Happy 85th birthday, Dumbo! On October 31, 1941, Walt Disney’s Dumbo opened in theaters across the United States, introducing audiences to a shy baby elephant with enormous ears and a mouse named Timothy who believed in him. Eighty five years later, Dumbo is still soaring, from Disney+ to the skies above Fantasyland.
To celebrate, here are some fun facts about this Disney classic.
8 Fun Facts About Dumbo
1. It Premiered in New York First
Before its nationwide release on Halloween, Dumbo premiered in New York City on October 23, 1941. Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, it was based on a children’s story about a little elephant with oversized ears.
2. It Was Made on a Budget
After the high costs of Pinocchio and Fantasia, Walt Disney needed a film that could bring money back into the studio. Dumbo was intentionally made on a modest budget of about $950,000, and it paid off, becoming a financial success.
3. It’s One of Disney’s Shortest Animated Features
Dumbo runs just 64 minutes, making it one of the shortest animated features in Disney history. It proves a story doesn’t need to be long to leave a big impression.
4. It Won an Academy Award
Frank Churchill and Oliver Wallace won the Oscar for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Dumbo. The tender lullaby “Baby Mine,” written by Churchill and Ned Washington, was also nominated for Best Song, and it’s still one of the most emotional moments in any Disney film.
5. Pearl Harbor Bumped It From the Cover of Time
Dumbo was scheduled to appear on the cover of Time magazine in December 1941. Then the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, and the little elephant was replaced by far more serious news.
6. There’s No Real Villain
Unlike most Disney classics, Dumbo doesn’t have a traditional villain. The challenges come from teasing, gossip and circus life, and the story is really about believing in yourself and the friends who believe in you.
7. “Pink Elephants on Parade” Became a Classic
The surreal “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence is one of the most memorable pieces of animation Disney ever made, and those dancing pink elephants still pop up in Disney parks and merchandise today.
8. It Earned Honors for Decades
Dumbo won Best Animation Design at the 1947 Cannes Film Festival, and the Library of Congress later selected it for the National Film Registry as a culturally, historically and aesthetically significant film.
Dumbo in the Disney Parks
Of course, you don’t have to watch Dumbo to fly with him. Dumbo the Flying Elephant has been a Disney park favorite since Disneyland opened in 1955 and Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. At Walt Disney World, the ride moved to Storybook Circus in Fantasyland in 2012, where it now has two spinners and a circus tent queue with a play area. While you’re there, stop by Big Top Souvenirs, which recently reopened with new Disney treats.
Dumbo also makes appearances in the brand new Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Check out some of the many Easter eggs inside the Magic of Disney Animation.
Celebrate at Home
The original 1941 Dumbo is streaming on Disney+, along with Tim Burton’s 2019 live action version starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito. It’s the perfect short and sweet movie for a family night.
What’s your favorite Dumbo memory, the movie or the ride? Let us know in the comments, and happy 85th, Dumbo!
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