10 Fun Facts About Dumbo You Might Not Know
September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day, and while that has long come and gone, we’re dedicating our space to the one-and-only lovable, big-eared flying elephant, Dumbo. He first stole our hearts starring in his Disney feature film which was released in 1941. Here are some other facts you may, or may not, know about Dumbo:
1. Who and What is Dumbo?
First, what is Dumbo about you ask? If you haven’t seen this flick yet, Dumbo is a young circus elephant who is born with rather large ears. After he is bullied by a group of kids, his mom is sent into a rage which gets her locked up. Unfortunately, Dumbo’s ears cause an accident among the other elephants so, as punishment, he is made to perform dangerous stunts. Then he learns that his ears actually let him fly! The rest? Go watch it!
2. Will the Real Jumbo Jr. Please Stand Up
Those mean kids nicknamed this cutie patootie of an elephant Dumbo, but his real name was Jumbo Jr.
3. Batting Cleanup, Dumbo!
Dumbo, which will have been out for 77 years this coming December, was Disney’s fourth animated feature film. The other three already made were Pinocchio, Snow White, and Fantasia.
4. Chump Change?
In today’s world of blockbuster movies with multi-million dollar budgets, this next tidbit might not seem like a lot of money, but Dumbo was made for $813,000, which was also the least expensive of the Disney’s animated movies at the time.
However, it grossed over $2.5 million back then – which was more than the original gross of “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia” combined. Actually, Pinocchio and Fantasia – both released a year earlier in 1940 — were considered economic failures at the time by Hollywood’s standards.
5. Mammal of the Year?
You know how, every year, Time magazine picks a ‘Person of the Year’? Well, in 1941, Dumbo was almost Time magazine’s ‘Mammal of the Year.” Unfortunately, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and World War II began. That postponed Dumbo’s accolades, but seriously wouldn’t that had made the cutest cover ever?
6. The Oscar Goes To…
The song “Baby Mine” from the movie is so adorable and, unless you have a heart of stone, you’ll shed some tears as you watch Dumbo’s mama try to comfort him while she’s singing it. That tune was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song but lost to “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” from Lady Be Good.
There was some controversy around Lady Be Good being given that award, however, because “The Last Time I Saw Paris” was said to have been previously performed and not an original song. The good news is that the entire soundtrack of Dumbo did win the Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.
7. Don’t Just Fly…Soar!
Dumbo the Flying Elephant became one of the most popular attractions in all of Disney’s theme parks. The ride in California opened in 1955, the one in Orlando opened in 1971, while Tokyo opened in 1983, Disneyland Paris in 1992 and Hong Kong in 2005.
The ride was originally painted pink for the elephants that Dumbo dreamt about, but Walt Disney wanted them in gray.
8. An Elephant or a Donkey?
Interestingly, back in 1957, former president Harry S. Truman decided that as a Republican, he couldn’t find it in him to ride an elephant – the symbol of the Republican party — when he was a Democrat.
9. Not Mickey, but Another Cute Mouse
When you enter Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland to ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant, you’ll be greeted by Dumbo’s friend Timothy Q. Mouse!
10. Can’t Wait!
And last, but not least, Tim Burton is currently creating the live action motion picture version of Dumbo that will be released in March 2019. It will star Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Colin Farrell.