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Description

UPDATED AS OF 2024. SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMENTERS WHO SUGGESTED THEIR OWN THEORIES.

I have constructed a simple timeline featuring most of the Disney animated canon. The idea was not to try to connect everything within the universe, but rather just plot out when and where the films happened in chronological order. A few years after making the original, I've updated it with some corrections and to add clarity to choices,

Not everything in this timeline is set in concrete, and there can be a lot of contradiction. The Disney animators have previously said that the films aren’t interconnected, but all exist in their own little worlds. I can agree to this, but it is nice to imagine these characters and stories all live in tandem. Relying on easter eggs, however, was not the primary tool in the timeline. For instance, Rapunzel cameos in Frozen, so we could realistically say that the characters were alive at the same time. Contrariwise, a toy of Dumbo appears in The Great Mouse Detective, which would make no sense if we were trying to tie everything together; since Dumbo took place in the 1940s, whilst The Great Mouse Detective is set in Victorian London. You get the picture.

I will take the opportunity to point out certain elements of the larger world as we go through the timeline, but even that will be fractured at best. A major recurring element is that most adults cannot speak to animals unless magic is involved, nor are most animals anthropomorphised, with the exception of mice for some reason. Yet, in Pinocchio, Honest John and Gideon walk around in broad daylight on two legs without anyone batting an eyelid, whilst animals and humans live side by side in The Wind in the Willows. So, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, as not even Disney are entirely bound by their own rules.

Before we begin, a few films have been left off the roster for practical reasons. All of the package films, including both Fantasia films, Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, Saludos Amigos, and The Three Caballeros, are left off, made up of numerous animated shorts. We could attempt to date them, but some are abstract, and the films include live action segments. I originally had Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros on the first timeline, but have cut them out, since Donald Duck and friends exist in their own world and interact with live actors. Wreck-It Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet are both meta-fiction, where the characters are aware that they are all fictional. Robin Hood, Chicken Little, and Zootopia are films where humans don’t appear to exist, so they could be set in their own timeline.

THE TIMELINE EXPLAINED

First on the timeline is Dinosaur, by far the earliest marker on the timeline, because dinosaurs! Set at least within the Cretaceous period, but on the tail end of the Jurassic period – so about 145-65 million years ago. One character is an elderly brachiosaurus, who is described as the last of her kind. The first act is set on Madagascar, which sees its whole lemur population obliterated via a meteor shower. This forces Aladar and his surviving family to move to breeding grounds somewhere in Africa. Dinosaurs are intelligent and can speak; a trait shared by other animals later in history. Animals for the most part talk in the Disney universe.

Next is Brother Bear, set in Alaska in roughly 10,000 BC (give or take). Mammoths are still thriving in the film, a species which went extinct about 4000 years ago (unless scientists bring them back!). Magic is shown to exist, drawn from both nature and the spirits that dwell within the setting. Human characters who are close to nature or are spiritual have a degree of magic and can understand animals to an extent. I suspect that magic and myths are related to their respective cultures and peoples, so they can all exist simultaneously within the Disney universe. Humans and animals who die become spirits, with human souls are able to appear in animal form, such as Kenai’s brother Sitka as an eagle. Humans who are transformed into animals can understand all species, as we'll see with Tiana, whilst other humans like Cinderella or children can speak to animals. Again, the rules are very lax.

Moana is set around 3000 BC in Polynesia. Information I researched suggests that humans moved to the Pacific around this time; exploration being a large, forgotten part of Moana’s culture. Moana exists in a time where gods physically interacted with mankind, so who created the world clashes here. Maui is described as having set in stone a lot of the natural elements of the world, though the goddess Te Fiti brought life to the world. Maui stole the Heart of Te Fiti a thousand years prior to Moana’s birth, so the earliest point of the film would be 4000 BC.

Both Aladdin and Hercules may take place around the same time, between 1600 and 1100 BC. This is if you consider Hercules: The Animated Series canon to the movie or not. Aladdin comes first, set in Agrabah. The Genie claims he has been a slave for 10,000 years. During “A Whole New World”, the Egyptian sphinx’s nose fell off – though this did not historically happen until the 3rd century, which could mean I am entirely off where Aladdin is set. Several characters praise Allah, a term used for God in Islam. Pre-Islamic Arabia was said to have had kingdoms and empires from 3000 BC and 600 AD. Islam did not become a major religious movement until the 7th century, though alternatively, Aladdin could take place during this era.

