DISNEY FANS REJOICE – a new, long-lost animation by Walt Disney has been found.
Called Sleigh Bells, it dates from 1928, and features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a precursor to Mickey Mouse.
It was discovered in the British Film Institute’s (BFI) archive by a researcher browsing the online catalogue of the archive’s holdings.
Sleigh Bells had been unseen since its release, said the BFI, and Walt Disney Animation Studios has now taken the print and created new print and digital copies.
Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive, described the find as “a joyful treat”.
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.
You can watch an extract from the clip at the BFI website.
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