PKNA begins publication in Italy.
Toontown opens at Tokyo Disneyland.
An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year 1996.
Theatrical releases[]
Feature films[]
- February 2 - White Squall (Hollywood Pictures)
- February 16 - Muppet Treasure Island
- February 23 - Before and After (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
- March 1 - Up Close & Personal (Touchstone Pictures) was released to mostly negative reviews.
- March 8 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
- March 29 - Oliver & Company (re-issue)
- April 12 - James and the Giant Peach is released to near-universal acclaim, but became a commercial failure.
- April 19 - Celtic Pride (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
- May 3 - Last Dance (Touchstone Pictures)
- May 24 - Spy Hard (Hollywood Pictures)
- May 31 - Eddie (Hollywood Pictures)
- June 7 - The Rock (Hollywood Pictures)
- June 19 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiered in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- June 21 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame is released to positive reviews and became a commercial success.
- August 2 - Emma (Miramax Films)
- August 9 - Jack (Hollywood Pictures)
- August 30 - First Kid (with Caravan Pictures)
- September 13 - The Rich Man's Wife (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
- October 4 - D3: The Mighty Ducks
- October 25 - The Associate (Hollywood Pictures)
- November 8 - Ransom (Touchstone Pictures)
- November 27 - 101 Dalmatians (with Great Oaks Entertainment) received generally mixed reviews, but became a commercial success.
- December 25 - Evita (Hollywood Pictures)
Theme parks and resorts[]
- January 2 - World of Motion closes in Future World at Epcot.
- January 21 - Universe of Energy closes in Future World at Epcot.
- January 27 - Toy Story Funhouse opens at Disneyland.
- March 11 - Mickey's Starland Show closes in Mickey's Starland at Magic Kingdom.
- April 15 - Toontown opens at Tokyo Disneyland.
- June 20 - Disney's River Country celebrates its 20th anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort.
- June 29 - Mickey's Starland at the Magic Kingdom is renamed Mickey's Toontown Fair.
- September - The Remember the Magic Parade premieres at the Magic Kingdom to prepare for its 25th anniversary.
- September 1 - Captain EO closes in Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland.
- September 6 - Night of Joy 1996 begins at the Magic Kingdom.
- September 15 - Ellen's Energy Adventure opens in Future World at Epcot.
- September 21 - IllumiNations 25 opens in World Showcase at Epcot.
- September 28 - Walt Disney World's Grand Prix Speedway is renamed Tomorrowland Speedway in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
- October 1 - Walt Disney World Resort and the Magic Kingdom celebrates its 25th anniversary.
- The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm opens in Mickey's Toontown Fair at the Magic Kingdom.
- November 25 - Main Street Electrical Parade closes at Disneyland.
Television[]
- March 8 - Muppets Tonight premieres on ABC.
- June 1 - The Disney Channel original movie Nightjohn airs.
- June 6 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Festival of Fun Musical Spectacular premieres.
- September 3 - Quack Pack premieres in syndication.
- September 6 - Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series premieres in syndication and on ABC.
- September 7 - Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles and Brand Spanking New Doug (formerly on Nickelodeon), premiere on ABC.
- October 3 - The Disney Channel premiere film, Susie Q premieres on the Disney Channel.
- October 5 - Jungle Cubs premieres on ABC.
- October 8 - The Quack Pack episode "Ducklaration of Independence" premieres in syndication.
- October 25 - Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh premieres on CBS; it would move to ABC a year later.
- December 14 - Animated short, The Bug Hunt screens on the Disney Channel, during the American Teacher Awards. It was the winner of the "Create a Great Story" Contest.
Albums[]
- March 5 - Oliver & Company (re-release; some songs rearranged)
- March 26 - Songs from the AristoCats and Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach
- April 12 - James and the Giant Peach
Comics[]
- December - Marvel Comics files for bankruptcy, and as a result, Disney Comic Hits! is canceled.
