15 Lost Disney Movies That Will Never Be Released

Over its century-plus history, Disney has created and released a huge number of animated movies in cinemas.

Disney is best known for its incredible collection of animated movies, starting with the timeless classic *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* from 1937. Through decades of hits – including the Disney Renaissance of the 90s, Pixar favorites in the 2000s, and recent films like *Moana 2*, *Mufasa: The Lion King*, *Elio*, and *Zootopia 2* – these films remain Disney’s most important achievement.

Disney has created countless animated films for theaters over the years, but quite a few promising projects were sadly never completed.

Several Disney animated movies were started – some were just announced, others were well into production – but were unexpectedly canceled or put on hold for a variety of reasons.

Many of these abandoned Disney films featured ideas for new princesses, sequels to fan favorites, and completely original stories. They would have combined computer-generated imagery with classic hand-drawn animation to create unique worlds.

Disney has cancelled several movies over the years. Some, like *Gigantic*, received a lot of publicity before being scrapped. Others, such as *Kingdom of the Sun*, were reworked into completely different films. And a few, including *A Princess of Mars*, were later made as live-action movies instead.

It’s hard not to wonder what could have been with Disney’s unmade animated films. Were they cancelled due to disagreements among creators, interference from the studio, or simply bad luck and competition from other movies? Whatever the reason, it’s fascinating to imagine how these films might have turned out if they’d actually been released.

Lost Disney Animated Movies That Were Never Made

Who Discovered Roger Rabbit

After the huge hit of *Who Framed Roger Rabbit* in 1988, plans began for a sequel called *Roger Rabbit: The Toon Platoon*. It would have shown Roger’s early life, including his time serving in the army during World War II. However, Steven Spielberg, after directing *Schindler’s List*, decided to move on from the project. Years later, in 1997, the idea was revisited as *Who Discovered Roger Rabbit*, with a new story focusing on Roger becoming famous on Broadway and in Hollywood. Despite test footage created in the late 90s and early 2000s-which combined classic animation with live-action and computer-generated imagery-Disney wasn’t satisfied, and the film was ultimately canceled.

Untitled Nightmare Before Christmas Sequel

In the early 2000s, Disney explored the possibility of creating a computer-animated sequel to the 1993 stop-motion classic, *The Nightmare Before Christmas*. However, the film’s creator, Tim Burton, persuaded them to cancel the project, wanting to preserve the original’s unique quality. Instead, a direct continuation of the story was released in 2004 as the Capcom video game, *The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge*. More recently, director Henry Selick suggested making a prequel, but as of 2024, both he and Tim Burton have stated they don’t plan to create any further installments.

Swan Lake

In the early 1990s, Disney planned to make an animated movie based on the famous ballet *Swan Lake*, fitting perfectly with their popular princess movie formula. However, they cancelled the project when they discovered that Richard Rich, a former Disney animator, was already creating his own version called *The Swan Princess*. Released in 1994 by New Line Cinema, *The Swan Princess* wasn’t successful in theaters, but it later gained a dedicated fan base through home video.

Don Quixote

For decades, Disney has repeatedly tried to create an animated movie based on the famous novel *Don Quixote*. The first attempt was in the 1940s, but it was canceled due to financial worries after *Pinocchio* and *Fantasia* didn’t perform well at the box office. At that time, the company also shifted its focus to making shorter films and content to support the war effort. Disney tried again in the 1950s with a different animation style, but that project also failed. Most recently, in the early 2000s, Disney canceled another *Don Quixote* adaptation, believing the story was too mature for a family audience.

A Princess of Mars

In the early 1990s, Disney began developing an animated science fiction movie called *A Princess of Mars*, inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic novel. Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was Disney’s CEO at the time, really wanted to make the film and offered it to directors Ron Clements and John Musker, but they turned it down. Almost twenty years later, in 2012, Disney released *John Carter*, a live-action adaptation of the same book. However, the film wasn’t successful in theaters.

Kingdom of the Sun

Before the fun, buddy-comedy *The Emperor’s New Groove* came out in 2000, Disney had started working on a very different movie called *Kingdom of the Sun*. This original version was meant to be a darker, musical story about a prince and a witch named Yzma who wanted to permanently block out the sun. Owen Wilson was set to voice the character Pacha, and the music was being written by Sting. However, after early test screenings didn’t go well, the filmmakers had to completely rethink the project. They dropped the traditional musical elements, but thankfully, one song Eartha Kitt recorded for the original version, called “Snuff Out the Light,” still made it onto the movie’s soundtrack, even though it wasn’t included in the final film.

Tinker Bell and the Ring of Belief

Before Disney released the *Tinker Bell* movie in 2008, another *Tinker Bell* film, *Tinker Bell and the Ring of Belief*, was being made. Brittany Murphy, who sadly passed away, was going to be the voice of Tinker Bell. Planned for release in 2007, this movie would have shown how Tinker Bell and Peter Pan first met. Disney shared some early previews and trailers in the mid-2000s. However, disagreements about the film’s direction, money problems, and Disney’s switch to 3D animation caused them to completely rework the movie from its original concept.

