Best Disney Animated Shorts
This list will be more focused on what is still worth watching for entertainment purposes and some for its historical value. The list is in chronological order, but with sequels placed together after the original when they are still good quality. See also:
Best Disney Animated Films & TV
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507330355/
Best Kids 3D Animated Films, TV & Shorts (Includes Pixar)
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507354455/
Best Little Kids Movies & TV (Live Action)
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507358627/
Best Disney Animated Films & TV
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507330355/
Best Kids 3D Animated Films, TV & Shorts (Includes Pixar)
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507354455/
Best Little Kids Movies & TV (Live Action)
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls507358627/
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- DirectorUb IwerksWalt DisneyStarsWalt DisneyMickey Mouse is a mischievous deckhand on a riverboat that is under the command of the tyrannical Captain Pete.This is not the first animated cartoon to be synchronized with sound effects, but the first to attract favorable attention. This one represents a high order of cartoon ingenuity, cleverly combined with sound effects.
On its release, this cartoon was paired with the movie Gang War (1928), but it was this cartoon, not the main movie, that movie patrons walked away talking about.
The cartoon is considered the debut of Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie, although both characters appeared several months earlier in a test screening of Plane Crazy. - DirectorWilfred JacksonStarsMarion DarlingtonFlossie DunlapGeorge GramlichWhen the Pied Piper lures the rats from Hamelin Town but is not paid in gold by the mayor as promised, he lures all the children of the town to the magical Garden of Happiness in a mountain to punish the parents.
- DirectorBurt GillettStarsBilly BletcherPinto ColvigDorothy ComptonThe Three Little Pigs each build a house of different material. The Big Bad Wolf comes along and blows away the straw and stick homes, but is unable to destroy the house of bricks.
- DirectorBurt GillettStarsBilly BletcherPinto ColvigDorothy ComptonRed Riding Hood is accompanied by Fiddler Pig and Piper Pig as she takes a shortcut through the forest to deliver food to her sick grandmother.
- DirectorWilfred JacksonStarsDorothy ComptonPinto ColvigWhen a lazy grasshopper prefers to sing and dance rather than forage like his friends the ants, he learns to regret it when winter approaches. The ants save his life and in return he entertains them with his music.
- DirectorWilfred JacksonStarsDorothy ComptonMarcellite GarnerBeatrice HagenBig race. Hare, fast and in lead, stops to loaf and show off to girl bunnies. Tortoise, plodding along at steady, slow pace, wins, although hare tries a last minute burst of speed.Many Warner Bros. animators have admitted that Max Hare is the inspiration for Bugs Bunny.
- DirectorBen SharpsteenStarsPinto ColvigWalt DisneyMarcellite GarnerMickey and friends have various levels of enjoyment skating on a frozen river. As Mickey and Minnie glide romantically, Donald plays tricks on Pluto and ends up in trouble himself with a kite, from which Mickey must save him.
- DirectorDavid HandStarsPinto ColvigWalt DisneyClarence NashDonald continually heckles Mickey's magic act, but Mickey bests him at every turn. Donald shoots off a magic pistol that causes all the stage props to fall down on them at the finish of the act.This short is a little violent, with Mickey vs. Donald Duck.
- DirectorGraham HeidWilfred JacksonStarsElvia AllmanMarie ArbuckleBarbara BrewsterAs a thunderstorm approaches, birds, mice and other creatures try to stay safe and dry in an old mill.This film introduced Disney's technical innovation, the multiplane camera.
Hayao Miyazaki has called The Old Mill his favorite Disney film. - DirectorBurt GillettBill RobertsStarsWalt DisneyMarcellite GarnerEddie HoldenInspired by the Grimm's fairy tale, this classic 1938 Mickey cartoon finds our hero (voiced by Walt Disney) battling a hilariously huge "problem.
- DirectorJack CuttingClyde GeronimiHamilton LuskeStarsClarence NashAmanda CewelTom CotryA baby duckling is shunned by his family because he is different. He is also rejected by all of the other birds and animals. Finally a mother swan adopts him as one of her brood.
