A late afternoon on October 16, 2023, employees and other workers were leaving the Roy E. Disney Animation Building of Disneyland, California for the day.
Yet today marks a historical event for the company.
"It's so incredible to think that Walt started Disney Animation 100 years ago today." A young woman who is a college intern said astonished heading to the doors with Burny Mattinson. "To think of all those talented artists and wonderful characters who have been a part of the studio over the years."
"Yep." Mattinson said as they got to the doors and looked back inside. "If these walls could talk."
They then turn and leave.
Back inside, the doors closes eight old picture frames hanged on the wall in a ring showing pictures of old photos of artisits that worked for Disney in the early years of production. And a ninth photo sits in the center showing two of Walt Disney's most iconic characters, as one started it all: Mickey Mouse as the picture showed him and Minnie Mouse a picture from one of Walt Disney's original shorts; Mickey's Birthday Party from 1942.
Yet the magic of the characters is more alive than one thinks.
Then suddenly, Mickey glanced as everything was all quiet in the lobby.
"Psst! Tink." Mickey called out softly. "Tinker Bell. You there?"
Then a trail of pixie dust appeared flying in as Tinker Bell flies into the lobby and over to his picture.
"Is that it?" Mickey asked. "They all gone?"
Tinker Bell then nodded.
"Oh, boy!" Mickey excitedly said leaping out of the picture. "Come on, Minnie!" Minnie then leaped out as well. "This is it!"
"Let's get the gang!" Minnie said. "Yoo-hoo!"
Elsewhere in the building, Tiana gasped hearing her.
"There's the signal." Tiana said and then leaps out of her cel. "All right, y'all! It's picture time."
"That's tonight?" Pinocchio asked.
"That's now." Tiana said.
In a Zootopia cel, Judy Hopps turns to them.
"100-year group photo." Judy said. "And the sun's going down." She hopped out of the cel.
"Wouldn't be lyin', honey." Eema said appearing from the hall joining them. "Some of us have waited a long time for this."
"Come on. Let's hop to it!" Judy said as Nick Wilde hopped out of the cel.
"Ooh, a bunny pun." Nick said and chuckled. "Got to like that."
Suddenly Louis pops out of his cel blowing a trumpet horn playing it as Nick gasped as he was over and rushed out of the way as Louis hits the floor causing the other cels to shake a bit.
In another part of the building, Mickey was spreading the word as he rushed by photo cels of Bambi, Flower, and Thumper.
"Picture time, guys!" Mickey announced.
Thumper chuckled as the three leaped out of their cells. "Okay! Here we come!"
The trio laughed as went over to another cel with Bernard, Miss Bianca, and Orville from The Rescuers. And Thumper thumped his left foot on the foot.
"Wake up! Wake up!" Thumper yelled.
And then Orville screams flying out of the cel as the three watched him and crash-lands on the floor grunting and slid by Minnie with Bolt, Mittens and Rhino as she exclaimed.
"Awesome!" Rhino cheered.
Then Peter Pan crows out flying by.
"Oh, Peter!" Minnie called out. "Get the folks upstairs!" As Peter flew back over.
"Aye, aye, Captain." Peter saluted.
Bolt then barks.
"Come on, everybody." Peter said. "Here we go!"
He flies to the front lobby of the building as Wendy, John, and Michael join as they soon got to the staircase leading to the second floor as they flew up and Peter crowing out. And then they flew down and off as Sisu gasped and laughs as she ran across the halls and then loop-de-loops across the walls of one hall as Jim flies in on his Alponian Solar Cruiser.
"Whoo-hoo!" Jim cheered.
He turns flying off into another hall as Sisu ran off, and Maui leaps out of his cel.
"It's Maui time!" He yelled.
Then with a swipe of his magic fish hook, he turns into his giant hawk form and flies off.
"We're meeting in the lobby!" Maui yelled out.
He flies off to spread the word to the others as Aladdin slid down the railing of a staircase with Abu on his shoulder.
"Okay!" Aladdin said and leaps off the guardrail with a grunt. "See you there!"
Abu chirps as Aladdin lands on one of the Frozen trolls as a group of them rolls out.
