New Song From Disney Legend Richard Sherman Confirmed for Animated Short Mushka

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A lost song written by Disney legend Richard M. Sherman has been discovered and will be included in the animated short film, Mushka. It’s one of the last pieces of music from a composer who created soundtracks beloved by generations.

Mushka is a short animated film created with hand-drawn techniques, directed by Andreas Deja, a veteran animator from Disney. It became available on streaming services around the world on December 15, 2025.

The film ends with a new song called “Mushka’s Lullaby.” It’s one of the last original pieces composed by Sherman and can also be found on the Mushka — Original Score soundtrack.

Sherman and composer Fabrizio Mancinelli co-wrote the song, and Mancinelli also created the musical arrangement. Holly Sedillos provides the vocals on the official soundtrack.

Sherman’s Legacy

Richard Sherman was famous for his songwriting partnership with his brother, Robert B. Sherman, known together as the Sherman Brothers. They created memorable music for Disney films like Mary Poppins and beloved theme park attractions such as it’s a small world. For many years, their songs were a key part of the Disney experience.

I was so thrilled to see he continued his work with Disney, even composing new songs for the Christopher Robin movie in 2018! And I was really touched to see him make an appearance in the Once Upon a Studio short film in 2023 – it was a lovely tribute.

Throughout his career, Sherman earned many awards, including Oscars for Mary Poppins and a Disney Legend honor. His music has been featured in movies, Disney parks, and concerts around the globe.

The score for Mushka, featuring the song “Mushka’s Lullaby,” was honored at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. It won the award for Best Song in a Short Film in 2023.

Mushka

Deja’s short film, Mushka, centers around Sarah, a young girl in Ukraine who finds a baby Siberian tiger cub that has been orphaned. The story follows Sarah as she wrestles with the difficult decision of whether to raise the cub or let it fend for itself. The film was a passion project for Deja, taking almost ten years to create, and showcases their dedication to classic, hand-drawn animation techniques.

Honestly, I was surprised to see Sherman get involved – Deja was just updating me on the project, not expecting his help! He actually spoke with Attractions Magazine about his work on it, which is really cool.

Working with Richard was an incredible experience. It felt surreal at times, like a dream come true! I’ve been a fan of his music from ‘The Jungle Book’ since I was a child – it was the first Disney movie I ever saw, when I was ten years old. I loved the songs so much I listened to the records constantly. To actually collaborate with such a talented artist was amazing.

I just love the artwork’s look – it really reminds me of classic animation from the 1960s, especially films like One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It feels so charming and nostalgic, clearly inspired by that era’s unique style.

Deja is a celebrated Disney artist known for his incredible character work. He created the original designs for beloved characters like Lilo from Lilo & Stitch and the villain Scar from The Lion King.

“Mushka’s Lullaby”

To help promote the film, a music video for the song “Mushka’s Lullaby” was released. It features both clips from the animated short and footage of the song being recorded. The music was performed by a sixty-piece orchestra at Synchron Stage in Vienna.

The film Mushka debuted at film festivals in 2023, earning several awards before becoming widely available. It also features “Mushka’s Lullaby,” one of the last original pieces composed by Sherman.

Viewers can now stream Mushka on Amazon, Apple, and Google Play.

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2025-12-21 19:57