it was a huge change in Disney animated movies in many aspects.

Based on the novel written by Dodie Smith in 1956, the whole adaptation was done by Bill Peet, who wrote the script, did all the storyboard for the film and was even a character stylist. He envisioned the movie so well that when the story adaptation was finished Smith said that Pete's version was even better than her own book.