Watch 'Disney 100: A Century of Dreams' Thursday, December 14 on ABC
ABC News Studios announced "Disney 100: A Century of Dreams – A Special Edition of 20/20," the documentary special event commemorating the 100th anniversary of one of the most beloved entertainment companies in the world. The documentary takes viewers on a magical journey that started in 1923, featuring a century of stories and experiences that will touch the hearts of audiences everywhere. From the creation of the Disney Brothers Studio to modern beloved brands such as Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox, the core DNA of Disney remains the same: storytelling, creativity, innovation and optimism. The special is a celebration of the countless Disney creators, telling the story behind the story that will astonish even the biggest Disney superfans, and viewers will be treated to an inside look at an all-new Disney attraction. "Disney100: A Century of Dreams – A Special Edition of 20/20" airs Thursday, Dec. 14 (9:02-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Dec. 22 on Disney+.
The documentary chronicles all facets of the storied company — from animation to parks to television to music — spotlighting those who have played essential roles in Disney's history. Starting with the creation of the iconic character Mickey Mouse and unspooling the story of how Walt Disney's quest to make the very first feature-length animated film, "Snow White," nearly bankrupted the young studio, viewers will learn how unbridled determination and imagination became the cornerstones of the Walt Disney Company.
The special features interviews with Disney CEO Bob Iger, the legendary stars of Disney's critically acclaimed hit musical fantasy film "Mary Poppins" Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and Walt Disney's grandsons Chris Miller and Walter Miller. Award-winning musical collaborators — including songwriter Richard Sherman of the prolific Sherman Brothers, legendary recording artist Elton John, composer Alan Menken and singer/songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda — discuss the powerful role of music in Disney's storytelling. Stars from Disney's animated feature films — including Idina Menzel (Elsa, "Frozen" and "Frozen 2"), Jodi Benson (Ariel, "The Little Mermaid"), Paige O'Hara (Belle, "Beauty and the Beast") and Ariana DeBose (Asha, "Wish") — talk about voicing the animated musicals. Additional appearances include journalists Chris Connelly and Kelley L. Carter, Katy Perry, Chris Evans, John Stamos, "Mickey Mouse Club" actor Josh Ackerman, Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano, Disney Legends, experts and more.
"Disney 100: A Century of Dreams – A Special Edition of 20/20" is produced by ABC News Studios and "20/20." Matt Lombardi serves as executive producer, and David Sloan is senior executive producer. Janice Johnston is executive producer for "20/20." ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley, and Reena Mehta is the SVP of Streaming and Digital Content.
About ABC News Studios: ABC News Studios, inspired by ABC News' trusted reporting, is an award-winning, premium news and documentary original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories driving the cultural zeitgeist spanning true-crime, investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios' original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," "Sound of the Police," "The Lady Bird Diaries" and "Aftershock," and popular docu-series and documentaries, including "Killing County," "Wild Crime," "Mormon No More," "The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump" and "Jelly Roll: Save Me."
About "20/20": ABC News' "20/20" is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, "20/20" features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour "20/20" events air Fridays from 9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms and Hulu.