Where the Wild Things Are

Long before the live-action *Where the Wild Things Are* movie came out in 2009, Disney considered making an animated version of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book. In 1983, animators Glen Keane and John Lasseter created a short test film showing Max’s playful antics in his bedroom. This short combined classic hand-drawn animation with early 3D technology, but Disney ultimately decided not to pursue a full-length movie due to the high production costs and challenges of turning the short film into a longer story.

Gigantic

I was so excited when Disney first announced *Gigantic* back at D23 in 2015! It was going to be this beautiful, CGI-animated story about a boy in Spain who makes friends with a giant girl named Inma. They discovered a magical world up in the clouds, and the music was going to be done by the team who created the amazing soundtrack for *Frozen*! Sadly, the movie kept getting pushed back, and eventually, Disney canceled it in 2017. Ed Catmull, who was head of the animation studio at the time, said they had creative differences. It’s a shame it was shelved, but it’s cool that they included a little nod to it – an Easter egg – in *Zootopia*!

Babes in Toyland

In 1955, Walt Disney originally planned to create an animated movie based on the popular Christmas story, *Babes in Toyland*. But the project faced delays and was later changed into a live-action film. Starring Annette Funicello, Disney’s *Babes in Toyland* came out in 1961 and marked the company’s first full-length live-action musical.

Dufus

During the late 1980s, Disney considered making an animated movie based on J.D. Salinger’s novel, *The Catcher in the Rye*. The unusual idea involved talking German shepherds, and they even asked lyricist Howard Ashman to write songs for it, tentatively titled *Dufus*. Unfortunately, Disney couldn’t secure the rights to the story from Salinger himself, so the project was abandoned.

Mistress Masham’s Repose

In the mid-1980s, Disney animator Joe Hale began working on a film called *Mistress Mahasam’s Repose*, inspired by T.H. White’s 1946 novel. The story would have centered on a young orphan who makes friends with a community of Lilliputians-the tiny people known from Jonathan Swift’s *Gulliver’s Travels*. Although Roy E. Disney was enthusiastic about the project, then-CEO Michael Eisner didn’t approve, and the film was cancelled. Now, you can find early concept art and character designs by Disney animator Andreas Deja online, offering a glimpse into what could have been.

King of the Elves

Disney planned a 3D animated movie called *King of the Elves*, based on a 1953 short story by Philip K. Dick. The story centered around elves in the Mississippi Delta who crown a human as their king after he rescues them from a troll. The team behind *Brother Bear* was set to direct. Though announced in 2008, the film faced setbacks, pausing development in 2009 before briefly returning in 2010. Ultimately, it was canceled a few years later due to problems with the storyline.

Newt

Back in 2008, Disney revealed Pixar was developing a movie called *Newt*, which followed the adventures of two endangered blue-footed newts – a male and a female – who started to connect during a shared journey, despite initially disliking each other. Originally planned for release around 2011 or 2012, a small newt carving even appeared as a hidden detail in Pixar’s film *Brave*. Ultimately, the project was cancelled because the story was considered too similar to the 2011 Blue Sky Studios film *Rio*.

My Peoples (AKA A Few Good Ghosts)

In the early 2000s, Disney developed an animated film about a young couple from rival families in the Appalachian Mountains who turned to a group of haunted folk art dolls for help. The movie, planned as a blend of traditional and computer-generated animation with a bluegrass soundtrack, would have featured the voices of Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Hal Holbrook. Barry Cook, who co-directed *Mulan*, was set to direct. However, the project-known at different times as *My Peoples* and *A Few Good Ghosts*-was cancelled in late 2003. Many believe Disney chose to focus on the more commercially promising *Chicken Little* instead. The folk dolls later made a very brief, almost unnoticeable appearance in the 2007 film *Meet the Robinsons*.

Forgotten Animated Disney Movies That Deserve Another Look

1. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

While the original *The Rescuers* from 1977 was a pleasant adventure, a sequel wasn’t highly anticipated. However, *The Rescuers Down Under* (1990) surpassed the first film, becoming a truly exceptional movie. It follows two mouse secret agents on a mission to rescue a boy kidnapped by a poacher in the Australian Outback. The film boasts impressive aerial sequences, a beautifully rendered Australian landscape, and vibrant animation. Despite being released between the massive hits *The Little Mermaid* and *Beauty and the Beast*, it remains a fondly remembered favorite for many who grew up watching VHS tapes in the 90s.

2. Onward (2020)

Pixar’s 2020 film, *Onward*, unfortunately suffered from poor timing. Released just as movie theaters were closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fantasy adventure about two brothers on a quest didn’t get much of a chance to succeed in theaters. Many people were understandably focused on current events and didn’t notice it, though it did find an audience through streaming.