Video games[]
- April 11 - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for Super NES
- April 24 - Animated StoryBook: Toy Story
- August 24 - Toy Story: Activity Center
- September - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for PC
- September 24 - The Walt Disney World Explorer (Windows and Mac application)
- November - Pinocchio for Super NES
- November 11 - Animated StoryBook: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Home video releases[]
VHS releases[]
- January 9
- Favorite Stories: The Wind in the Willows
- Valentine's Day promotion:
- Sweetheart Stories
- Mickey Loves Minnie
- Aladdin & Jasmine's Moonlight Magic
- Love Tales (re-issue)
- The Little Mermaid: Whale of a Tale (re-issue)
- Winnie the Pooh: Un-Valentine's Day (re-issue)
- Muppet Babies: Be My Valentine (re-issue)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Love Potion #9 (re-issue)
- January 30 - Timon and Pumbaa's Wild Adventures (1-3)
- January 31
- February 20
- Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Magic and Mystery
- Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: True Hearts
- Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
- Heavyweights
- Tall Tale
- Man of the House
- February 21 - Easter promotion:
- The Easter Chipmunk
- The Best of Roger Rabbit
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Let's Go to the Circus! (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Campout at Walt Disney World (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Beach Party at Walt Disney World (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life (re-issue)
- The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (re-issue)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar (re-issue)
- Where's Spot? (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to the Farm (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to a Party (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to School (re-issue)
- Sweet Dreams, Spot (re-issue)
- February 28
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (re-issue)
- Pocahontas
- The Three Caballeros (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- The Sword in the Stone (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Dumbo (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Alice in Wonderland (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- So Dear to My Heart (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Robin Hood (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Pete's Dragon (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Mary Poppins (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- March 5
- Houseguest (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Roommates (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- March 19
- The Tie That Binds (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Operation Dumbo Drop
- March 27 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- April 9
- Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Fearless Friends and Team Genie
- Splash (re-issue; Touchstone Home Video)
- The Rescue (re-issue; Touchstone Home Video)
- April 16
- Unstrung Heroes (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- The Scarlet Letter (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- April 24 - The Aristocats
- May 1 - Tom and Huck
- May 7 - Dead Presidents (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- May 8 - Timon and Pumbaa's Wild Adventures (4-6)
- May 14 - Powder (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- June 11 - Father of the Bride Part II (Touchstone Home Video)
- June 26- Disney Sing Along Songs: Topsy Turvy, Let's Go to the Circus!, Campout at Walt Disney World, and Beach Party at Walt Disney World
- July 2 - Mr. Holland's Opus (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- July 9 - Nixon (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- July 17 - Winnie the Pooh Playtime: Happy Pooh Day and Learning: Working Together
- July 28 - Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (re-issue)
- July 30 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
- August 13
- White Squall (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Aladdin and the King of Thieves
- September 4
- Winnie the Pooh: Frankenpooh (re-issue)
- Winnie the Pooh: Spookable Pooh
- September 10
- Muppet Treasure Island
- Favorite Stories: Three Little Pigs
- Up Close & Personal (Touchstone Home Video)
- September 24
- Before and After (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- September 25
- October 2
- Favorite Stories: Mickey's Christmas Carol
- October 15
- James and the Giant Peach
- Celtic Pride (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- October 29
- November 5
- Spy Hard (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Last Dance (Touchstone Home Video)
- November 26 - Disney Sing Along Songs: Pongo and Perdita
- December 17 - Life with Mikey
- December 24 - Mickey's Christmas Carol
- Unknown
Events[]
- March 21 - Disneyland unveils its plans to renovate Tomorrowland. The project would be completed in 1998.
- March 23 - Disney and McDonald's sign a 10-year national promotion alliance, which began in January 1997.
- April 26 - EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is held until June 3.
- September 28 - The first annual EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is held until October 27.
- November 29 - The first annual EPCOT Holidays Around the World is held until December 24.
- After 2 years, The Wind in the Willows, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and Three Little Pigs are the last videos in the Disney's Favorite Stories series.
- However, the Walt Disney Classics logo returned with early VHS copies of Pocahontas, and the Walt Disney Mini Classics logo returned in 1996 with the Favorite Stories video release of Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Behind the scenes[]
- Disney buys New York-based animation studio Jumbo Pictures. The company would produce three shows for Disney.
- Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere leave Nickelodeon to pitch Recess to Walt Disney Television. It would premiere a year later.
