When Disney+ launched back in late 2019, it felt like a dream come true for fans everywhere. Thousands of movies and TV shows became available at our fingertips, including classics from our childhoods. That’s especially true for animated films, from Aladdin and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Alice in Wonderland and The Lion King. However, despite having access to so many movies from that time, the catalog of Disney+ was still not complete, as several beloved films from the past weren’t available.
Even with plenty of obscure movies on the service, it was still missing some that had issues with who held the film rights. For example, Angels in the Outfield and Tomorrowland only just found a home on the platform within the past few years, while Tower of Terror and Make Mine Music are just a few releases that still can’t be found there. One of the biggest wants for Disney+ subscribers since day one has been the arrival of The Brave Little Toaster.
Although not on the level of popularity as some other films that millennials grew up with, The Brave Little Toaster has its fans. It has finally hit Disney+ and has shot up the charts to the #2 spot on the platform, yet the journey for it to arrive at this place is one that took some twists and turns.
The Brave Little Toaster Is An Underrated Classic
For starters, it’s important to know why so many people wanted The Brave Little Toaster to hit Disney+. The timeless 1987 movie is based on the 1980 novella of the same name and is set in a world where household appliances come to life. It’s in the same vein as Toy Story, where the toys pretend to be lifeless around humans and only do things after they leave. This tale sees the titular toaster, along with a lamp, electric blanket, radio, and vacuum, all come together to go on an adventure to find their owner.
Each character has its own specific defining trait, whether it’s the courageous toaster, the innocent blanket, the hot-tempered lamp, the wisecracking radio, or the cantankerous vacuum. That made it so kids could identify with and fall in love with these characters, making the film a success. At the box office, it only grossed a small total, yet it went on to become a hit on home video.
The original movie holds a 79% Rotten Tomatoes rating, while the audience score is at 81%. It also sits at 7.2/10 on IMDb, making it a strong animated movie from the ’80s. The underrated film has an impressive lasting legacy, evidenced by how many people wanted to see it available on streaming. The fact that it has become an immediate hit on Disney+ further adds to the proof of how beloved the project remains.
The Brave Little Toaster Is Only Kind Of A Disney Movie
While The Brave Little Toaster is indeed a cult classic, part of what has made it so is how limited its release is. People may still have copies from when they were younger, but the movie hasn’t been as readily available as so many others from that era. However, part of the reason for its scarcity is the fact that it’s only kind of a Disney movie, which is where things get a bit complicated.
John Lasseter and Glen Keane were wowed by the use of computer graphics in TRON, which led them to create a short film inspired by Where the Wild Things Are. After the test, they pitched The Brave Little Toaster, since the mechanical nature of the household items made sense with that animation style. Unfortunately, the pitch was denied as two higher-ups at Disney felt that the only reason to use computers was if it would be cheaper and faster and since this didn’t fit that mold, they declined it. The box office disappointment of TRON didn’t help matters.
Disney executive Tom Wilhite helped secure the rights to the film for Disney eventually but then left the company and wanted to focus on riskier projects like TRON and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? He went on to help create Hyperion Pictures with Willard Carroll and ended up nabbing the rights to The Brave Little Toaster. However, a CGI release would’ve been too expensive, so they opted for a traditional animation style. They eventually worked a deal with Disney where they got key ancillary rights, including exhibition rights on Disney Channel and home video distribution.
There Was Confusion About The Film’s Release
That unique deal set the stage for some confusion upon its release. The theatrical release of the film was handled by an arthouse distributor but the deal with Disney caused some issues. They intended to premiere the movie on Disney Channel in July 1987, which undercut the theatrical arrival and meant that it couldn’t build up any profit during its release window. It almost feels like an early look at what modern films deal with when they’re released on streaming services at nearly the same time.
The Brave Little Toaster did get a run in theaters and was even shown at the Sundance Film Festival, along with shorter stints in some major cities. Due to that, most people were introduced to the movie through the Disney Channel. That, combined with the home video distribution through Disney, why so many people immediately associate The Brave Little Toaster with the company, even if it’s not technically a Disney movie.
Disney+ Finally Has The Brave Little Toaster
When Disney+ was launched, the sequels to The Brave Little Toaster were available but not the original film. The reason for that goes back to the odd distribution deal. Due to Hyperion Pictures changing ownership and a few other aspects, the rights to the movie were rather split and fragmented. The biggest thing was that Disney didn’t retain long-term ownership of the rights they had, which left the film’s digital and streaming rights up in the air.
While it’s not totally clear what caused the film to finally arrive on Disney+, it’s likely that Disney just renegotiated things so they could have access to another classic on their streaming service. Whatever the reason, The Brave Little Toaster is now there for everyone to stream and it’s already a hit.
- Release Date
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July 10, 1987
- Director
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Jerry Rees
- Writers
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Jerry Rees, Thomas M. Disch, Joe Ranft