- DirectorBill RobertsStarsBilly BletcherJohn McLeishWalt DisneyRather out of place at a swanky dog show, Pluto flirts with Fifi, a dainty Pekingese. The judge orders Mickey and Pluto to leave, but when a fire breaks out Pluto rescues Fifi and is proclaimed a hero.
- DirectorJack KingStarsClarence NashDonald's frustration level is stretched to the limit when he attempts to court Daisy without the interference of his nephews.
- DirectorJack KinneyBill RobertsStarsJohn McLeishHannes SchrollAfter figuring out how to get dressed, Goofy hits the slopes to demonstrate the art of skiing. Through a series of gags and misadventures, Goofy demonstrates turns, skiing backwards and even the ski jump.
- DirectorJames AlgarWilfred JacksonRiley ThomsonStarsThelma BoardmanWalt DisneyMickey wants some of the cake Minnie has just baked, so he offers to clean up her yard. As he's working, a tiny tornado (smaller than him) with a mind of its own comes along and causes trouble. After Mickey finally chases the little twister off, it gets its big brother, which makes a grand mess of the yard. Most of the cartoon, except for the opening and closing, has no dialogue.
- DirectorClyde GeronimiStarsTeddy BarrPinto ColvigJohn DehnerJealous of Mickey's kitten, Pluto's devil-self argues with his angel-self over whether or not to rescue the kitten when it falls into a well.It was the only Mickey Mouse cartoon to win an Academy Award.
- DirectorHamilton LuskeRiley ThomsonStarsThelma BoardmanWalt DisneyFlorence GillThe gang gives Mickey a surprise party that turns into a jam session with everyone playing instruments while Goofy has problems baking a cake.
- DirectorWilfred JacksonJack KinneyHamilton LuskeStarsFred ShieldsJosé OliveiraLee BlairDisney animators tour South America and present four animated shorts inspired by their trip.
- DirectorNorman FergusonClyde GeronimiJack KinneyStarsAurora MirandaCarmen MolinaDora LuzDonald receives his birthday gifts, which include traditional gifts and information about Brazil (hosted by Zé Carioca) and Mexico (by Panchito, a Mexican Charro Rooster).
- DirectorJack HannahBurt GillettBill RobertsStarsJune ForayJohn BrownPinto ColvigWith his true identity hidden in armor, lowly squire Cedric (Goofy) takes the place of his master, Sir Loinsteak, in a sidesplitting, sword-shattering joust.
- DirectorClyde GeronimiStarsSterling HollowayIvanMischaAnimated version of the fairy tale of the Russian boy Peter and his hunt for a raiding wolf, presented to the music of Sergei Prokofiev.
- DirectorJack HannahStarsJames MacDonaldDessie FlynnClarence NashDonald needs a log for his fire. Unfortunately, the one he picks is occupied by a couple of chipmunks and their stash of acorns. When he cuts it down, Chip and Dale fall out, but their acorns stay behind, so they work at putting out Donald's fire and retrieving their stash. Donald, of course, takes this as calmly and cheerfully as you would expect.
- DirectorCharles NicholsStarsPinto ColvigJames MacDonaldThe snow covered mountains; but not to worry, rescue dog Pluto is on duty. Actually, given that he barely keeps himself safe, maybe you should worry. A playful seal keeps stealing his cask of grog.
- DirectorHamilton LuskeBill RobertsStarsWalt DisneyClarence NashPinto ColvigA mysterious thief has stolen the prosperous Happy Valley's most prized possession: the musical Singing Harp. Can Mickey, Donald, and Goofy find the answer in the irritable Willie the Giant's magnificent castle up in the blue sky?
- DirectorJack KinneyHamilton LuskeWilliam MorganStarsEdgar BergenDinah ShoreLuana PattenJiminy Cricket hosts two Disney animated shorts: "Bongo," about a circus bear escaping to the wild, and "Mickey and the Beanstalk," a take on the famous fairy tale.Although released as a movie, it's really a collection of shorts.