- February 1 - The Walt Disney Company changes copyright name to Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- February 2 - Gerry Laybourne, former president of Nickelodeon, is hired as the new president of the newly founded Disney/ABC Television Networks.
- October - Production begins on Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Character debuts[]
- February 6 - Banshee, Cu Chullain, Rory Dugan, Mr. Dugan
- February 7 - Shaman, Matrix
- February 8 - Anansi, Fara Maku, Tea Gora
- February 12 - Lady of the Lake, Stone Dragon
- February 13 - Odin
- February 14 - Taurus, Helios, Kiron, Boreas, Ekidna, Talos, Proteus, Minotaur
- February 15 - Mayan Clan
- February 16 - Polly Lobster, Clueless Morgan, Mad Monty, Angel Marie, Old Tom, Calico, Black Dog, Blind Pew
- February 19 - Nokkar
- February 20 - Clan Ishimura, Taro
- February 21 - Coyote (Child of Oberon), Carlos Maza
- February 22 - Oberon, Titania
- March - Uno, Zondag, Angus Fangus, Camera 9, Lyla Lay, Paperilla Starry, Sean LeDuck, Everett Ducklair
- March 8 - Riley, Delilah, Bando, Sledge, Stokey, Spike, Ashcan and Pete, Jack and Ralph
- April 11 - Hernae, Mojo Witch Doctor, Giant Metal Spider
- April 12 - James Henry Trotter, Aunt Spiker, Aunt Sponge, Magic Man, Crocodile Tongues, Mr. Centipede, Mr. Grasshopper, Earthworm, Mrs. Ladybug, Miss Spider, Glowworm, Rhino, Robot Shark, Skeleton Pirates, Rachel Trotter, Craig Trotter
- April 29 - Alexander Fox Xanatos
- May 7 - Delilah, Brentwood, Hollywood, Burbank, Malibu
- June 21 - Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Judge Claude Frollo, Phoebus, Clopin, Archdeacon, Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, Djali, Frollo's soldiers, Quasimodo's father, Snowball, Quasimodo's mother, Achilles, Old Prisoner, Brutish and Oafish Guards
- June - The Raider
- July 3 - Tex (THX)
- August 13 - Sa'Luk, Cassim
- September 4 - Kent Powers, Knuckles
- September 5 - Nelly the Dragon, Prince Gaylord
- September 6 - Phil Palmfeather, Captain Klegghorn, Wildwing Flashblade, Canard Thunderbeak, Tanya Vanderflock, Mallory McMallard, Lord Dragaunus, Thrash & Mookie, Siege, Wraith, Duke L'Orange, Chameleon, Check "Grin" Hardwing, Drake DuCaine, Hunter Drones
- September 9 - Boss Beaver
- September 10 - Shark
- September 11 - Nigel Nightshade
- September 12 - Rocky "The Rocket" Throttle, Toy Kangaroo
- September 14 - Dr. Huggarman
- September 17 - Dr. Tobar, Germlings
- September 19 - Gwumpki
- September 21 - Madame Credenza
- September 23 - Jungle Inspector
- September 24 - Doug Slackwell, Fred
- September 26 - Gil, Winston
- September 28 - Mr. Pig, Stanley Strazinski
- September 30 - Toucan Dan
- October 1 - The Claw
- October 2 - Dr. Emile Crocker
- October 4 - Ted Orion, Borg, Coach Wilson, Linda, Rick Riley, Asteroth
- October 3 - Commander Buck Burpelson, The Roborsons
- October 5 - Rita Book, Arthur and Cecil, Mahra, Ned, Jed, and Fred
- October 7 - Miss Skunk Lady
- October 9 - Slab, Alexandra and Cassandra Mergancer
- October 10 - Agent X
- October 12 - Torgo, Dr. Caliostro, Dr. Wally Pretorious
- October 16 - Shorty Hollow, Henry Villanova
- October 19 - Bahuka, Winifred's Uncle, Dr. Droid
- October 21 - Jumbo Jumbo the Elephant, Wolverine
- October 24 - Vector, Helga Needlehopper
- October 26 - Mungo the Mongoose, Uncle Ernie, Beast, Dr. Swindle, B.R.A.W.N.
