The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney's 100th Anniversary Celebration is a television special that aired on ABC on October 15, 2023, to commemorate the centennial of The Walt Disney Company. The special was hosted by Kelly Ripa and featured exclusive moments, sneak peeks of upcoming Disney projects, and the world broadcast premieres of Walt Disney Animation Studios' new animated short film Once Upon a Studio and the Oscar-winning feature film Encanto, as well as a sneak peek at the upcoming film Wish.
Background[]
The Walt Disney Company was founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Roy and Walt Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. The company grew to become one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information, with a portfolio of media and entertainment businesses that include animation, live-action film, television, theme parks, consumer products, publishing, gaming, streaming, and more. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Disney announced a year-long global campaign called "The World's Most Magical Celebration" that would include special events, merchandise, experiences, and content across its platforms and properties. As part of the campaign, ABC, a subsidiary of Disney, aired a special program on October 15, 2023, titled The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney's 100th Anniversary Celebration.
Content[]
The special program was hosted by Kelly Ripa, who is also the co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark, a syndicated talk show produced by ABC. Ripa introduced various segments that showcase the history, legacy, and future of Disney, as well as exclusive moments featuring celebrities, filmmakers, animators, and fans. The program also included a sneak peek of Walt Disney Animation Studios' upcoming film Wish. The highlight of the program was the world broadcast premieres of two Walt Disney Animation Studios productions: Once Upon a Studio and Encanto.
Once Upon a Studio is a 10-minute animated short film that features 543 characters from more than 85 Disney feature-length and short films in an all-star ensemble reunion. The short film celebrates 10 decades of storytelling, artistry, and technological achievements by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Encanto is a musical fantasy film that tells the story of an extraordinary family, The Madrigals, who live in a magical house in Colombia. The film features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2022.
