Walt Disney anthology television series facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walt Disney anthology television series |
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Opening title for The Wonderful World of Disney used since 2015
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| Genre | Anthology series |
| Created by | Walt Disney |
| Presented by | Walt Disney (1954–66) Michael Eisner (1987–2002) |
| Narrated by | Dick Wesson (1954–79) Mark Elliot (1979–88) Danny Dark (1988–91) John O'Hurley (2021–present) |
| Theme music composer | Leigh Harline Ned Washington |
| Opening theme | "When You Wish Upon a Star" (1954–61, 1968–2012 and 2012–present; various instrumental adaptations) "The Wonderful World of Color" (1961–68) "Heaven's Triumph" (2012–present) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 53 |
| No. of episodes | 2000 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera (hosted segments) |
| Running time | 156–180 minutes |
| Distributor | Self Distributed (1954 - 1986) Buena Vista Television (1986–2007) Disney–ABC Domestic Television (2007–present) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC (1954–61, 1986–88, and 1997–present) NBC (1961–81 and 1988–91) CBS (1981–83, 1991–97) |
| Picture format | NTSC (480i) HDTV 720p |
| Original release | October 27, 1954 – present |
The Walt Disney Company has made a special kind of TV show called an anthology series. This means it's a series where each episode or season tells a different story or features different characters. This show has been on TV under many different names since 1954.
The first episode aired on ABC on October 27, 1954. For 36 years, until 1990, the show was broadcast every week on one of the main TV networks. It only took a break for two years in 1984–85. For 25 of those years, it was shown on Sundays.
From 1991 to 1997, the show was not on a regular schedule. It came back regularly in 1997 on ABC, which Disney had recently bought. The show aired regularly on ABC until 2008. Since then, it has been shown as a special event from time to time. In May 2020, the series started showing movies from the Disney+ streaming service.
Only two people have hosted the show: Walt Disney himself, who started the company, and Michael Eisner, a former CEO. This show is the second longest-running prime-time TV program in American history. Only Hallmark Hall of Fame has been on longer.
Contents
Show Titles Over the Years
The Disney anthology series has had many different names since it first started. Here are some of the main titles it has used:
- Walt Disney's Disneyland (1954–1958; ABC)
- Walt Disney Presents (1958–1961; ABC)
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961–1969; NBC)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (first era; 1969–1979; NBC)
- Disney's Wonderful World (1979–1981; NBC)
- Walt Disney (1981–1986; CBS)
- The Disney Sunday Movie (1986–1988; ABC)
- The Magical World of Disney (1988–1991; NBC)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1991–1997; CBS) (third era; 1997–present; ABC)
- The Wonderful World of Disney: Presented by Disney+ (2020–present)
Disney's Special TV Blocks
Sometimes, Disney created special blocks of programming based on the main show.
The Magical World of Toons
The Magical World of Toons was a daily evening show. It featured episodes from popular character series. This block started when the Toon Disney channel launched on April 18, 1998. It continued for at least five years.
The Magical World of Disney Junior
In 2012, Disney Junior started its own version called The Magical World of Disney Junior. This was on its new 24/7 channel. They even showed their first original movie, Lucky Duck, during this block in 2014.
How Old Episodes Were Shown Again
Before the Disney Channel started, some of the movies and specials from the series were shown on other pay-TV networks like HBO. These reruns often kept their original opening titles.
Around the 1980s, older episodes of the Disney anthology series were shown again on local TV stations. This happened in the United States and other countries. In Australia, the show aired on Network Seven until 1994.
For many years, the Disney Channel also showed reruns of the series under the name Walt Disney Presents. This was a way for the channel to show classic Disney cartoons, TV shows, and movies. The original opening titles were brought back for these episodes in 1997. However, reruns stopped in 2002 when the Disney Channel removed all its older content.
Some episodes are available to buy on VHS or DVD. Recently, older live-action Disney films have also been shown on Turner Classic Movies. These air without commercials and are presented in their original format.
What Was Shown on the Program
Walt Disney himself first hosted the show. The program usually showed a mix of animated cartoons, live-action movies, and other interesting content from the Disney studio. This included both new and old material.