"Whoa!" Aladdin cried trying not to fall.
And then, Vanellope von Schweetz raced by on her candy kart with Dodger joining her.
"Whoo-hoo!" Vanellope whooped.
Dodger barks out enjoying this as the kart's engine roars as they drove off.
Then screaming was heard as Elliot flew up to the floor holding Cody by his arms giving him a ride.
"Higher!" Cody said and laughs.
Elliot mutters and flies up to the third floor as Wayne and Lanny slid down on their candy cane hooks. And then a stream of ocean water rushed in as Moana drops in on the floor with a grunt right by Neera.
She then sighs with a smile, and then suddenly gasped as Flounder drops in as she caught him.
"Water." Flounder said.
Moana groans panicking and rushed off to find the nearest bowl of water.
At the Snuggling Duckling coffee area, Merlin was using his magic as Mrs. Potts and Chip levitated by his magic serving tea. And with him was Cogsworth, the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, Dr. Krunklehorn, and a pair of Struthomimus.
"No, no, no!" Cogsworth said to the March Hare leaping off the counter and Moana rushing over. "There's no time for tea."
"Hmm." March Hare turns to him.
One Struthomimus lightly squawked.
"Merlin!" Moana said to the wizard. "A little help?"
Merlin gasped seeing her fish-out-of-water situation.
"Oh! Uh, oh, ah." Merlin quickly looked around for a bowl but couldn't find one. "Chapeauious Bowlious!"
He sends his magic out as it hits Mad Hatter's knocking it off his head as he grunts.
"Oh!" Mad Hatter caught his water as a thing of water lands in it.
And then Moana quickly groans placing Flounder in the hat as he grunts. And he came up all relieved.
Mad Hatter then chuckled. "Oh, waiter, there's a carp in my carp." He called to a passing penguin waiter with a plate of spaghetti and meatballs as Moana was amused.
He laughs as he heads off.
Elsewhere, Stromboli was by a vending machine and grumbling as his snack didn't came up. And he starts shaking and hitting as Anna and Elsa watched as they walked by a little unsettled.
"Yikes!" Anna said as they head into a hall. "Do you think all the villains will show up?"
They then walk pass a Frozen cel with Hans as he begins to rush out.
"Hmm." Elsa smirked and casted some ice on the cel freezing him. "Not all."
Hans strained as his eyes glanced over as they leave.
Elsewhere, Donald Duck stood by an elevator as soon opens as Carl, Terk, Humprey, Ranger Woodlore, and Mother Gothel were inside.
"Going down?" Carl said as Donald entered.
The doors begins to close.
"Hold the..." Donald holds the elevators and looks out.
As at the other end of the hall was Flash the sloth.
"elevator." Flash said making his slow way to the elevator.
"Huh?" Donald stared and starts mumbling irritated knowing this will be a while.
In a designer's room, Olaf was drawing a character singing as a Robin Williams lost boy flies by.
I'm in the mood to help you, dude
Olaf was then vocalizing as Timon and Pumbaa walk by.
"Hey. Frosty!" Timon called out. "Shake a leg, will ya?" Olaf turns to them leaving.
"The leg won't make a difference." Olaf said. "It's all in the wrist."
Then suddenly purple smoke exploded as Olaf screams falling to the floor and apart as Genie popped out.
"Oi!" Genie stretched his arms and turns to the snowman. "I haven't seen a fall like that since Rome."
He then used his magic as Olaf grunts swirling around and back together as he chuckles and turns to him.
"Oh! Much better." Genie grinned.
In a men's room, Prince John, Thomas O'Malley, Milo Thatch, Chicken Little, Zini, Gaston, Happy, and the Headless Horseman were busy freshening up and getting ready. Though Gaston was busy singing to himself as if he was better than everyone else.
Every guy here
Would love to be you, Gaston
He kissed his right bicep and chuckles, and then his eyes turned yellow, and then a toothy smile appeared and his eyes rolled as a whistle was heard.
"Huh?" Gaston stared moving aside.
And the Cheshire Cat's head appeared and laughs as his whole body followed.
"I'm a raging epidemic of romance." Zini said finishing his with hair.
