50 Interesting Behind-The-Scenes Facts About '90s Disne…

The 1990s marked the height of the Disney Renaissance, a golden era for animated films that blended groundbreaking animation, memorable music, and timeless stories. From The Little Mermaid (1989, often included in the era) to Tarzan (1999), these movies grossed billions and won numerous awards. Below, I’ve compiled 50 fascinating behind-the-scenes facts, drawn from production trivia, cast insights, and technical innovations. These are sourced from expert analyses, interviews, and historical accounts, organized by movie for easy navigation. Facts are concise but packed with details to give you a deeper appreciation of the magic (and mayhem) behind the magic.

The Little Mermaid (1989) – Kicking Off the Renaissance

1. The film was the first Disney animated feature since The Jungle Book (1967) to feature an original story, not based on a classic fairy tale adaptation, though it was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s tale.
2. Animator Glen Keane modeled Ariel’s design after his own wife, drawing her flowing red hair and expressive eyes from personal sketches during a family vacation.
3. The song “Part of Your World” was almost cut from the film after test audiences showed little reaction; Howard Ashman fought to keep it, arguing it was Ariel’s “I Want” song essential to her character arc.
4. Ursula’s design was based on the drag queen Divine from Pink Flamingos, with animator Ruben A. Aquino exaggerating her features to create a villainous, theatrical presence.
5. The film’s underwater animation required a new “airbrushing” technique to simulate water bubbles and light refraction, developed by Disney’s effects team over months of trial and error.

The Rescuers Down Under (1990) – Underrated Adventure

6. This sequel to The Rescuers (1977) was the first Disney film to use the CAPS (Computer Animation Production System), allowing for smoother color and lighting effects in the Australian outback scenes.
7. Director Hendel Butoy insisted on filming live kangaroos and eagles in Australia for reference, leading to a team of animators sketching in the wild despite harsh weather.
8. The character Cody was voiced by child actor Adam Ryen, but his lines were re-recorded multiple times because his Australian accent kept slipping into American during sessions.
9. The film’s climax, featuring a daring eagle rescue, was inspired by a real-life story of a boy saving a bird in the Australian bush, which Butoy read in a newspaper.
10. Disney considered making it a direct-to-video release to save costs, but Michael Eisner pushed for a theatrical run to test the new computer system.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) – The First Animated Best Picture Nominee

11. Paige O’Hara (Belle) and Robby Benson (Beast) recorded many lines together in the studio, which is rare for animation due to scheduling; their real chemistry influenced the animators’ portrayal of the romance.
12. O’Hara ad-libbed a line asking the Beast if he could grow a beard post-transformation, but it was cut; Emma Watson’s Belle asks the same in the 2017 live-action remake.
13. The ballroom dance sequence took over 5,000 drawings and months of animation; it was rotoscoped from live dancers to achieve fluid waltz movements.
14. Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts) was initially hesitant to voice the character, fearing it would typecast her, but agreed after Howard Ashman personally convinced her.
15. The film’s budget ballooned to $25 million (huge for the time) due to the elaborate stained-glass prologue, which required hand-painted cells and innovative lighting effects.

Aladdin (1992) – Genie Steals the Show

16. Robin Williams improvised for 16 hours straight as the Genie, contributing so much material that it earned the film an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (despite being original).
17. Williams used 40 different voices for the Genie, drawing from impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, William F. Buckley, and even a car salesman, after begging directors to let him go off-script.
18. The Sultan was modeled after then-Vice President Dan Quayle, with animator Eric Goldberg exaggerating his bumbling personality for comic effect.
19. Disney promised Williams a Ferrari for his role, but he declined after feeling underpaid; he later accepted it as a gift for his daughter Zelda.
20. The film’s “A Whole New World” duet was recorded by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle in one take, but Brad Kane and Lea Salonga (speaking voices) sang it live for the end credits to match the animation.

The Lion King (1994) – Box Office King

21. The wildebeest stampede took nearly three years to animate, as it was one of the first major uses of CGI for crowd simulation in Disney films, blending 2D characters with 3D effects.
22. James Earl Jones (Mufasa) and his son Jason were both involved; Jones voiced Mufasa, while Jason voiced young Simba’s reflections in the “Circle of Life” scene.
23. Originally titled King of the Jungle, it was changed after research revealed lions live on savannas; the title The Lion King was inspired by Korean culture and Shakespeare.
24. The hyenas’ designs were based on Tommy Chong, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cheech Marin, with their voices influencing the slouchy, comedic animations.
25. Hans Zimmer composed the score using African choirs recorded in Johannesburg, blending them with orchestral elements to create the film’s epic sound.

