The Disney Channel's Dateline Disney - Aladdin (1992)

Dateline Disney was an ongoing segment on the Disney Channel that would air between programs that kept the general public abreast on the latest happenings with the Walt Disney Company. This covered film releases, theme park events and updates, Disney Channel projects and more. This installment centers around Walt Disney Pictures' 31st animated feature Aladdin.

Aladdin was a project that was originally brought to Disney by Howard Ashman where he and writing partner Alan Menken created a story and score. Studio chief Jeffery Katzenberg paused the production asking the pair to work on Beauty & the Beast as the story was revamped.

The Little Mermaid's co-directors Ron Clemons and John Musker developed Aladdin into their next film but Ashman was dying of AIDS as the film went into production. Clemons and Musker would become Disney's most successful directors later directing Hercules, Treasure Planet, Moana, and others.

When Aladdin was released it was the most successful animated feature ever released up to that time. Robin Williams' performance of the Genie was especially praised. This would lead to more A-list celebrities to be cast in animated features for marquee value over more traditional voice actors. This practice continues to this day.

These segments feature some behind the scenes footage on the making of the film. At the time, such footage was still rare. Also included is a commercial for a Disney Channel Aladdin contest.

Original airdate November 1992

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.