Then the door as Minnie stepped in covering her eyes.
"Let's move it, gentlemen!" Minnie said.
In another part of the building, Christopher Robin, Kanga, and Eeyore were struggling to pull Winnie the Pooh out his picture. Mushi as well as trying to help as well.
"Ooh!" Pooh cried as they pulled. "Ooh, help, and bother."
"Man, you gotta cut down on the honey a little." Mushu said strained.
Then Antonio Madrigal appeared passing by with two of Cinderella's bird friends, Pascal on his shoulder, Cri-Kee on his left hand, Pua, Meeko, Suri, the Iguanodon siblings, and a baby Parasaurolophus. And Pua snorts as Meeko chitters as they followed the boy.
"Uh-huh." Antonio said. "Meeting in the lobby." They then froze with widen eyes. "Don't eat those."
On a table close by, Joanna was caught red-handed with his mouth open about to chomp Jaq and Gus shaking like leaves as a snack and groans. And then Pluto comes from nowhere barking as Joanna exclaims leaping into the air.
And Gus chuckled clapping his hands.
"Zuk, zuk!" Jaq gave Pluto a thumbs-up as a thanks.
Meanwhile, the 15 Dalmatian puppies were watching Fantasia's seventh segment; Night on Bald Mountain as it's dramatic music plays on the television and Macbadger, Ratty, Mole, Ryder, Honeymaren, Sven and Kristoff walk by as the two turn to them.
"Come on, puppies." Kristoff said to them. "You're gonna have nightmares." He warned.
The puppies continue watching as then flames grew and Chernabog pops out from the TV scaring them as they ran off barking.
At a nearby hall, Scrooge McDuck hops out of his Mickey's Christmas Carol picture with two sacks of money. And then he saw the puppies running towards and ran into him as he exclaims.
"Whoa!" Scrooge cried dropping his sacks and was carried off.
And then Robin Hood and Little John dropped in grabbing them.
"Oo-De-Lally." They both said walking off.
At another hall, Aladar heads off as Yar clings to the railing above him.
"Make 'em look good, son." Yar said.
"Come on, Yar." Aladar said turning to him. "My charm and your brains? No problem."
Yar then laughed as he heads off to meet with the others.
Back at the elevator, Flash as finally made it much of Donald, Carl, Terk, Humphrey, Gothel, and Woodlore's chargin. But Donald was the most impatient of them all.
"Thank you... for holding..." Flash said slowly.
Donald breathing heavily trying to control his temper as Flash leans in.
"the elevator." Flash finished.
Donald flinched with a small groan just barely keeping it together.
"I am also going to the lobby." Baymax suddenly appeared.
"Huh?" Donald turns to him.
Baymax then enters inside but got a little in the doorway.
"Oh, come on!" Donald complained.
Donald was then heard quacking angrily as the doors closed and Baymax squeezes in as the elevator closed.
In a hall, Ursula was heading to the lobby when then she heard squeaking and looks back and groans seeing Splat all love struck with hearts flying by as he looks to have a crush on her.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no..." Ursula said and heads off.
Splat squeaks as he follows as then Morgana as she laughed, but then screeching and trilling was heard as she looked and then yelps and flees as the Velociraptors chased after her as they vocalized running off.
As soon as they were gone, Prince Charming and Cinderella appeared hurrying down the stairs as then his right shoe slipped off on a step as they turn to it as Charming gasped and looked at his shoeless foot. And then they both laughed much to their humor as Url appeared panting, and Max with Melody appeared on the stairs as he saw the shoe.
Max barked and rushed down the steps and grabs the shoe.
"No, no, Max!" Melody cried running after him.
Charming and Cinderella both gasped as Max playfully runs off with the shoe.
"Hey, Max!" Charming cried and then runs after him. "E-Eric, get your dog!"
"Max, heel!" Melody cried running off as well though laughing. "Sorry, Cinderella!"
"Go, Max, go!" Cinderella cheered quickly following them.
Mickey appeared and chuckled amused by Max's playful stunt but then gasped. Seeing Kaa slithering by hypnotizing Clarabelle.
