The 1928 lost Disney film featuring Disney’s first animated character has been discovered in a British archive. The 6 minute film titled ‘Sleigh Bells’ was missing since 87 years and recently the sole surviving print was re-discovered at the BFI National Archive. The film will be screened for the first time next month by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
The film features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the character that led to the creation of the Disney’s epic-Mickey Mouse. Oswald, created in 1927, was known for his mischievous and rebellious personality according to the BFI National Archive. The animation in this film Sleigh Bells is the work of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, who created the Oswald films for Universal and later went on to create Mickey Mouse.
BFI National Archive, head curator, Robin Baker said, “What a joyful treat to discover a long-lost Walt Disney film in the BFI National Archive and to be able to show Sleigh Bells to a whole new audience 87 years after it was made.”
Walt Disney Animation Studios, President, Andrew Millstein admitted that the Oswald shorts were an important part of the history of Disney. He was also of the view that there will be many more such shorts that have been lost in the past.
This old film clearly is a display of crisp animation of the early 1990s with a touch of humour and simple storyline that portrays extensive imagination and creativity.
The film was rediscovered by a researcher who was looking through the online catalogue of the BFI National Archive, which is one of the world’s largest film collections. This discovery is a mark showing a different era of animation in the journey of the animation giant-Disney. And, as it is part of history, it deserves due respect and recognition.