Happy Birthday Dumbo!

Written by: Sitara Nair

Eighty-four years ago, on October 23rd, 1941, Dumbo, the classic movie about an adorable elephant, was released. Disney’s Dumbo premiered in New York City and was produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. Dumbo’s story of self-acceptance and believing in oneself is why this movie remains in so many people’s hearts, so let’s explore the story of this film and celebrate its 84th birthday!

Background on the Film

Dumbo is a baby elephant born in a circus, and everyone notices his huge ears right away. At first, the other animals and circus workers make fun of him and he becomes shy and lonely. His mother, Mrs. Jumbo, loves him and protects him, but when she tries to defend him from bullies, she gets locked away. Dumbo is left on his own until he meets Timothy Q. Mouse, a small and brave friend who believes in him! Dumbo and Timothy collaborate and quickly realize that Dumbo’s large ears, which he has been bullied for, are not something to be ashamed of; in fact, they can help him fly! In the end, Dumbo becomes the star of the circus, reunites with his mom, and proves that what made him different was actually his coolest and greatest strength. 

A Little History

Dumbo was made to recover the financial losses for both Pinocchio and Fantasia, two Disney films that didn’t perform well. They were regarded as commercial failures in the 1940s (despite being classics today). The Disney Studio focused on making the movie incredibly simple, keeping only a small budget for it, and at just 64 minutes, they did just that. The film was inspired by the book written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl, which was created as a prototype for a fun and innovative toy called "Roll-a-Book." Dumbo performed incredibly well compared to Pinocchio and Fantasia (by the holiday season of 1941, it was almost making $2.5 million!), and that is mainly credited to its relation to World War II. When Dumbo fluttered onto cinema screens in late 1941, the world was on edge. World War 2 had been raging in Europe for more than two years, and the tensions in the Pacific were only growing. Still, Dumbo’s popularity was so great that Time magazine planned to honor him as its “Mammal of the Year”, a twist on its annual “Man of the Year” cover. Illustrators even created portraits of the elephant holding its magic feather, but history stopped this from happening. On December 7th, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and the cover was replaced with a picture of Douglas MacArthur. The magazine still had a picture of Dumbo inside it, showing the love people had for the elephant. After Pearl Harbor News outlets like the Times switched from reporting on Dumbo’s adorable success to upheaving and vulgar stories on the war, a stressful time for many. However, against that anxiety, Dumbo’s story of triumph over hardship was a sight of joy and innocence in a tense time.  

Dumbo’s Live Action Legacy

Directed by Tim Burton, Dumbo got a live-action remake in 2019, and its well-loved. The movie follows the same basic idea as the original, but the live-action version has a lot more focus on human characters. It stars Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier, a former circus performer to takes care of Dumbo after his mother is taken away. Dumbo’s flying ability draws huge crowds, and he becomes the center of attention for a selfish businessman who wants Dumbo for his own gain, played by Michael Keaton. With the help of Holt’s children and others, Dumbo eventually escapes the businessman’s hands and reunites with his mom, a similar ending to the original story. 

Now, as the 84th anniversary approaches, fans are finding their own ways to celebrate! Disney is expected to feature Dumbo in special promotions and park tributes, and families will be streaming the iconic film at home. Despite being one of Disney’s shortest films, it carries one of the biggest hearts, with a flying elephant who reminds us to dream big and believe in ourselves! Happy Birthday, Dumbo!