It’s a shame that even now, five years later, *Onward* is often overlooked when people talk about the best Pixar films. It’s a touching and magical story with beautiful animation, charming characters, and a meaningful message about dealing with loss and moving forward.

3. Treasure Planet (2002)

Released in 2002, *Treasure Planet* is a unique animated film that reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s *Treasure Island* in a futuristic, intergalactic setting. While it didn’t do well in theaters-coming out during a time when CGI animation was becoming more common after hits like *Toy Story* and *Shrek*-the movie has since gained a dedicated fanbase. People now appreciate its compelling characters, beautiful blend of storybook visuals and science fiction, and moving story about finding your purpose. As one character famously says, it truly has the potential to be a classic.

4. Dinosaur (2000)

Released in 2000, Disney’s *Dinosaur* was a pioneering film that combined live-action and computer animation. It tells the story of a dinosaur and his adopted family as they search for a new home after a devastating meteor strike. Despite being the highest-grossing animated movie of its year, earning mostly positive reviews, and even inspiring a theme park ride, the film has largely been forgotten. It seems to have gotten lost in the transition between Disney’s successful Renaissance period and its later films.

5. The Black Cauldron (1985)

1985’s *The Black Cauldron* is a bit of a divisive film among Disney fans. It was a significant box office failure when it came out and is often cited as a movie that nearly ruined Disney. Critics at the time felt it deviated too much from the original books, and that it was too dark and didn’t develop its characters well enough. However, over the past 40 years, the film has gained a dedicated cult following. People now appreciate its distinctive dark fantasy setting, beautiful animation, and truly frightening villain.

6. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Among Disney fans, *Atlantis: The Lost Empire* is likely the least forgotten, with many passionately hoping for a live-action adaptation. However, it’s not widely known by the general public and Disney rarely mentions it. This is probably because it came out right after Disney’s hugely successful Renaissance period and was very different from the popular Disney movies audiences expected.

The film is a fun, action-packed adventure about a team of explorers searching for the lost city of Atlantis and a powerful, ancient force. While not flawless, it’s visually stunning with a unique, Jules Verne-inspired style and memorable characters.

7. Meet the Robinsons (2007)

As a big Disney fan, I remember when *Meet the Robinsons* came out in 2007. It was a bit of a tough time for the studio, and it didn’t really catch on with audiences like Pixar films were doing. It was a bit of a box office disappointment, and they even scrapped plans for a sequel. But honestly, over the years, this movie has really grown on me. It’s about a young orphan inventor who goes to the future to save his destiny, and it’s surprisingly heartwarming. Plus, the characters are wonderfully weird, and I love its bright, old-fashioned vision of the future – it’s really developed a dedicated fanbase, and for good reason!

8. Brother Bear (2003)

Disney’s *Brother Bear*, released in 2003, is a beautifully animated film that often gets overlooked. It came out around the same time as hugely popular movies like *Lilo & Stitch*, *Monsters, Inc.*, *Finding Nemo*, and *The Incredibles*, which have overshadowed it. However, *Brother Bear* tells a touching story about family and forgiveness that appeals to everyone. It also boasts stunning visuals of North American landscapes, a memorable soundtrack by Phil Collins, and excellent voice performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez.

9. A Bug’s Life (1998)

Despite being a Pixar film, 1998’s *A Bug’s Life* often gets overlooked when people discuss the studio’s most important works. While some consider it a classic – and rightfully so – it’s generally seen as less memorable than other major Pixar hits. The story centers around a well-intentioned but awkward ant who sets out to find help for his colony, only to stumble upon a quirky group of circus fleas. It’s a charming and visually appealing movie filled with funny, unforgettable characters, and it surprisingly offers powerful messages about community and the downsides of unchecked capitalism.

10. Bolt (2008)

Released in 2008, *Bolt* was a reasonably successful and well-received film, but today it’s often overlooked. The movie centers on a dog actor who thinks he actually has superpowers and must learn what’s real after escaping from the TV show set. Coming between Disney’s classic Renaissance period and the start of its more recent successful era, and while Pixar was at its peak, *Bolt* didn’t quite achieve the same level of critical acclaim or cultural resonance. Despite this, it remains a delightful and feel-good story with a strong voice cast and lively animation.

11. Frankenweenie (2012)

Despite coming out in 2012, Tim Burton’s *Frankenweenie* is surprisingly overlooked, even when people talk about fun Halloween movies for families. That’s a pity, because the film is a creative and playful take on classic sci-fi horror, made by a very talented team. It’s based on a short film Burton and Disney made together back in 1984. The story centers on a boy who brings his dog back to life, which leads to hilarious trouble when his friends try to do the same. With beautiful black-and-white stop-motion animation and lovable characters, this Burton classic is full of heart, even if it *does* involve bringing something back from the dead.

2025-09-25 18:31