Hercules can be connected to Aladdin through the animated series, where a young in-training Hercules meets Aladdin, when Hades and Jafar’s ghost attempt to manipulate them into destroying one another. The fact that Jafar is dead confirms that the sequels, The Return of Jafar and The King of Thieves have already happened. However, the animated series may not be canon, as Hades was unaware that Hercules was alive in the film.

The timeline may be stretched more than it appears -- the Genie states he was stuck in the lamp for 10,000 years; Atlantis sank apparently 8500-8800 prior to its respective movie; the gods are walking around barely 1000 years before the modern era. It is best to take this project with a huge grain of salt.

I believe both Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon could take place around the same time. Mulan is set between 386-620 AD, and is set in China. The invading Huns are based on the Xiongnu, a group of nomadic people who ruled over a part of Asia from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD. Mulan’s tale originates from the Northern Wei, which existed between 386-536 AD. The poet Xu Wei suggested this claim, whilst the Qing dynasty’s Sui Tang Romance placed Mulan around 620, during the foundation of the Tang dynasty. The Huns are based on the Xiongnu, a nomadic people who lived in China from the 3rd century BC until the 1st century AD. The cannons Mulan uses, called Huolongchushui were first recorded in the 14th century. As you can see, historical accuracy is out the window for this universe.

Raya is in the fictional Kumandra, the film is based on a conglomerate of central Asian nations and cultures where dragons were left petrified for 500 years by the Druun. I haven’t been able to find any direct clues to when Raya takes place. Sisu is based on the Naga, a mythical serpent that appears in Buddhism and Hinduism, both of which are ancient religions. Raya feels a little older in terms of technology and culture, but Mulan could easily predate it. Both could take place one before the other, or even centuries apart.

We move to the Dark Ages, which is the setting for both The Black Cauldron and The Sword in the Stone. The Dark Ages can be anywhere between the 5th to the 15th centuries. The Black Cauldron is based on The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, taking elements from Welsh mythology and retelling them in a new story. Prydain is actually a name used by the Welsh for Great Britain. We can assume that Prydain will one day be named Britain or England, so I put it before The Sword in the Stone. This film also is the first chronologically to feature fairies, who are quite commonplace in Celtic folklore.

The Sword in the Stone features a young King Arthur, who will become the One True King of Britain by pulling Excalibur from the titular stone. The Arthurian legends tend to take place during the Saxon invasion of Britain, which happened in the late 5th century into the early 6th century. The legends themselves first appeared during this time, so we can assume that The Black Cauldron took place shortly beforehand. Merlin – the greatest wizard of the age – can time travel into the future, preferring the modern 20th century. His owl Archimedes is highly educated and can be understood by all other characters.

Sleeping Beauty is mentioned in dialogue to take place within 14th century Germany; a time of dragon slaying, chivalric romance, big pointy hats, and forgetting to invite the most dangerous evil fairy to your daughter’s christening. The fairies present pretty much drive the whole plot, though Maleficent is more draconic than Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, further suggesting there are different species of fairy within the Disney universe. The film introduces the first fairy godmothers seen within the timeline, as well as a variation of the sleeping curse that the Evil Queen will later use to poison Snow White.

Moving swiftly on, we next have The Emperor’s New Groove, set in Peru during the Incan dynasty, which existed between 1425 to 1572. This is followed by The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the first film in the timeline to have a concrete date in 1482. The iconic Parisian cathedral was first built in 1163. Christianity was at its most influential during this period of history, with Frollo persecuting the gypsy population. Belle makes a background cameo in the film; the mayhem in Paris could explain by Belle and Maurice moved to their little town. However, Beauty and the Beast has always been associated with 18th century France, so I would consider her presence in Hunchback to be a mere easter egg.