Trust in me
Just in me
"Kaa? Kaa!" Mickey tried to stop him. "You- You stop that now, Kaa!"
Then Rapunzel appeared with a frying pan with Jane Darling and Plio.
"Don't worry, Mickey." Rapunzel said and chuckles. "I got this."
She walks off as then a thud was heard and Kaa's long body sharply bends as Mickey, Jane, and Plio cringed after Rapzunel whacked Kaa on the head as he groans.
"Huh." Mickey said.
"We'll make sure he's awake for the picture." Plio said and leaps off.
"See you in the lobby." Jane said walking off.
As soon as they were gone, Mickey gasped seeing something.
"Hmm." He stared and had a sad smile.
He then walks over to a photograph of studio co-founder, Walter Elias Disney, the one and only man who started it all for everyone. Mickey removes his hat and sadly smiles fondly remembering his legacy he started a century ago, creating every character the world now knows from the smallest fairy to the largest dinosaur.
"Oh, Mickey, where are you?" Minnie called out as Mickey turns to the direction she was. "We're in the lobby!"
Mickey chuckles turning back to his old friend.
"Got to go, but thanks." Mickey said and heads off. "On with the show."
Walt Disney may be long gone, but even in death, he continues on in everyone's heart.
At the staircase leading to the front lobby outside, everyone waited as then Mickey riding on Dumbo flew in cheering out.
"Oh!" Bower Hat Guy exclaimed.
"Coast is clear, Mick." Raya announced holding the door open.
"Great!" Mickey beamed leaping off Dumbo. "Right this way!"
Wreck-It Ralph begins to head out as he then accidentally ran into the other door still closed as he grunts.
"Oh! Ralph, you okay?" Mickey asked.
Ralph grunts shaking his head stepping outside.
"Never better, Garfield." Ralph said dazed.
And then he topples over on a trash can and screams hitting the ground as Scar steps out and Ralph groans.
"I'm surrounded by IDIOTS." Scar muttered.
"Tally ho!" J. Thaddeus Toad suddenly flew by him on Carpet.
They then flew around the blue hat of the building.
"Whee!" Mr. Toad cheered. "I'll show you the world!"
He flies off passing by Ichabod Crane as he looked back.
"Oh, great." Mickey said. "The ladder!"
Ichabod gasped and ducked as a ladder swings by as Goofy walks by vocalizing and Ichabod heads off. And Goofy sets the ladder open and grunts hitting the ground.
And then Trusty and Jock walk by to join the others.
"I don't collect if I've ever mentioned Old Reliable before." Trusty said as Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather appeared.
And then Flora turns to the hat structure.
"He'd say, uh..." Trusty continued.
"Make it pink." Flora said casting her magic.
The hat then turns pink.
Merryweather groans from sister's stunt. "Make it blue." She casts her own magic.
She then turns the hat back to it's blue color.
And then bellowing was heard as Aladar runs over to them with Prince Florian, Eric, Naveen, Li Shang, and Phillip on his back.
"Ha-ha!" Eric laughed.
Aladar bellows out once more joining the others right by Ariel, Snow White, Tiana, Mulan, and Aurora.
"Hey, girls, look what just pulled into town." Aladar said to them.
"Hey, ladies!" Naveen greeted.
"Your buffet table of love." Aladar said turning to his passengers.
The princesses couldn't help but giggle from his charming act.
"Oh, Aladar." Ariel said.
"Almost as charming as prince himself, I'll give him that." Anna said to Elsa.
Elsa chuckled as she nodded.
"Okay, everybody." Mickey said to everyone. "Get-Get together now." Everyone begins to gather around as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit appeared. "Oh! After you."
Oswald bowed with his ears off but a little too close to Kuzco.
"No touchy!" Kuzco said.
Then Rafiki was heard as he chuckles.
"Huh?" Mickey frowned as they all turn to him.
"It is time." Rafiki said holding a camera standing by the ladder.
Goofy chuckles reaching down grabbing the camera. "Thank you."
Goofy then heads up the ladder vocalizing but a sense of trouble begins as Goofy's climbing leans tips the ladder.
"Goofy, careful!" Mickey cried.
