Lost Disney Film From 1928 Discovered In British Film National Archive

Sleigh Bells (1928)

Recently The BIF( British Indepent Film) and Walt Disney Animation Studios found a long lost 6 minute animated film Sleigh Bells (1928), featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the first ever Disney character and a long-eared precursor to Mickey Mouse. The film has been restored with the help of Walt Disney Animation Studios and will have its world premiere in London on December 12.

Robin Baker, Head Curator, BFI National 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. We thank Walt Disney for working with us and are thrilled to present the world premiere of this restored version here in London at BFI Southbank.”

Andrew Millstein, President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, which oversaw the restoration, 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. We are grateful to Katrina Stokes, Robin Baker, and their associates at the BFI for helping us locate and preserve Sleigh Bells.”

The world premiere of the new restoration of the film by Walt Disney Animation Studios will take place at BFI Southbank on 12 December 2015 as part of a programme It’s a Disney Christmas: Seasonal Shorts, screening other festive Disney gems from the 1930s to the present day.