Eighty years ago this week, Walt Disney Productions released its third animated feature film, The symphonic music-themed “Fantasia.” It wasn’t a huge box-office hit at the time – thanks, in part, to the European movie market cut off by World War II – but it eventually made back its budget during subsequent releases over the years and today is regarded as a classic, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

Here’s a look at “Fantasia” and the rich history of Disney’s animated movies.

Disney animators modeled the sorcerer in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment on Walt Disney himself – especially the glare he gives Mickey. Animators called the character “Yen Sid,” which is “Disney” backward.

Walt Disney happened to run into famed conductor Leopold Strokowski at a restaurant. When Disney told him about the symphonic project, Strokowski replied: “I’d love to conduct that for you.” So Disney hired him.

When “Fantasia” was first released on home video in 1990, the “Night on Bald Mountain” sequence was omitted: Parents had complained for years that it frightens their kids. Bela Lugosi modeled for the demon character.

Animators redesigned Mickey Mouse for his first feature film appearance, updating his look and giving him pupils for the first time. “Fantasia” is 2 hours and 5 minutes long – by far the longest Disney animated film.

Animated films by Disney productions

Not including films made by Disney’s TV animation division or by outside producers – like Pixar was until 2006.

Dec. 21, 1937
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Feb. 7, 1940
Pinocchio

Nov. 13, 1940
Fantasia

Oct. 23, 1941
Dumbo

Aug. 13, 1942
Bambi

Feb. 3, 1945
The Three Caballeros

Oct. 5, 1949
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Feb. 15, 1950
Cinderella

July 28, 1951
Alice in Wonderland

Feb. 5, 1953
Peter Pan

June 22, 1955
Lady and the Tramp

Jan. 29, 1959
Sleeping Beauty

Jan. 25, 1961
One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Dec. 25, 1963
The Sword in the Stone

Oct. 18, 1967
The Jungle Book

Dec. 24, 1970
The Aristocats

Nov. 8, 1973
Robin Hood

March 11, 1977
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

June 22, 1977
The Rescuers

July 10, 1981
The Fox and the Hound

July 24, 1985
The Black Cauldron

June 2, 1986
The Great Mouse Detective

Nov. 18, 1988
Oliver and Company

Nov. 17, 1989
The Little Mermaid

Nov. 16, 1990
The Rescuers Down Under

Nov. 22, 1991
Beauty and the Beast

Nov. 25, 1992
Aladdin

June 15, 1994
The Lion King

June 23, 1995
Pocahontas

June 21, 1996
The Hunchback of Notre Dame

June 27, 1997
Hercules

June 19, 1998
Mulan

June 18, 1999
Tarzan

Jan. 1, 2000
Fantasia 2000

May 19, 2000
Dinosaur

Dec. 15, 2000
The Emperor’s New Groove

June 15, 2001
Atlantis: The Lost Empire

June 21, 2002
Lilo and Stitch

Nov. 27, 2002
Treasure Planet

Nov. 1, 2003
Brother Bear

April 2, 2004
Home on the Range

Nov. 4, 2005
Chicken Little

March 30, 2007
Meet the Robinsons

Nov. 21, 2008
Bolt

Dec. 11, 2009
The Princess and the Frog

Nov. 24, 2010
Tangled

July 15, 2011
Winnie the Pooh

Nov. 2, 2012
Wreck-It Ralph

Nov. 27, 2013
Frozen

Nov. 7, 2014
Big Hero 6

March 4, 2016
Zootopia

Nov. 23, 2016
Moana

Nov. 21, 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet

Nov. 22, 2019
Frozen II

March 12, 2021
Rayna and the Last Dragon

Nov. 24, 2021
Encanto