cel from cartoon Lonesome Ghosts featuring Mickey Mouse traipsing through a dark house with a shotgun shadowed by a large blue smiling ghost
Q : I have very fond memories of watching a Mickey Mouse short on VHS called Lonesome Ghosts. I recently re-watched it and was wondering if/where I can get a cel from the short that I could buy. If not, it would still be cool if you could talk about some interesting facts about the short. It was one of my favorite things to watch at the time. Thanks!
Deacon, Murphressboro/Columbia, Tennessee
A: Lonesome Ghosts was a popular 1937 cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy as ghost exterminators.  It was directed by Burt Gillett, who directed many Disney cartoons in that era, and is perhaps best remembered by animators at the Disney Studio because of the transparent paint that was created for the ghosts.  Few cels from the cartoon have ever been on the market.
Sleeping Beauty
Q : Hi, Is Queen Leah the official name for Aurora's mother in Sleeping Beauty? I've seen the name being used and it was used in the Disney Channel movie Descendants as well. Similarly, the names Claudia, Laura and Paula (or alternatively, Claudette, Laurette and Paulette) have been used on the internet to refer to the Bimbettes from Beauty and the Beast. I believe the Beauty and the Beast Vinylmation series also used the name 'Triplet Paula', along with 'Prince Adam' for the Prince.
Jeremy, Singapore, Singapore
A: The Queen in Sleeping Beauty was not named, probably because she had such a minor role.  None of the other names you mentioned are official, though occasionally character names are created for sequels, television series, merchandise, publications, or other uses.
Peter Pan concept art by Mary Blair
Q : I'm a B.Des student at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in the Illustration and Animation Department. I'm currently working on a research paper about Mary Blair, and the comparison between her initial drawings and the final film drawings. I'm currently focusing on 3 films, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. I thought that you might have any initial drawings of Mary Blair to these films, like a story board or art, or information of who might have, so I could look at and compare the final films drawings to.
Yanit Hen, Ramat Gan, Israel
A: Do you have the book about Mary? The Art and Flair of Mary Blair, by John Canemaker. It was published by Disney Editions in 2003, and updated in 2014. The Walt Disney Archives does not have original art for the Disney animated films; that is in the company’s Animation Research Library, and not available to students for research.
step sisters from Cinderella
Q : Many years ago, when I was a little girl, I had several Disney comic books. Some of the stories involved Cinderella and her stepsisters. I could swear that their names were Anastasia and Drucilla. When did this name change to Drizella? I've seen it referred to in this form everywhere, even on official Disney pages. Am I imagining things, or possibly not remembering correctly? I must say that I was surprised the first time I saw the name Drizella. Please tell me I'm not crazy.
Carol, Lansing, Michigan
A: Drizella is the name that has been associated with the character since the animated motion picture was made in 1950. Drizella is the stepsister with the dark hair. There have been occasional misspellings of Drusilla and Drucilla; in the 2015 live-action film, the character was Drisella.
Q : I saw an old film that I am trying to find the name of. The plot: A man writes a children’s book, and his wife suggests that he go and meet with Mr. Disney to sell it. He reluctantly agrees to go to what looks like the Disney studios in California in the 1960’s. He gets to the gate and is let in, and while pages try to get him to Mr. Disney’s office, he stumbles through the different buildings at the studio. He sees how animated cells are painted, how sound affects are done, how the multi-layer camera works. I didn't see the end of the movie, so I don't know if he ever met Walt.
Steve, Ithaca, New York
A: The motion picture you cite is The Reluctant Dragon (1941). Robert Benchley is the actor bringing the book to the Studio, and he does indeed meet Walt at the end of the film, only to find that Disney has already made a film of the story. The cartoon segment about the dragon was also released separately as a short, with the same title.
Q : I am an Masters student in the Media Arts Department at the University of North Texas. I am currently working on a research paper about Classical-era animation and later changes made to films when concerning depictions of race, religion, and violence. I submitted my question first to the Library of Congress and they suggested I submit my question to you. One of my main questions concerns the altering and/or reanimating of some of their early-animated films/shorts such as Three Little Pigs and Fantasia. I wondered if their changes are permanent alterations to the negatives or nitrates (housed at the Library of Congress) or are simply other versions that are distributed to the general public? If they are the original prints, are these ever exhibited to the public or able to be viewed by researchers etc.?
Brent, Dallas, Texas
A: I do not know for sure, but since the prints of Three Little Pigs and Fantasia submitted to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress were sent in 2007 and 1990 respectively, I would guess that they are the revised prints, since the revisions had been made decades earlier. The original versions, however, are maintained in the Disney film vaults, but are not available for viewing.