I added in Wish here, placing it before Snow White based on various factors in the movie. The film seems to serve as an origin story for the wishing star as well as potential origin stories for the Fairy Godmother (Asha) and the Magic Mirror (King Magnifico). There is no sense of dating when Wish occurs, but this felt like the best place to put it.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves takes place in Germany, but I placed it in the 15th century. Although still very Middle Ages in terms of setting and design, it feels a little more modern when compared to Sleeping Beauty. Several objects within the dwarves’ cottage were invented in the 15th century, so we are placing the film here in the timeline.

Pocahontas immediately dates itself as being set in 1607, during the historical Virginia Company expedition to the New World, led by Governor John Ratcliffe. Of course, the film alters historical events significantly for a more family friendly story. Pocahontas and John Smith fall in love and part ways in a bittersweet finale, though look like the ties between the English colonists and the Powhatan tribe will be strong and respectful. The real Pocahontas did save John’s life, was a frequent visitor to Jamestown, but later married John Rolfe as a teenager and died at the age of 22. Her adult life was adapted just as liberally in the film’s direct-to-video sequel.

Beauty and the Beast is most definitely set in the 18th century, but I chose to place it in the 1770s prior to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, assuming they happened in this universe. The extravagant costumes and fashion of the film represent this period in French history.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow follows next, based on the novel by Washington Irving. The film has a confirmed date of 1790, although the book was published in 1820. Ichabod Crane travels to Sleepy Hollow, New York, discovering the legend of the Headless Horseman, who turns out to be real and chases Ichabod to an unknown fate – making him potentially the only hero to actually die in a Disney animated film.

Both Cinderella and The Little Mermaid take place close to one another, based in the early 19th century. The King and Grand Duke both cameo at Ursula and Eric’s bogus wedding. Cinderella takes place in France, appearing more modern than Beauty and the Beast. The French monarchy was dissolved in 1870, so the film takes place before then. The Little Mermaid likely takes place in a Danish colony in the Caribbean. Ariel is the daughter of King Triton, who wields Poseidon’s trident, likely meaning that Ariel is Hercules’ cousin. It makes more sense than Tarzan being Elsa and Anna’s brother!

Speaking of which, we come to Tangled and the Frozen franchises. Rapunzel and Flynn make cameos attending Elsa’s coronation. It was confirmed in the official Frozen artbook that the film takes places in the 1840s. Rapunzel has her short hair, so we can confirm the events of Tangled occurred three years prior. This comes from Elsa and Anna’s parents dying in a shipwreck, with Elsa’s coronation taking place three years later. As for years, I decided on 1845 for Frozen, as that was when The Snow Queen was published. This meaning that Tangled took place in 1842, with the animated series happening over those three years afterward. Frozen II takes place a further three years later in 1848. The film brings nature magic and spirituality back to the forefront, with the elemental spirits being exclusive to Northuldra, further suggesting each culture or region has their own magic and deities.

Alice in Wonderland comes next, which I placed in 1865, as that is when Lewis Carroll’s book was published. The 2010 live action film somewhat poses itself as a direct sequel to the film, though I’ve chosen to leave it out, as with all the remakes!

Afterward, we have Tarzan, which I’ve placed in the early 1880s. Both Wikipedia and the Disney Wiki have contradicting information, stating the film is in the 1890s. That would make no sense though if certain dialogue is taken into consideration. Jane and her father plan to reveal Tarzan to society, planning to introduce him Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Queen Victoria. Well, if this were in the 1890s, then Dickens would be dead, Kipling would have only just earned fame, and Queen Victoria would be in her final years. So, I chose to set it in the early 1880s, as Charles Dickens died in 1882.

The next few films can be done in rapid succession: Home On the Range in 1889; Pinocchio in the 1890s based on the presence of a ferris wheel, which were first built in 1893; The Jungle Book actually in 1893, as that was when Rudyard Kipling published his book; The Great Mouse Detective with the confirmed date of 1897, during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as showing how evolved the mice are in the Disney universe; The Wind in the Willows, set between 1909 and 1910, based on Mr. Toad’s time in prison, breaking out on Christmas Eve in 1909; Lady and the Tramp also in 1909, though it could take place over a couple of years based on Lady’s growth and the arrival of her owners’ baby; The Aristocats in Paris 1910; and Atlantis: The Lost Empire occurs in 1914, although the prologue takes place 8500-8800 years prior. I slotted Strange World here, as it is implied it is a fictional pulp magazine, and can been seen sitting next to a book with Atlantean language on its cover. Perhaps Milo Thatch collected the stories.

