What animal species would you like to see more in Disney animation?

[willard]

I've been thinking about the different animals that have had little if any presence in Disney animation and feel like Disney should use them more, be it as background characters or in the spotlight.

Giant panda: As I recall, its only appeared briefly in Mulan and as a reporter in the Chinese version of Zootopia.

Orca: Very surprising. Both Disney and Pixar have had many sea-based films and yet no orcas. They only made an appearance in Brother Bear, which is very appropriate for the Alaska/BC setting. I know about Spot from the Little Mermaid TV series, but I tend to focus on feature animation

Chimpanzee: The closest I've remember is the Ape House at the zoo in Lady and the Tramp. They were small apes (no tails) that could have been chimps though one is white. This isn't too surprising, gorillas and orangutans have more impressive sizes while the smaller, more comical simian role can be filled by generic monkeys.

Polar bears: Prior to Zootopia, these bears appeared in the Silly Symphony Artic Antics back in 1930!

[PatchofBlue]

I know Disney has like a bajillion bears (still not nearly as many as they have foxes) but I'm always up for more, especially if they go for something like a polar bear.

I also think orcas would be kind of fun, but I could also think there's a fascinating story to be told with something like a blue whale. They're already these gargantuan creatures, but put them in a story all by themselves, and suddenly the audience will relate to them like they are "human sized," and that's a fun dynamic.

This is something I think about a lot because, again, I really like it when Disney does talking animal pictures.

[UmbrellaFish]

I also love orcas.

I love raccoons. I could always use more raccoon action— Meeko origin story, perhaps?

Tapirs have a special significance to me because of my work, but lots of people are unfamiliar with them. I’ve always said they need to become the next “trendy” animal— like sloths, llamas, and axolotls before them. I remember being excited because I spotted a tapir in the Encanto trailer but the capybara really stole the show in that movie. Tapirs deserve their day in the sun!

[carolinakid]

I’ve always been a big Bagheera fan, so I would love an animated feature about black panthers/leopards.

I also love deer but Walt Disney’s Bambi is pretty definitive in their animated portrayal.

[Sotiris]

I don't care that much for animated animal stories, but I would love some more variety when it comes to animal sidekicks for Disney's human protagonists. I don't like it when there's a repeat species. For example, I didn't like Asha having a goat for a pet when Esmeralda's sidekick was also a goat.

[The Disneynerd]

I love raccoons. I could always use more raccoon action— Meeko origin story, perhaps?

Shush dont give them ideas!

I think they covered up basically all animals, especially bears, im more invested in which Tales starring animals they could adapt:

1. Ugly Duckling: beautiful story and message

2. Red Riding Hood, obviously! Perfect disney tale with a potential new disney princess, and an intimitating wolf, they never did theatrical Wolfs other than the rushed ones in Beauty and the Beast

3. Pied Piper: includes countless rats (Mickey mouse cameo!lol) but I like that story alot. They can give him the Elsa treatment of being the misunderstood good guy and maybe the rats could be his comedic sidekicks and theough his fluten he can communicate with them or something

3. Bremen town musicians: i grow to LOVE this tale, 4 old animals coming together to escape and become musicians, i just love the fact that the message would be something like "its never too late to accomplish your goals or theres no age Limit for your peak in life and so on.
I thought it would be The perfect opportunity for Dreamworks with their upcoming shreks Donkey Spinoff movie to be based on  the tale, as Donkey is probably the only character in the franshise who still isnt based on some fairytale character, and they could even put Puss and Perrito in it (the only animal left is a chicken), and Puss and Donkey breaking into song throughout the franshise makes their sudden passion to Form a band not look out of place,  PLEASE DREAMWORKS U HAVE A CHANCE

3.Moby DICK

4. 3 little Pigs: i think the Disney Short is iconic enough and the concept is not blockbuster material, but maybe they can make it work, especially when they differentiate the Pigs personalities visually and mentally

[willard]

I think they covered up basically all animals, especially bears, im more invested in which Tales starring animals they could adapt:

How about Rudyard Kipling's "The White Seal" or the Dot and the Kangaroo?

they never did theatrical Wolfs other than the rushed ones in Beauty and the Beast

Zootopia, Make Mine Music, Silly Symphonies.

[carolinakid]

Frozen is on Freeform right now and they just showed the wolf sequence...

And there’s the wolf/wolves in Sword in the Stone and Jungle Book.

[DisneyFan09]

Well, I would`ve like to see more porcupines or red panda`s. Cause we haven`t seen red panda`s in Disney animation, if I`m not mistaken.

I don't care that much for animated animal stories, but I would love some more variety when it comes to animal sidekicks for Disney's human protagonists. I don't like it when there's a repeat species. For example, I didn't like Asha having a goat for a pet when Esmeralda's sidekick was also a goat.

You know, that was my first thought when I learned about Valentino: About him retreading Djali`s kind! While of course it`s derivative, I personally don`t mind if they repeat species for the sidekicks. It depends how it`s done. But frankly, in Wish it felt somewhat derivative to have a goat, despite how it made sense, due to the Iberian location.

[Kyle]

not Disney, but since we got turning red I doubt they would want to do red pandas now.

They need to look to animals they really havent done yet.

[PatchofBlue]

Tapirs have a special significance to me because of my work,

Well don't just leave us with that cliffhanger!

[UmbrellaFish]

I tell people about their bones! At least, ancient ones. I use Encanto a lot, as an example where people might have seen tapirs before. They usually still confuse it with the capybara…

[willard]

I thought of some more

Anteater - Seen only in the Lion King when they shouldn't have been there! Should have been in Enchanto.

Manatee - Should have been in Princess and the Frog.

[Sotiris]

Bremen town musicians: i grow to LOVE this tale, 4 old animals coming together to escape and become musicians, i just love the fact that the message would be something like "its never too late to accomplish your goals or theres no age Limit for your peak in life and so on.

You should check The Fearless Four (1997). It's very Disney-esque.

[The Disneynerd]

Zootopia, Make Mine Music, Silly Symphonies.

Frozen is on Freeform right now and they just showed the wolf sequence...

And there’s the wolf/wolves in Sword in the Stone and Jungle Book.

Ok my brain wasnt braining guys oopsie uwu hihi
But atleast we could have a big plot focus on a Wolf with a Red Riding Hood/ Pigs adaptation

How about Rudyard Kipling's "The White Seal" or the Dot and the Kangaroo?

dont know those, but im gonna check them out!

You should check The Fearless Four (1997). It's very Disney-esque.

Oh thanks Sotiris! This was actually one of the movies I saw as a child that I saw on TV! I was like 8 the last time I saw it, kinda remember that they had like a modern record label that was evil i think lol (like in reality)! Definetely gonna watch it again soon
Of course its not well known so Disney or Dreamworks could still get their claws on it and "claim" the Fairytale