Unveiling the Lost Snow White Projects: Solving Long-standing Mysteries

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marked the beginning of Disney's dominance in the world of animation. This 1937 film was the first cel-animated feature and the initial animated movie made in the United States. It quickly became a classic in animation history, serving as a model for future Disney films, especially those featuring strong female characters.

Based on the 1812 German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs follows the story of a princess named Snow White. She lives with her wicked stepmother, known simply as the Queen, who attempts to harm her. Snow White escapes into the forest, where she finds shelter and friendship with seven dwarfs. This heartwarming tale of friendship and bravery was a major success for Disney and almost led to the release of a sequel short and a prequel, which would have unraveled three key mysteries of the Snow White universe.

Snow White’s Prequel Explored The Dwarfs’ & The Evil Queen's Backstories

Snow White’s prequel would have had some shocking reveals.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the dwarfs going home - Snow White’s prequel would have had some shocking reveals. - Snow White’s Prequel Explored The Dwarfs’ & The Evil Queen's Backstories

DisneyToon Studios embarked on creating a computer-animated prequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, more than sixty years after the original movie's release. The project, titled The Seven Dwarfs, was led by director Mike Disa and screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos, starting development in 2005. Disa envisioned the film as Disney's take on The Lord of the Rings, delving into the history and culture of the dwarfs as they embarked on an epic quest.

The Seven Dwarfs embarked on a quest into the Old Forest, where Dopey and Grumpy encountered each other, eventually meeting the rest of the dwarfs.

Disa and Spiliotopoulos wanted to avoid the criticism of DisneyToons' sequels by creating something original with The Seven Dwarfs. Their pitch for the Snow White prequel involved Dopey and Grumpy teaming up for a mission into the Old Forest. Along the way, they would come across the other dwarfs, who were being pursued by an evil wizard. The dwarfs sought help from Narcissa, whom they cherished just as they would later cherish Snow White.

Narcissa seemed to have a dark side, but the dwarfs believed in her good intentions as they journeyed to the ancient city of Dwarfenholme. Little did they know, the wizard they were helping was actually Narcissa's father, using them to access the Olden Dwarf's ancient magic. In a surprising turn of events, Narcissa betrayed her father, trapping him in a magical mirror. With the dwarf's magic in her grasp, she turned against the dwarfs and seized the throne from Snow White's father.

The skeleton found in the Queen's dungeon in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was believed to be that of the king.

Snow White's Canceled Sequel Short Saw Her Return To The Dwarfs’ Home

The dwarfs needed to hide to protect themselves and their families during the time of the events in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This is why they were living in a cabin in the middle of the forest. The Evil Queen began her reign with her father trapped in the Magic Mirror as her slave. The skeleton found in her dungeon in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was believed to be that of the king.

Sketches of Snow White’s sequel short can be found online.

Snow White Returns sketches - Sketches of Snow White’s sequel short can be found online. - Snow White's Canceled Sequel Short Saw Her Return To The Dwarfs’ Home

Snow White Returns was a concept that involved the Seven Dwarfs finding out that Snow White was going to visit them annually.

It may seem odd that Disney did not create a sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, considering its success. However, as Disney's first full-length animated film, it's understandable that there was no immediate rush to continue Snow White's story. Despite this, Walt Disney himself toyed with the idea of a sequel short titled Snow White Returns. This short would have incorporated some deleted scenes from the original movie, like the memorable soup-eating scene.

Why Snow White’s Prequel & Sequel Never Happened

A featurette in the Diamond Edition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs reveals details about the planned sequel short, Snow White Returns. This short would have answered the question of whether Snow White reunited with the Seven Dwarfs. In Snow White Returns, the Seven Dwarfs would have learned that Snow White was coming for her annual visit, prompting them to eagerly prepare a special bed for her. Fans can find sketches of Snow White Returns in the Diamond Edition and online.

Snow White hasn’t gotten any type of continuation.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ending Snow White and Prince leaving while dwarfs dance - Snow White hasn’t gotten any type of continuation. - Why Snow White’s Prequel & Sequel Never Happened

Studio executives initially attempted to transform The Seven Dwarfs into a narrative centered around Dopey, who stopped speaking due to emotional trauma.

Disa's pitch for The Seven Dwarfs was met with enthusiasm, leading to the project's development. However, the project was ultimately scrapped following Disney's acquisition of Pixar in 2006. With John Lasseter taking on the role of Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Feature Animation (now Walt Disney Animation Studios), he discontinued Disney's direct-to-video sequels. As a result, several projects at DisneyToons, including The Seven Dwarfs, were shelved. This decision came after Disa left the project due to creative differences and a new, entirely different pitch was presented to Lasseter.

Disa decided to quit because studio executives wanted to change The Seven Dwarfs into a story centered around Dopey, explaining why he lost his ability to talk. They asked Disa to create a narrative where Dopey stopped talking due to emotional trauma.

On the other hand, Walt Disney made the call to not pursue Snow White Returns, and the studio honored his wishes after his passing in 1966. They respected his desire to not create sequels to "the one that started it all."

While the prequel and sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs could have answered questions about the dwarfs' origins, the Queen's actions, and Snow White's future with the dwarfs, it is ultimately better for this Disney classic to remain untouched by further expansions and continuations.

Sources: AnimatedViews, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing glimpse into the unfulfilled potential of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The proposed prequel and sequel would have delved deeper into the dwarfs' backstory, the Queen's motivations, and Snow White's future. The prequel, "The Seven Dwarfs," would have explored the dwarfs' epic quest and their encounter with a treacherous wizard. The sequel short, "Snow White Returns," would have reunited Snow White with her beloved friends. However, the projects were ultimately shelved due to Disney's acquisition of Pixar and the studio's decision to discontinue direct-to-video sequels.

While it is understandable that Disney would want to protect the legacy of its classic film, it is also tantalizing to imagine what these unmade sequels could have added to the story. The prequel would have provided a richer backstory for the dwarfs, making them more than just supporting characters. The sequel short would have given fans a satisfying conclusion to Snow White's journey. Ultimately, the decision to leave these stories untold may have been the right one, but it is impossible to shake the feeling that we missed out on something truly special.