1926 is the setting for both the extensive Winnie the Pooh franchise, and The Princess and the Frog. A.A. Milne wrote his beloved books for his son Christopher Robin, so it made sense to place the films here. The films likely take place over a couple of years. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ended with Christopher Robin heading to school, which was further explored in Pooh’s Grand Adventure and the 2011 film, which I set in 1928. Christopher Robin, the live action sequel to the Pooh films, could be considered part of the timeline, though would be the only live action movie on the list, being set in the 1950s. The Princess and the Frog begins in 1912, confirming that Tiana’s father fought and likely died in or after World War I.

The remainder of the list are all set within the modern era. Dumbo is set in 1941 in Florida. Interestingly, Dumbo becomes an international celebrity, but also inspires the American air force to design fighter planes resembling elephants. Bambi takes place over several years, but I put it in 1942 to match the film’s release date. One Hundred and One Dalmatians is in 1958, as indicated by a newspaper in the movie. Encanto occurs in the 1950s, with the Madrigal family likely fleeing the Thousand Days War, which occurred between 1899 and 1902.

The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under take place close to one another. In the first timeline, I said they were in the 1970s, but other re-watching both films, they appear to be set in the 1950s or 1960s. The Rescue Aid Society was founded in 405 AD, and is set within the UN building in New York, their headquarters opened in 1951. The Rescuers Down Under features a lot of crashed World War II airplanes, with the medical mice operating from a WWII medical truck, whilst morse code is used to contact other mice.

The Lion King doesn’t particularly have a distinct date or time, since it is set entirely around animals. Because Scar’s pelt cameos in Hercules as the Nemean Lion, it has been theorised that the film occurred in ancient times. I highly doubt a devoured, burnt lion pelt could be perfectly preserved and shipped from Africa to Greece. Instead, we’re going to place it in 1994, the same release year of the movie.

Lilo & Stitch has one of the most extensive franchises when it comes to spin-offs and sequels. It is set in Hawaii in 2002, earning a sequel, a direct-to-video sequel that kicked off the animated series, plus both an anime that features a grown up Lilo, and even a Chinese spin-off. I don’t know if the latter two are canon or not. However, in the animated series, Lilo and Stitch had crossovers with Kim Possible, The Proud Family, American Dragon, and Recess, so they can all be considered canon within this timeline!

Next, we have Bolt in 2008, followed time travel shenanigans in Meet the Robinsons, which occurs in 2008, but then jumps forward in time to 2037 where the world is a lot more futuristic and hi-tech. Due to time travel and alternate histories, Meet the Robinsons could exist in another timeline. This sense of futurism continues into Big Hero 6, set within San Fransokyo, which is basically what if San Fransisco was built by the Japanese.
Our final entry on the timeline is Treasure Planet set in the far future. A time of intergalactic voyages, farting aliens, space pirates, and 18th century fashion is back in season. Clearly, early interactions between humans and aliens have led to a large expansive universe of space travel and commerce. Lilo & Stitch may have had a role in this, and a young Jim Hawkins has a toy of Stitch, perhaps regarded as a legendary figure this far in the future.

This will be updated when new films come out. Free to leave further comments and suggestions!

Description

UPDATED AS OF 2024. SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMENTERS WHO SUGGESTED THEIR OWN THEORIES.

I have constructed a simple timeline featuring most of the Disney animated canon. The idea was not to try to connect everything within the universe, but rather just plot out when and where the films happened in chronological order. A few years after making the original, I've updated it with some corrections and to add clarity to choices,

Not everything in this timeline is set in concrete, and there can be a lot of contradiction. The Disney animators have previously said that the films aren’t interconnected, but all exist in their own little worlds. I can agree to this, but it is nice to imagine these characters and stories all live in tandem. Relying on easter eggs, however, was not the primary tool in the timeline. For instance, Rapunzel cameos in Frozen, so we could realistically say that the characters were alive at the same time. Contrariwise, a toy of Dumbo appears in The Great Mouse Detective, which would make no sense if we were trying to tie everything together; since Dumbo took place in the 1940s, whilst The Great Mouse Detective is set in Victorian London. You get the picture.

