Dumbo/Trivia

• Disney derived the the entire plot of this movie from a super-rare (even at time of publishing) picture book that was made like a scroll with dials rather than a traditional book format. The "magic feather" that got a one page mention ended up defining the entire second act of the film. Why do this instead of adapting another fairy tale? Who knows. Perhaps he wanted to test himself.
  • More likely he happened to see the book and thought "This would be an easy story to make into a short, cheap movie." Because Disney was on a major budget crunch at the time.
  • Dumbo was supposed to be just a short subject--but got expanded to a full movie because Disney needed the cash.
• Hey, It's That Voice!: The stork that delivers Dumbo is played by Sterling Holloway, who would later voice Winnie the Pooh, the Chesire Cat, and Kaa.
  • Jiminy Cricket is the leader of the crows.
• Tribute to Fido: It is implied that Dumbo's father is Jumbo, a famous elephant that appeared first at the London Zoo then at the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Dumbo was supposed to be named Jumbo Junior, but ended up being known by a mocking nickname instead.
• What Could Have Been: This movie was originally going to get a Direct to Video sequel, but it was cancelled, and it may have been among the ones that got shot down by John Lasseter and his team. Though, considering the reputation of Direct to Video Disney sequels in general, this may have been for the best.