Pocahontas (1995) – Controversial Yet Beautiful

26. Disney hired Native American consultants for authenticity, but many scenes, like the romance, were historically inaccurate; the real Pocahontas was 11 when she met John Smith.
27. Irene Bedard (Pocahontas’s speaking voice) and Judy Kuhn (singing voice) were chosen for their similar looks and tones, allowing seamless blending in musical sequences.
28. The film’s environmental message was inspired by the 1970s oil crisis, with animators drawing willows and rivers from live-action footage shot in Virginia.
29. Mel Gibson (John Smith) ad-libbed flirtatious lines, but Disney toned them down for family audiences; one cut line was “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
30. The raccoon Meeko was named after a real raccoon that wandered onto the studio lot, becoming a mascot for the production team.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) – Darkest Disney Tale

31. Stephen Schwartz wrote “Hellfire” expecting Disney to demand cuts for its mature themes, but the studio approved it unchanged, making it one of the edgiest songs in Disney history.
32. The MPAA flagged the word “sin” in “Hellfire,” so Disney lowered the volume and added sound effects instead of altering lyrics.
33. The film’s animation of Notre Dame Cathedral was based on detailed blueprints from the real Paris landmark, with over 1,000 drawings for the bell-tower scenes.
34. Demi Moore (Esmeralda) insisted on a non-sexualized design, pushing for stronger, more athletic animations to empower the character.
35. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the directors, drew inspiration from Les Misérables for the crowd scenes, using multi-plane cameras for depth in the “Out There” number.

Hercules (1997) – Mythical Comedy

36. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker envisioned Hercules as a 1940s screwball comedy hero, modeling his personality after young Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
37. Megara was designed after classic Hollywood actress Barbara Stanwyck, particularly her roles in The Lady Eve and Meet John Doe, for a sassy, independent vibe.
38. Danny DeVito (Phil) recorded his lines in a New York diner to capture authentic gruffness, ad-libbing Greek myths with modern twists.
39. The Muses were inspired by a gospel choir, with their harmonies recorded live in a church to achieve the soulful, call-and-response style.
40. James Woods (Hades) based his performance on a used-car salesman he met, exaggerating the smarmy delivery for comedic effect.

Mulan (1998) – Warrior Princess

41. The names Chi-Fu calls for army recruits were actual crew members’ names, a fun Easter egg for the animators and staff.
42. Disney consulted with Chinese historians for accuracy, but simplified the story; the real Mulan’s legend dates back 1,500 years, with no romantic subplot.
43. Ming-Na Wen (Mulan’s speaking voice) and Lea Salonga (singing) were paired for their vocal similarities, ensuring smooth transitions in “Reflection.”
44. The training camp scenes used live-action martial arts footage from Hong Kong films for reference, blended with Disney’s fluid animation style.
45. Eddie Murphy was offered the role of Mushu but declined; Eddie Murphy’s Mulan voice was eventually voiced by Miguel Ferrer, who brought a more serious tone.

Tarzan (1999) – Swinging into the Millennium

46. Phil Collins created the percussion for “Trashin’ the Camp” by smashing cups, slapping his forehead, and hitting random objects during a home session.
47. “Trashin’ the Camp” was Mark Mancina’s least favorite track to compose due to its chaotic noise; he used foley artists with bowls and glasses for gorilla sounds.
48. Collins wrote “You’ll Be in My Heart” on wrapping paper at a neighbor’s Christmas party, humming the melody while playing piano.
49. The vine-swinging sequences used innovative “Deep Canvas” technology, a 3D rotation system that allowed 2D animators to create dynamic jungle chases.
50. Tarzan’s design evolved from a muscular bodybuilder to a lean, agile ape-man after feedback that he looked too “human” in early sketches; Rosie O’Donnell (Kala) ad-libbed emotional gorilla roars for authenticity.

These facts reveal the creativity, challenges, and serendipity that defined the Disney Renaissance, turning simple stories into cultural phenomena. Many films faced budget overruns, cast changes, and technological hurdles, but the results—over $4 billion in global box office—proved their worth. For more, check out Disney’s official archives or books like The Disney Renaissance by Paul Griffin.

Sources: BuzzFeed, IMDb Trivia Pages, Disney Animation Archives, Variety Interviews