The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Since 1922, the founder of the company, Walt Disney, and the company has produced live-action motion picture shorts. This list only includes shorts which were initially released as individual shorts, which excludes the shorts that were originally released as part of Disney features in the 1950s and later re-released as individual shorts. This list also does not include shorts that do not contain any original stock footage. This list includes shorts with both live action and animation only if the majority of the shorts contain live action. This list does not include any trailers as they are usually edited from the features they are supposed to promote.
+ Key to the colors used below Type of film Documentary films True-Life Adventures People & Places Related to Theme parks Educational film shown in school
Theatrical Silent era
SeriesTitle Date Director DVD Release Notes Tommy Tucker's Tooth December 6, 1922 Walt Disney Animated insert less than 12 second. Martha 1923 Walt Disney Song-O-Reel Clara Cleans Her Teeth 1926 Walt Disney Animated insert less than 12 second. Note: Some of the Alice Comedies shorts were primarily live-action but for consistency's sake they are included on the list of Disney animated shorts.
Sound era Series Title Date Director DVD Release Notes Stormy, the Thoroughbred March 12, 1954 Larry LansburghFirst film distributed by Buena Vista Film Distribution Company, Inc. Cow Dog November 6, 1956 Larry LansburghNominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) The Tattooed Police Horse December 18, 1964 Larry LansburghReleased with Emil and the Detectives Run, Appaloosa, Run July 29, 1966 Larry LansburghDisney Movie ClubReleased with Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN Hang Your Hat on the Wind June 11, 1969 Larry Lansburgh Originally an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color., Released with Rascal Dad, Can I Borrow the Car? September 30, 1970 Ward Kimball Disney Movie ClubStop-motion animation and live-action short film. Released with a Son of Flubber re-release. Frankenweenie December 12, 1984Tim Burton The Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition, Collector's Edition, and Blu-ray 3D and FrankenweenieReleased theatrically in the UK with Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend. Remade as feature length stop-motion animation film in 2012.
Documentaries
1940s Series Title Date Director DVD Release Notes True-Life Adventures Seal Island December 21, 1948 James Algar Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 2: Lands of ExplorationFirst True-Life Adventure film. Won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel)
1950s Series Title Date Director DVD Release Notes True-Life Adventures In Beaver Valley (a.k.a. Beaver Valley) July 19, 1950 James Algar Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 1: Wonders of the WorldReleased with Treasure Island. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) True-Life Adventures Nature's Half Acre July 28, 1951James Algar Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 4: Nature's MysteriesReleased with Alice in Wonderland. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) True-Life Adventures The Olympic Elk February 13, 1952James Algar Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 3: Creatures of the WildReleased with a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs re-release True-Life Adventures Water Birds June 26, 1952 Ben Sharpsteen Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 1: Wonders of the World and The RescuersReleased with The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) True-Life Adventures Bear Country February 5, 1953 James Algar Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 3: Creatures of the WildReleased with Peter Pan. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Short (Two Reel) People & Places The Alaskan Eskimo February 18, 1953 James AlgarFirst People & Places film. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short True-Life Adventures Prowlers of the Everglades July 23, 1953 James AlgarWalt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 1: Wonders of the WorldReleased with The Sword and the Rose. Last film distributed by RKO Radio Pictures People & Places Siam December 24, 1954Ralph Wright Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) Wildlife Adventure Arizona Sheepdog May 25, 1955Larry LansburghReleased with Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. Later released on 16mm as Nicky and Rock - Working Sheep Dogs. People & Places Switzerland June 16, 1955 Ben SharpsteenReleased with Lady and the Tramp. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) People & Places Men Against the Arctic December 21, 1955 Winston HiblerReleased with both The Littlest Outlaw and The Great Locomotive Chase. