Disneytoon Studios

Disneytoon Studios

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation
Predecessor	Disney MovieToons, Walt Disney Video Premieres
Founded	1990
Defunct	2018-06-28
Fate	Closed
Headquarters	United States , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Sharon Morrill (former president), Meredith Roberts (former SVP and GM)
Products	Animated feature films (direct-to-video and theatrical)
Number of employees	75 (at closure)
Parent	Walt Disney Studios (The Walt Disney Company)

Disneytoon Studios (DTS), initially known as Disney MovieToons and previously called Walt Disney Video Premieres, was a U.S.-based animation studio that specialized in producing direct-to-video animated features, with occasional theatrical releases. Functioning as a branch of Walt Disney Animation Studios, both entities operated under the umbrella of the Walt Disney Studios, which is part of The Walt Disney Company. Over its operational span, the studio delivered 47 feature-length films, beginning with DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp in 1990. Its concluding production was Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast in 2015.

Disney MovieToons/Walt Disney Video Premieres

The inaugural feature from Disney MovieToons was DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990), with animation work completed by Walt Disney Animation France. In 1993, Sharon Morrill joined Disney Television Animation as director of specials.

Disney initiated its direct-to-video sequel division with The Return of Jafar (1994), a continuation of Aladdin (1992). Originally developed as a pilot for a television series, the success of this release solidified the establishment of the direct-to-video unit. The follow-up sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996), involved collaboration between Australian and Japanese Disney animation studios.

Following Jeffrey Katzenberg's exit in 1994, Disney's filmed entertainment segment underwent restructuring, placing this unit under Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications, headed by Richard H. Frank.

Sharon Morrill led Disney Video Premiere, expanding its presence in the direct-to-video market and increasing reliance on international animation studios for production. By 1997, she had advanced to vice president overseeing this unit.

After Dean Valentine stepped down as president of Walt Disney Television in 1997, the division split into Walt Disney Television (WDT) and Walt Disney Network Television (WDNT), reporting to chairman Joe Roth. Charles Hirschhorn led WDT, which incorporated Disney Telefilms and Walt Disney Television Animation, including both Disney MovieToons and Video Premiere.

The unit was responsible for producing the 1997 short film Redux Riding Hood, which received an Academy Award nomination in 1998. Additional direct-to-video sequels produced during this period included Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), and Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002). By April 1998, MovieToons was consolidated with direct-to-video films and network TV specials under Morrill’s expanded role as executive vice president. In April 1999, Ellen Gurney was promoted to vice president responsible for overseeing direct-to-video films, theatrical releases, and specials.

Disneytoon Studios

In 2003, a reorganization transferred Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premieres from Walt Disney Television Animation to Walt Disney Feature Animation, rebranding it as Disneytoon Studios (DTS). Morrill continued as executive vice president and was elevated to president by 2005. The closure of Disney Animation Japan in 2004 ended its partnership with DTS following Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005). Additionally, in 2005, plans were announced to shut down Disneytoon Studios Australia, which ceased operations in 2006 after completing Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007).

During the early 2000s, Disneytoon collaborated with Disney Consumer Products to develop new franchise opportunities beyond established lines such as Disney Princess and Disney Fairies, exploring male-oriented properties like the Seven Dwarfs by 2005. After Pixar’s acquisition by Disney in 2006, John Lasseter voiced his disapproval of DTS’s production of sequels and prequels, considering them detrimental to the original films' legacy. Following difficulties encountered during production of Tinker Bell (2008), leadership changes occurred: Morrill transitioned roles while Alan Bergman assumed management over DTS in 2007 with guidance from Lasseter and Ed Catmull. Lasseter subsequently canceled all sequels and prequels underway—including projects based on Pinocchio, Dumbo, The Aristocats, Chicken Little, and Meet the Robinsons. The animation for Tinker Bell was restarted from scratch; concurrently, franchise initiatives such as "Disney's Dwarfs" and Disney Princess Enchanted Tales were discontinued. This pivot signaled a strategic move away from sequels toward spin-offs designed to support Playhouse Disney franchises.

Meredith Roberts was appointed senior vice president and general manager early in 2008. By April that year, Disneytoon Studios halted sequel productions entirely, redirecting focus toward spin-offs under the leadership of Walt Disney Animation Studios executives Catmull and Lasseter.

In November 2017, Lasseter took a six-month leave following allegations regarding inappropriate conduct toward employees; he officially departed both Disney Animation and Pixar at the close of 2018 but continued consulting until then.

On June 28, 2018, Disneytoon Studios was closed permanently with layoffs affecting approximately 75 employees. This closure also resulted in cancellation of the planned third installment of the Planes series.

Since 2019, the former facilities of DTS have been repurposed for productions by Disney Television Animation. Meredith Roberts advanced to CEO of Disney Television Animation after Eric Coleman’s departure.

Feature films

By the year 2002, films produced by Disneytoon generally operated with budgets below $15 million, yet they achieved approximately $100 million in combined sales and rental revenue.