For many years, the show would also air shorter, one-hour versions of Disney films like Alice in Wonderland. Sometimes, full Disney movies were split into two or more one-hour episodes. Later, the show also featured stories about famous historical figures and legends, similar to the popular Davy Crockett mini-series. These included stories about Daniel Boone, Texas John Slaughter, and Francis Marion (known as the "Swamp Fox").
Sometimes, the show included educational segments, like The Story of the Animated Drawing. It also featured nature and animal programs, much like the True-Life Adventures movies shown in theaters. Many parts of the show were also used to promote Disneyland. Even though they were like advertisements, they were made to be very entertaining. Some programs also promoted upcoming Disney movies, such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Others focused on how animation was made.
The Show's Theme Music
The theme music for the series changed many times over the years:
- From 1954 to 1961, the show used "When You Wish Upon a Star" from the movie Pinocchio.
- From 1961 to 1969, a new song called "The Wonderful World of Color" was used. This song was written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. It helped highlight that the show was now in color.
- From 1969 to 1979, the show used orchestral mixes of different Disney songs from movies and theme parks.
- From 1979 to 1980, a new disco-style theme was created to match new visual changes.
- From 1981 to 1983, a short disco version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" was used with cool computer graphics.
- From 1986 to 1988, a modern, pop-rock version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" was the theme. This was also used for later versions of the show.
- In 1988, a mix of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and "When You Wish Upon a Star" was used.
- From 1991 to 1997, a mix of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Part of Your World" (from The Little Mermaid) was used.
- From 1997 to 2002, a mix of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "A Whole New World" (from Aladdin) was used. Sometimes, the song "What a Wonderful World" was also featured.
- From 2002 to 2007, a newer orchestral version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" was used.
- From 2007 to 2008, the theme from the current Disney logo was used. It included a montage of Disney's work and a voice-over from Walt Disney.
- From 2012 onwards, "Heaven’s Triumph" is used. The opening sequence was updated to include Star Wars and Marvel characters.
The Show Around the World
The Disney anthology series has been shown in many countries, sometimes with different names and hosts.
Argentina
In Argentina, the show was called El mundo de Disney (The World of Disney). It first aired on Telefe in 1990 and was hosted by Leonardo Greco until 1995. It started in the evenings and later moved to weekday afternoons and then Sunday afternoons.
Later, Telefe tried a new version called Planeta Disney (Disney Planet) in 2004. It was hosted by Maru Botana, and then by Carolina Ibarra and Dani Martins from Disney Channel.
Canal 13 also started showing Disney movies in 1994, sometimes competing with Telefe. They mainly showed live-action movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 2007, Canal 13 gained exclusive rights to Disney movies and other shows from ABC, like Lost.
Australia
After more than 30 years on the Seven Network, the show moved to the Nine Network and 9Go! in 2019.
Brazil
In Brazil, the show was known as Cine Disney and later O Mundo Mágico de Disney. It aired on Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) and the Disney Channel. In 2015, it returned to SBT as Mundo Disney for a few years.
Awards and Recognitions
The Walt Disney anthology series has won many awards for its quality and entertainment.
Emmy Awards
The show has won several Emmy Awards, which are very important awards for television.
Awards Won
- Best Individual Program of the Year (for Operation Undersea, 1955)
- Best Television Film Editing (for Operation Undersea, 1955)
- Best Action or Adventure Series (1956)
- Best Producer – Film Series (Walt Disney, 1956)
- Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming (1963)
- Outstanding Program Achievements in Entertainment (Walt Disney, 1965)
- Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement – Programs (1971)
- Outstanding Main Title Design (1998)
Awards Nominated For
The show was also nominated for many other Emmy Awards, including:
- Best Television Film Editing (for "Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter", 1955)
- Best Single Program of the Year ("Davy Crockett and River Pirates", 1956)
- Outstanding Children's Program (multiple times, including for Further Adventures of Gallagher, 1966, and The Art of Disney Animation, 1981)
Episodes
You can find a full list of all the episodes made for this series here: List of Walt Disney anthology television series episodes.
Home Media
Many episodes and films from the anthology series have been released for home viewing. You can find them on VHS or DVD. Some are special releases only available through the Disney Movie Club or online stores like Amazon.com.