- DirectorClyde GeronimiWilfred JacksonJack KinneyStarsRoy RogersTriggerDennis DayAn anthology of animated vignettes set to contemporary music.Although released as a movie, it's really a collection of shorts.
- DirectorCharles NicholsStarsRuth CliffordPinto ColvigLeone Le DouxMinnie Mouse knits a sweater for Pluto. When she puts it on him, Pluto does whatever he can to try to get it off, eventually shrinking it to the perfect size for Figaro.
- DirectorJack HannahStarsJames MacDonaldDessie FlynnClarence NashChip and Dale are worried about gathering enough acorns for the winter until park ranger Donald comes along with a bag full he's trying to plant.
- DirectorJack HannahJack KinneyStarsDessie FlynnJames MacDonaldClarence NashDonald Duck has a model train and town laid out in his yard. He decides to move a live tree that doesn't match the model scale, not realizing it is home to chipmunks Chip and Dale. They in turn move into one of the miniature houses.
- DirectorJack HannahStarsJune ForayJack HannahClarence NashEven with his long white beard and aching back, an aging Donald still has to make ends meet by lancing trash in the park. When he happens upon his old partner, an elderly honey bee named Spike, it conjures up memories of the good ol' days.
- DirectorJack HannahClyde GeronimiStarsSterling HollowayJune ForayStan FrebergA mix-up by Mr. Stork finds a little lion cub in the care of a gentle flock of sheep. But when a hungry wolf begins to stalk the herd, will Lambert find the courage to protect his mama?
- DirectorJack HannahStarsRuth CliffordPinto ColvigDessie FlynnThe tree that Mickey and Pluto chop down to bring home for Christmas is the tree that Chip 'n Dale live in.
- DirectorJack HannahStarsDessie FlynnJames MacDonaldClarence NashChip and Dale ready themselves for battle just like the knights of old when Donald moves his hulking steam shovel into position, intent on clearing a path right through their tree. Who will prevail in the medieval battle for the junkyard?
- DirectorLes ClarkJoshua MeadorWolfgang ReithermanStarsJane FowlerPaul FreesClarence NashDonald's goes on an adventure in which it is explained how mathematics can be useful in real life. Through this journey it is shown how numbers are more than graphs and charts, they are geometry, music and magical living things.One of the best shorts with content that you may actually use in real life, exposing the math behind nature.
- DirectorDon BluthJack CuttingWolfgang ReithermanStarsSean MarshallWilliam WoodsonOlan SouleOrdered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, named Small One, a boy in ancient Palestine takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph.
- DirectorBurny MattinsonStarsAlan YoungWayne AllwineHal SmithThe classic Disney animated characters play the roles in this animated retelling of the Charles Dickens masterpiece.
- DirectorGeorge ScribnerStarsWayne AllwineBill FarmerArthur BurghardtA poor boy and a prince exchange identities and lives while the villainous Captain of the Guard plots to take advantage of this.
- DirectorDominique MonferyStarsDora LuzJennifer EspositoSalvador Dalí and Walt Disney's Destino features the tragic love story of Chronos, the personification of time, and a mortal woman as they seek each other out across surreal landscapes.Sparked by the friendship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí, the film was commissioned to be part of a compilation film. Work started in 1946, and fifteen seconds of footage were created before the project was abandoned.
Disney vice-chairman Roy Edward Disney was inspired to re-start production on the film after producing Fantasia 2000 (1999), which mentioned the aborted project.
There is an hour and twenty-two minute documentary about the Destino story. - DirectorAlan BarillaroA hungry sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The problem is, the food is buried in the sand where scary waves roll up.
- DirectorPatrick OsborneStarsSteve ApostolinaKirk BailyBen BledsoeThe love life of a man as told through the meals he gives his adopted dog, Winston.