Goofy continues vocalizing as he got to the top of the ladder as it twirls.
"All right." Goofy said too busy with the camera to notice the trouble. "Now where's that timer button?"
"Uh, who put him on camera duty again?" Tip asked getting concerned.
"Oh, oh!" Iago said to Jafar knowing what will happen as everyone else watched all worried. "Three, two, one!"
As predicted, Goofy lost balance completely and fell off the ladder as it tips over screaming, and the camera followed as Goofy hits the ground with a grunt and glass shatters.
When Goofy sat up, the camera was completely broken as Stitch went over to it. And he grabs a piece of it, and then munches on it as Goofy watched as Lilo went over and pulls Stitch away as he growled dropping the piece as Goofy turns to the broken camera.
"Well, that was fun." Grumpy said and walks off.
"Maybe we can try again in another hundred years." Eeyore said disappointedly and walks off.
"What?" Baylene said shocked. "Oh-Ho, we'll never keep up."
Soon, everyone else all disappointed as Friar Tuck, Ludwig, Big Bad Wolf, Hiro, Go-Go, Honey Lemon, Fred, Wasabi, Wart, and King Leonidas begin to leave as well all grumbling and sighing sadly.
"Oh, no, no, no." Mickey said trying to maintain hope. "Come back. It-It-It'll be fine. It'll be..."
Jasmine, Abuela, Calhoun, Isabela, Daisy, Clawhauser, Kenai and Koda, and Kida head to the doorway, when then a guitar was heard playing "When You Wish Upon a Star" as they looked up seeing Allan-a-Dale resting in the "O" of the Animation part of the sign.
Then his lute was joined by a trumpet as Scat Cat on Hathi Jr.'s plays in continuing the song, along with Mirabel Madrigal chimes in playing her accordion. Even Hathi Jr. joins them using his trunk as a trumpet, and as Johnny Appleseed and Taffyta smiled.
Mickey smiled watching this as Minnie joins him.
And then Belle chimes in as she sings along.
Anything your hearts desires
Beast joins in with her.
Will come to you
"I knew this was gonna happen." Hades muttered.
Above them, Quasimodo with Laverne, Victor, and Hugo chimes in on his cue.
If your heart is in your dream
Pocahontas chimes with Tod, Copper, the Iguanodon siblings, baby Parasaurolophus, Flint, Gurgi, Basil, Dr. Dawson, Olivia, Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse, and the Aristocats beside her.
No request is too extreme
Then Ariel chimes in with Melody joining her.
When you wish up-
But then Scuttle interrupts with his vocalizing which was badly off-key but Baloo clasped his beak shut as he and Mowgli continued on.
As dreamers do
Sebastian plays a note on the Golden Harp as Lady and the Tramp smiled.
Then Aladar lets out a bellow, and then bellows out loudly as Suri yips out and Yar howls as Plio joins in with her father. And the Iguanodon siblings join in bellowing out as, and Eema joins as she bellows, and even Baylene bellows out loudly as Aladar continues bellowing as Neera joins in as well as an adult Parasaurolophus and Pachyrhinosaurus.
Goofy meanwhile scratches his head wondering how to fix the camera.
Fate is kind
Then three brooms came over and swept the pieces altogether, and Goofy held them as Fix-It Felix Jr. went over.
She brings to those who love
Felix twirls his trusty hammer out and with a few swings, he fixies the camera as it was good as new. And then Hercules lifts the ladder up and fixies it back into place.
The sweet fulfillment of
Then Fairy Godmother appeared and twirls her magic wand as her magic spends Goofy in the air.
Their secret longing
Goofy floats up to the top of the ladder and place the camera in place and sets the timer.
And then Snow White, Mulan, and a recent newcomer named Asha chimes in.
Like a bolt out of the blue
Pooh then chimes his que.
Fate steps in
And Tigger playfully pounces on him as he fell on his back with a grunt.
And sees you through
And Jiminy Cricket standing on Mickey's palm chimes his line.
When you wish upon a star
And then everyone joins in.
Your dreams come true
Tinker Bell flies over and the picture was taken, and the group photo hangs on the wall with all the characters that Walt Disney made possible all those years ago. And will continue to inspire many more, for generations to come.