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Foreign Nature Documentary Emperor Penguins October 13, 1955 Maris MarretFrence produced short acquired for distribution People & Places Sardinia November 15, 1956 Ben Sharpsteen People & Places Disneyland U.S.A. December 20, 1956 Hamilton S. Luske Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland-Secrets, Stories and MagicReleased with Westward Ho, the Wagons!. People & Places Samoa December 25, 1956 Ben SharpsteenNominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Two Reel) People & Places The Blue Man of Morocco February 14, 1957 Ralph WrightReleased with a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs re-release People & Places Lapland February 14, 1957 Ben SharpsteenReleased with a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs re-release Social & Cultural Alaskan Sled Dog July 3, 1957 Ben Sharpsteen Wildlife Adventure The Wetback Hound June 19, 1957 Larry LansburghReleased with Johnny Tremain. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Foreign Wildlife Film Niok August 28, 1957 Edmond SechanFrence produced short acquired for distribution and Released on double bill with Perri. People & Places Portugal December 25, 1957 Ben SharpsteenReleased with Old Yeller. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. People & Places Wales June 10, 1958 Geoffrey Foot People & Places Scotland June 11, 1958Geoffrey Foot People & Places Ama Girls July 9, 1958Ben Sharpsteen Won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject Documentary. Released with The Light in the Forest. Later released on 16mm as Japan Harvests the Sea. Wildlife Documentary Grand Canyon December 17, 1958James Algar Sleeping Beauty Special Edition (2003), Platinum Edition (2008)Released with Sleeping Beauty. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short People & Places Seven Cities of Antarctica December 25, 1958 Winston HiblerReleased with Tonka Nature Documentary Nature's Strangest Creatures March 19, 1959 Ben SharpsteenWalt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 2: Lands of ExplorationReleased with The Shaggy Dog People & Places Cruise of the Eagle March 19, 1959 Ben SharpsteenReleased with The Shaggy Dog Tomorrow Land Eyes in Outer Space June 18, 1959 Ward Kimball Walt Disney Treasures: Tomorrow Land Nature Documentary Mysteries of the Deep December 16, 1959 Ben Sharpsteen Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 1: Wonders of the WorldReleased with The Vanishing Prairie. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short
1960s Series Title Date Director DVD Release Notes Travelogue Gala Day at Disneyland January 21, 1960 Hamilton Luske Released with Toby Tyler Nature Documentary Islands of the Sea March 16, 1960 Ben Sharpsteen Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, volume 2: Lands of ExplorationNominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short People & Places Japan April 6, 1960 Ben Sharpsteen People & Places The Danube April 27, 1960Ben Sharpsteen Final film in the People & Places series Wildlife Adventure The Hound That Thought He Was a Raccoon August 10, 1960 Tom McGowanReleased with Jungle Cat Sports Documentary The Horse with the Flying Tail December 21, 1960 Larry LansburghDisney Movie ClubReleased with both Swiss Family Robinson and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Wildlife Adventure Yellowstone Cubs June 13, 1963 Charles L. DraperDisney Movie ClubReleased with both Savage Sam and Summer Magic Wildlife Adventure A Country Coyote Goes Hollywood January 28, 1965 Jack CoufferDisney Movie ClubReleased with Those Calloways Wildlife Adventure The Legend of the Boy and the Eagle June 21, 1967 Jack Couffer Released with The Gnome-Mobile
1970s Series Title Date Director DVD Release Notes Travelogue The Magic of Walt Disney World December 22, 1972 Tom Leetch Released with Snowball Express. Wildlife Adventure A Tale of Two Critters June 22, 1977 Jack Speirs Released with The Rescuers Wildlife Adventure Footloose Fox July 7, 1979 Jack Speirs Released with a One Hundred and One Dalmatians re-release
Non-theatrical Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs films Series Title Date Director DVD Release NotesDocumentary South of the Border with Disney November 23, 1942 Norm FergusonSaludos Amigos Behind the scenes, regarding Disney's trip south of the border, also includes some drawings of Disney characters, and some animated pencil test sequences. Distributed on 16mm by the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American AffairsDocumentary The Amazon Awakens May 29, 1944 Bill RobertsAnimated inserts (maps) demonstrating location vitiated. Travelogue film. Distributed on 16mm by the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs
Theme park films