Lost Disney Movie Is Found In British Archive After 87 Years

A Disney film thought to be lost 87 years ago has been found at the British Film Institute.

The historic ‘Sleigh Bells’ features the house of mouse’s very first animated character, called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

The film of the cartoon bunny was made in 1928, and was found when a researcher at the institute was trawling the BFI’s national archive.

Disney has now restored the film, and will give it a proper premiere at Christmas.

Robin Baker, head curator at the archive, 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.

“The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney’s work in the silent period - it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career.”

Andrew Millstein, the president of Walt Disney Animation Studios, added: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the BFI National Archives in the restoration of the 'lost’ Oswald short, Sleigh Bells, and to be sharing this delightful animated discovery with audiences in the UK as part of this special Disney holiday programme.

“The Oswald shorts are an important part of our studios’ history, and we have been working with film archives and private collectors all around the world to research the missing titles.”

Oswald was first created in 1927 by Walt Disney himself and revered cartoonist and animator Ub Iwkers - who co-created Mickey Mouse with Disney – for Universal Pictures.

Read more
New Golden Compass adaptation is coming to the BBC
Statue of the Queen looks like Tom Hanks
Disney Distancing From Slave Leia Merch

Image credit: Sky News/Rex Features