#	Title	Franchise	Release date	Release type	Animation service(s)	Other studio(s)
Disney MovieToons / Disney Video Premieres (Walt Disney Television Animation)
1	DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp	DuckTales	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Theatrical	Disney Animation France	Walt Disney Pictures
2	The Return of Jafar	Aladdin	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Direct-to-video	Disney Animation Australia Disney Animation Japan	Walt Disney Television Animation
3	A Goofy Movie	Goof Troop	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Theatrical	Disney Animation France Disney Animation Australia Phoenix Animation Studios	Walt Disney Pictures
4	Aladdin and the King of Thieves	Aladdin	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Direct-to-video	Disney Animation Australia Disney Animation Japan	Walt Disney Television Animation
5	Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin	'Winnie the Pooh	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting		Disney Animation Japan
6	Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas	Beauty and the Beast	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting		Disney Animation Canada
7	Belle's Magical World	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	N/A
8	Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World	'Pocahontas	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting		Disney Animation Australia Disney Animation Canada Disney Animation Japan
9	'The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'	'The Lion King'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '		'Direct-to-video'		'Disney Animation Australia'
10	'Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas'	'Mickey Mouse'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '		'Direct-to-video'		'Disney Animation Japan Disney Animation Canada'
11	'Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving'	'Winnie the Pooh'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '		'Direct-to-video'		'Disney Animation Australia'
12	'The Tigger Movie'	'Winnie the Pooh'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '	'Theatrical'	'Walt Disney Television Animation Walt Disney Animation Japan'	'Walt Disney Pictures'
13	'An Extremely Goofy Movie'	'Goof Troop'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '	'Direct-to-video'	'Disney Animation Australia'	'Walt Disney Television Animation'
14	'The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea'	'The Little Mermaid'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '	'Direct-to-video'	'Disney Animation Canada'	'Walt Disney Television Animation Disney Animation Canada'
15	'Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure'	'Lady and the Tramp'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '	'Direct-to-video'	'Walt Disney Television Animation Walt Disney Animation Australia'
16	'Return to Never Land'	'Peter Pan'	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '	'Theatrical'	' Disney Animation Australia Disney Animation Canada Disney Animation Japan Cornerstone Animation '
17-20	Various direct-to-video sequels including Cinderella II, Hunchback of Notre Dame II, A Very Merry Pooh Year, and 101 Dalmatians II.	All were created by Disney Animation Japan in collaboration with Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Television Animation.
Disney MovieToons (under Walt Disney Feature Animation)
21-23	This group includes theatrical releases like The Jungle Book 2 and Piglet's Big Movie, along with the direct-to-video title Atlantis: Milo's Return.	Animation services were provided by studios such as Disney Animation Australia, France, Japan, Tandem Films, ToonCity, and Spaff Animation.	Released through Walt Disney Pictures.
Disneytoon Studios
24-47	This segment features direct-to-video sequels including The Lion King 1½, Mulan II, Tarzan II, Lilo & Stitch 2, and Bambi II, as well as theatrical films like Planes.	Primary animation contributors include Disney Animation Australia, Japan, Project Firefly, Blur Studio, and Prana Studios.	All productions were released under Walt Disney Pictures.

Television specials

Title	Type of release	Date of release	Series
Pixie Hollow Games	Television special	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Disney Fairies
Pixie Hollow Bake Off		October 20, 2013

Short films

Title	Type of release	Date of release	Series
The Cat That Looked at a King	Direct-to-video: DVD bonus feature	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary DVD
Winnie the Pooh: Shapes and Sizes	Direct-to-video	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Winnie the Pooh
The Origin of Stitch	Direct-to-video: DVD bonus feature	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Lilo & Stitch
Winnie the Pooh: Wonderful Word Adventure	Direct-to-video	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Winnie the Pooh
Legend of the Chihuahua	Direct-to-video: DVD bonus feature	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Beverly Hills Chihuahua DVD
Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular	Direct-to-video	November 4, 2014	Cars, included on Planes: Fire & Rescue DVD

Box office grosses (theatrical releases only)

Film	Budget	Opening weekend	Domestic gross	Worldwide gross
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp	$20 million	$3.8 million	$18.1 million	$18.1 million
A Goofy Movie	$18 million	$6.1 million	$35.3 million	$37.6 million
Return to Never Land	$20 million	$11.9 million	$48.4 million	$115.1 million
The Jungle Book 2	$20 million	$11.4 million	$47.9 million	$135.7 million
Piglet's Big Movie	$46 million	$6 million	$23.1 million	$62.9 million
Pooh's Heffalump Movie	$20 million	$5.8 million	$18 million	$52.9 million
Bambi II	N/A	N/A	N/A	$34.9 million
Tinker Bell	$50 million	N/A	N/A	$9.1 million
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure	$30–35 million	N/A	N/A	$8.5 million
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue	$30–35 million	N/A	N/A	$10.8 million
Secret of the Wings	$30–35 million	N/A	N/A	$67 million
Planes	$50 million	$22.2 million	$90.2 million	$240.1 million
The Pirate Fairy	N/A	N/A	N/A	$63.9 million
Planes: Fire & Rescue	$50 million	$17.5 million	$59.1 million	$146.9 million
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast	N/A	N/A	N/A	$31.8 million

See also

• List of Disney home entertainment releases