Later that evening, Mickey was with Walt Disney's photo.
"Well, Walt." Mickey said. "If only you could see us now. And far we've come."
Then Silver appeared along with Morph and Plio.
"Thinking about him, again?" Plio asked.
"Yeah." Mickey said. "He sure had high hopes for us."
"It's hope that's gotten us this far." Plio said.
"Yeah, he was a good lad." Silver said. "For some I guess he left too soon."
Mickey lightly smiled. "You know,... when he started this company, we all didn't know what to expect." Mickey said and strokes Morph. "But, uh... somewhere down the road this old cyborg... once said that you can chart our own course."
Silver then happily smiles.
"So that's what we're gonna do." Mickey said.
"Well, some things start out big, and some things start out small, very small." Plio said. "But sometimes the smallest thing... can make the biggest changes of all."
"And what do ya see?" Silver asked Mickey. "Off that... bow of yours?"
Mickey then smiled. "A future."
Silver then chuckled. "Why... Look at ya, glowin' like a solar fire." He proudly said. "You're special truly special, Mick. You're gonna rattle the stars, you are."
Mickey tearfully smiles, and then the two hugged each other.
Then Silver grunts a bit pulling away. "Got a bit of grease in this cyborg eye of me." He turns away and leaves.
Mickey wipes a tear as then Morph breaks down crying all emotional from the moment. And Mickey caught him as a puddle.
"Aw, hey, Morph, we'll be alright." Mickey said. "Okay?"
"Okay." Morph said.
Morph chittered reforming in his shape and joins Silver as they leave.
"Hmm. You know, Plio." Mickey said. "After the last hundred years, I almost felt like we've just begun."
"Yeah." Plio agreed. "None of us really knows what changes, big or small, lie ahead. But one thing is certain, our journey's not over."
She then leaps off as Mickey smiled and turns back to Walt Disney's picture once more.
"Well, thanks for everything, old friend." Mickey said.
He happily sighs and walks off and twirls his hat on his finger and placed back on his head.
And then September plays out as Mickey got to the staircase leading to the front lobby as an elephant trumpet blares out as Mickey looks upon the lobby as everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves.
Mickey smiled as he watches them.
Amongst the party, some were doing a Soccer game as the ball rolls across the floor, and then Jim kicks the ball as it flew by Raya and makes the winning goal.
"GOAL!" B.E.N yelled and hugs Jim.
Genie sends out fireworks as Carpet flew around with Cody and Penny on having a ride and Bucky the Squirrel making balloon animals and giving them out. And Abu danced around with Mushu and Cri-Kee, and even Cass as well danced much of Hiro's humor.
Mickey continues watching the party as everyone danced around as a Mammoth trumpets out and the Carnotaur joins in.
"Oh, Mickey!" Minnie called out. "You gonna join us?"
"Just a minute, Minnie." Mickey said.
Then Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed tried to sneak away with some meat snacks, but the Carnotaur saw them and roars out as the three hyenas yelped running as the Carnotaur chased after them as he too was hungry.
Mickey smiled getting in the rhythm as the party swings on as everyone danced and forms a conga line. As they were all more than just to him; they were family.
Outside the building, the muffled music continues playing as spotlights inside spun around.
Back inside, Mickey heads down to join them.
To all who have imagined with is,
laughed with us,
and dreamed with us,
Thank you.
FOR OUR PAL BURNY
AND HIS 70 YEARS LEGENDARY STORYTELLING
AT DISNEY ANIMATION.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WALT DISNEY
AND FOR
ROBIN WILLIAMS
MAGIC NEVER ENDS
Author's Note:
Once Upon a Studio is truly Disney's best short yet. And a perfect 10 in my list, as Aladar's return and Mickey having a moment with the photo of Walt Disney are my favorite moments. You may notice the Night at the Museum reference at the ending, it was something I imagined a few days before the short came out.
Now Aladar may have only been briefly in the shot where Snow White, Mulan and Asha sang, and was fully seen once. But I was good enough for me.
Disney may have been around 100 years now, but I slightly wonder if this is just the first chapter of Disney.