A Disney animated film, "Sleigh Bells" which was assumed lost and unseen, since its original release in 1928 has been rediscovered, reported BBC news. The only surviving copy of the film has been found by a researcher while browsing through the online catalogue of the BFI (British Film Institute) National archive's holdings.
"Sleigh Bells" is a six-minute short film by Walt Disney and UB Iwerks, which features the Disney's first character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, before they created Mickey Mouse's character. Oswald has close similarities with Mickey Mouse, with just a long pair of ears to distinguish between the two.
According to BBC news, Robin Baker, Head Curator, BFI National Archive expressed his happiness on discovering the long-lost film in the BFI National Archive. The movie "Sleigh Bells" will be presented to the audience after a long gap of 87 years. The curator said the movie will be able to showcase the unbridled imgagination of Disney before the movie-going audience. This movie was made when Disney was at the start of his career and will be presented in London.
Walt Disney Animation Studios obtained the discovered print. They created a new preservation print and a few digital copies to view the film as part of the BFI Southbank's program, "It's a Disney Christmas: Seasonal Shorts," premiering on December 12, 2015. BBC quoted Andrew Millstein, President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, which oversaw the restoration.
"We're thrilled to be collaborating with the BFI National Archives in the restoration of the 'lost' Oswald shorts, "Sleigh Bells," and to be sharing this delightful animated discovery with audiences in the UK as part of this special Disney holiday programme," Millstein was quoted as saying.
He added, "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."
"It's A Disney Christmas programme" also includes five other Disney shorts from the 1930s till today: "Mickey's Good Deed" (1932), "Night Before Christmas"(1933), "The Art of Skiing" (1941), "Pluto's Christmas Tree"(1952), "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), "Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa" (2010) and "Frozen Fever"(2015).