- October 28 - Cisco Pig, Cisco Pig's Gang
- October 29 - Gustav Goose, Susie McGuider, Beef Jerky
- October 30 - Moltoc
- October 31 - Vampire, Siegmund, Viking
- November - Zoster
- November 6 - Colonel (Quack Pack), Colonel's Thugs, Horst and Klebb, Cal Crudon, Antoinette
- November 7 - Dr. Nocturno, Chundel
- November 9 - Claudius, Alvin Yasbeck
- November 11 - Boy Beaver, Duke Meerkat, Captain of the Guard, Tatiana, The Cobra
- November 12 - Dr. Homer
- November 13 - Henry Villanova
- November 16 - Big Daddy-O Cool
- November 18 - Sharla, Warthog Sounder
- November 20 - Andre Demouche, Raven, Andre's Cats
- November 21 - Flint Steel
- November 22 - Buzz Blitzman
- November 27 - Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians), Roger Dearly (101 Dalmatians), Anita Dearly (101 Dalmatians), Nanny (101 Dalmatians), Jasper and Horace (101 Dalmatians) Herbert, Alonzo, Mr. Skinner, Jewel, Dipstick, Fidget, Two-Tone, Whizzer, Kipper, Patches, Fogey (101 Dalmatians), Punch (101 Dalmatians), Sergeant Tibbs (101 Dalmatians), Lucky (101 Dalmatians 1996)
- November 30 - Shrew, Whitehood
- December 14 - Cleopatra Funnie
- December 28 - Leah
- Brad Van Beck
- Pepito
People[]
Births[]
- January 3 - Florence Pugh (actress)
- January 15 - Dove Cameron (actress, voice actress, and singer)
- January 18 - Sarah Gilman (actress)
- January 24 - Tati Gabrielle (actress and voice actress)
- February 9
- Jimmy Bennett (actor, voice actor, and musician)
- Kelli Berglund (actress, singer, and dancer)
- March 31 - Liza Koshy (actress, voice actress, and media personality)
- April 3 - Sarah Jeffery (actress, singer, and dancer)
- April 10 - Audrey Whitby (actress and comedian)
- April 14 - Abigail Breslin (actress)
- April 16 - Anya Taylor-Joy (actress and voice actress)
- April 25 - Allisyn Ashley Arm (actress, voice actress, and comedian)
- April 28 - Tony Revolori (actor)
- May 6 - Dominic Scott Kay (actor, voice actor, and singer)
- May 9 - Noah Centineo (actor and model)
- May 17 - Ryan Ochoa (actor and musician)
- June 1 - Tom Holland (actor and voice actor)
- June 4 - Maria Bakalova (actress and film producer)
- June 15 - Aurora (singer, songwriter, and record producer)
- June 24 - Harris Dickinson (actor, writer, and director)
- July 20 - Joey Bragg (actor and comedian)
- July 31 - Blake Michael (actor and director)
- August 1 - Cymphonique Miller (actress and singer-songwriter)
- August 30 - Trevor Jackson (actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer)
- September 1 - Zendaya (actress, singer, dancer, and model)
- September 6 - Alex Christian Jones (actor)
- September 10 - Kamil McFadden (actor and voice actor)
- September 12 - Colin Ford (actor and voice actor)
- September 27 - Dara Sisterhen (actress, songwriter, and musician)
- October 5 - Mary Gibbs (actress and voice actress)
- October 8 - Kylee Russell (actress)
- October 9 - Jacob Batalon (actor)
- October 25 - Georgia Lock (actress and presenter)
- November 22 - Madison Davenport (actress, voice actress, and singer)
- December 6 - Stefanie Scott (actress and singer)
- December 9 - Leah Lewis (actress, model, and singer)
- December 11 - Hailee Steinfeld (actress, singer, songwriter, and model)
- December 29 - Dylan Minnette (actor, singer, and musician)
Deaths[]
- February 2 - Shamus Culhane (animator, film director, and film producer)
- March 12 - Hazel George (lyricist and nurse)
- April 7 - Dale Barnhart (animator and layout and background artist)
- May 1 - Luana Patten (actress and model)
- June 5 - Vito Scotti (veteran character actor)
- July 15 - Dana Hill (actress and voice actress)
- August 18 - Al Bertino (animator)
- November 23 - George Nicholas (animator)
1996