On 29 January 1959, Walt Disney’s animated masterpiece Sleeping Beauty was released in cinemas by Buena Vista Film Distribution. As Disney’s 16th animated feature, it was the last fairy tale film produced by Walt Disney himself before the studio returned to the genre decades later with The Little Mermaid. Featuring a visual style inspired by medieval art and early 20th-century modernism, the film was notable for its bold, highly detailed backgrounds created by artist Eyvind Earle.
The film was the first Disney animated feature shot in Super Technirama 70, a widescreen process that enhanced its breathtaking visuals. Its soundtrack, composed by George Bruns, was adapted from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty, further elevating its dreamlike and magical atmosphere. Despite these innovations, Sleeping Beauty initially underperformed at the box office, and its high production costs contributed to financial difficulties for the Disney studio.
Over the course of the 1950s, Sleeping Beauty endured a long and costly production, with story development beginning in 1951 and animation continuing until 1958. The film’s intricate backgrounds, highly stylised characters, and innovative use of colour made it one of the most ambitious Disney projects at the time. It was also the last Disney film to use hand-inked animation cels before the studio transitioned to xerography, a cheaper and more efficient method introduced in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).
Although its early reception was mixed, the film grew in popularity over the years through multiple theatrical re-releases. Critics and audiences began to appreciate its stylised animation, striking use of colour, and the unforgettable presence of Maleficent, one of Disney’s most iconic villains. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films ever made, with its influence seen in later Disney productions.
Watch the original trailer below:
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With information from: disney.fandom.com
