The Walt Disney Company is opening its archives to the public for the very first time — well, figuratively speaking. Collider can exclusively announce thatAdventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives, an all-new documentary, will premiere on Disney+ on November 19, taking Disney fanatics on an adventure through the company’s vast history, examined through the lens of the objects and ephemera stored in the Walt Disney Archives.
Previously screened only once for members of D23, the official Disney fan club, the documentary’s release will mark the first time the film has been made available to the public, opening up the doors of 50 years of history. Hosted byDon Hahn— legendary producer of Disney films likeThe Lion KingandBeauty and the Beast— the film will explore beloved parts of Disney’s history as displayed in the archives, speaking with team members to uncover iconic pieces remembered fondly by fans the world over.
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Directed byJohn Gleim, the film features glimpses at classic Disney iconography, including Mary Poppins’ carousel horse,Haunted Mansion’s hitchhiking ghosts, and even the piano used byRichardandRobert Shermanwhen they wrote some of Disney’s most iconic songs, including “Feed the Birds,“Walt Disney’s favorite tune. The film also reveals new interviews with Disney icons, including Disney Executive ChairmanBob Iger, Marvel Studios’Kevin Feige, Pixar’sPete Docter, film historianLeonard Maltin, andStar WarsiconMark Hamill.
“Walt Disney was one of the first to pull back the curtain,” Hamill says in the film’strailer, “And show how movies and television were made.”
The Walt Disney Archives celebrated their fiftieth-anniversary last year, having been founded in June of 1970 by Disney LegendDave Smithto “collect, preserve and make available for research the historical materials relating to Walt and the company he founded.” The archives have collected millions of items pertaining to the entertainment giant’s history since their founding, and have curated numerous exhibits across the country to display that history, includingHeroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume, now on display at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Washington.
Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archivespremieres exclusively on Disney+ on November 19. Check out the film’s trailer and more images below:
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