Q : I’m a student and need some clarification. There are some films that are computer-animated but have no credit of being a Disney/Pixar film. What sets a Disney/ Pixar film apart from other computer-animated Disney films?
Kaitlynn, West Burlington, Iowa
A: Disney has released all of the animated features from Pixar Animation Studios, beginning with Toy Story in 1995; Disney purchased Pixar in 2006. While all the features from Pixar have used computer animation, and have been known as Disney/Pixar films, Walt Disney Animation Studios has done some of its own films using computers, including Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph.
Q : I went to the Babes in Toyland “50 and Fabulous” screening, and it was so neat and wonderful to see that movie again after many years. My question is does the Archives have the costumes of the trees from the forest-of-no-return scene, the toy-making machine that Grumio invented, and any of the toy soldiers. If not, where have they gone?
Avi, Irvine, California
A: I did rescue a collection of the toy soldiers from the film in searching through a studio-building attic more than 40 years ago. The Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum included Tommy Sands/Tom Piper’s wedding costume and Annette Funicello/Mary Contrary’s red velvet cape. The other items probably did not survive.
Q : The animal origins of most Disney characters are pretty clear: Mickey is a Mouse, Goofy and Pluto are dogs, Donald is a duck, and so forth. But what exactly is/was Peg Leg Pete?
Randy, Lithia Springs, Georgia
A: John Grant in his authoritative Encyclopedia of Walt Disney’s Animated Characters, refers to him as a “rogue cat.”  According to Grant, this differs from his earliest appearances in the Alice Comedies before his look was changed, where he was “most probably a tail-less rat or oversized mouse.”
Q : One of my all-time favorite classic Disney shorts is Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet. After watching the short time and time again, and purchasing some merchandise with his likeness on it, I’ve noticed some inconsistencies with the spelling of Johnnie’s name. The title before the short spells his name Johnnie. Any merchandise I’ve come across, including the Little Golden Book and sheet music from the song, spells his name as Johnny. I am a Disney purist (I like to make sure I know everything about my favorite characters), which is why I’m wondering what the proper spelling of Johnnie’s name is.
Emily, Celebration, Florida
A: Both spellings were used at the time the film was released in 1946. Usually we go by the spelling on the film itself, but in this case, the other spelling was a lot more common. As you noticed, the Johnny spelling was used on contemporary merchandise and sheet music. So, there really is no definitive answer; Disney used both spellings.
Q : I have two 6 mm or 9 mm films. They are titled “Mickey’s Rough Ride” (1609-z) and “Donald Duck in Ducking Out” (1552-A). The boxes also say Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons. My question is: What can you tell me about these two films? I can’t seem to find anything about them on the Internet.
Kathy, Schenectady, New York
A: These are segments of Disney theatrical cartoons released for home use in 8 mm by Hollywood Film Enterprises. They would cut a cartoon into multiple parts, then put their own title on each part. I can tell you at least that Donald Duck in Ducking Out is from Orphan’s Picnic (1936). These short films have little or no value, as the old film would be brittle, and all of the full cartoons have been released on VHS or DVD.
Q : I had the pleasure of having Diamond Level access to the Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features event in 2012. During the studio tour on day three, we had a presentation on the film media used during the history of Disney films. We were informed that many of the original films have been lost due to deterioration of the film stock. Have all of the Walt Disney’s Disneyland, Walt Disney Presents, and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color television shows that were filmed (from 1954 to 1966) when Walt was alive been restored to their original full color? Are there any plans to release these as Season Volumes on DVD or Blu-ray? Also, the Blu-ray release of Alice in Wonderland contains a 1950 TV Christmas special that Walt Disney filmed entitled One Hour in Wonderland. I read that there was a second TV Christmas special from 1951 entitled The Walt Disney Christmas Show. Are they available on DVD or Blu-ray?
Chuck, Columbus, Ohio
A: Disney has always been famous for taking care of its old films, when other studios let theirs disintegrate. So, no, there are not any Disney films that have been lost (except for some early Alice Comedies and Oswald cartoons). Thinking ahead, Walt Disney filmed most of his early television shows in color, even though they were being aired in black and white. Sometimes when the shows were later rerun, shown on Disney Channel, or released on videocassette/DVD, color prints were made from the original negatives. It is possible that some of the shows have never had a color print made. I know of no plans to re-release the seasons of the television series on DVD. The 1951 Christmas show has not been released on video or DVD.