I will take the opportunity to point out certain elements of the larger world as we go through the timeline, but even that will be fractured at best. A major recurring element is that most adults cannot speak to animals unless magic is involved, nor are most animals anthropomorphised, with the exception of mice for some reason. Yet, in Pinocchio, Honest John and Gideon walk around in broad daylight on two legs without anyone batting an eyelid, whilst animals and humans live side by side in The Wind in the Willows. So, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, as not even Disney are entirely bound by their own rules.

Before we begin, a few films have been left off the roster for practical reasons. All of the package films, including both Fantasia films, Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, Saludos Amigos, and The Three Caballeros, are left off, made up of numerous animated shorts. We could attempt to date them, but some are abstract, and the films include live action segments. I originally had Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros on the first timeline, but have cut them out, since Donald Duck and friends exist in their own world and interact with live actors. Wreck-It Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet are both meta-fiction, where the characters are aware that they are all fictional. Robin Hood, Chicken Little, and Zootopia are films where humans don’t appear to exist, so they could be set in their own timeline.

THE TIMELINE EXPLAINED

First on the timeline is Dinosaur, by far the earliest marker on the timeline, because dinosaurs! Set at least within the Cretaceous period, but on the tail end of the Jurassic period – so about 145-65 million years ago. One character is an elderly brachiosaurus, who is described as the last of her kind. The first act is set on Madagascar, which sees its whole lemur population obliterated via a meteor shower. This forces Aladar and his surviving family to move to breeding grounds somewhere in Africa. Dinosaurs are intelligent and can speak; a trait shared by other animals later in history. Animals for the most part talk in the Disney universe.

Next is Brother Bear, set in Alaska in roughly 10,000 BC (give or take). Mammoths are still thriving in the film, a species which went extinct about 4000 years ago (unless scientists bring them back!). Magic is shown to exist, drawn from both nature and the spirits that dwell within the setting. Human characters who are close to nature or are spiritual have a degree of magic and can understand animals to an extent. I suspect that magic and myths are related to their respective cultures and peoples, so they can all exist simultaneously within the Disney universe. Humans and animals who die become spirits, with human souls are able to appear in animal form, such as Kenai’s brother Sitka as an eagle. Humans who are transformed into animals can understand all species, as we'll see with Tiana, whilst other humans like Cinderella or children can speak to animals. Again, the rules are very lax.

Moana is set around 3000 BC in Polynesia. Information I researched suggests that humans moved to the Pacific around this time; exploration being a large, forgotten part of Moana’s culture. Moana exists in a time where gods physically interacted with mankind, so who created the world clashes here. Maui is described as having set in stone a lot of the natural elements of the world, though the goddess Te Fiti brought life to the world. Maui stole the Heart of Te Fiti a thousand years prior to Moana’s birth, so the earliest point of the film would be 4000 BC.

Both Aladdin and Hercules may take place around the same time, between 1600 and 1100 BC. This is if you consider Hercules: The Animated Series canon to the movie or not. Aladdin comes first, set in Agrabah. The Genie claims he has been a slave for 10,000 years. During “A Whole New World”, the Egyptian sphinx’s nose fell off – though this did not historically happen until the 3rd century, which could mean I am entirely off where Aladdin is set. Several characters praise Allah, a term used for God in Islam. Pre-Islamic Arabia was said to have had kingdoms and empires from 3000 BC and 600 AD. Islam did not become a major religious movement until the 7th century, though alternatively, Aladdin could take place during this era.

Hercules can be connected to Aladdin through the animated series, where a young in-training Hercules meets Aladdin, when Hades and Jafar’s ghost attempt to manipulate them into destroying one another. The fact that Jafar is dead confirms that the sequels, The Return of Jafar and The King of Thieves have already happened. However, the animated series may not be canon, as Hades was unaware that Hercules was alive in the film.

The timeline may be stretched more than it appears -- the Genie states he was stuck in the lamp for 10,000 years; Atlantis sank apparently 8500-8800 prior to its respective movie; the gods are walking around barely 1000 years before the modern era. It is best to take this project with a huge grain of salt.

I believe both Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon could take place around the same time. Mulan is set between 386-620 AD, and is set in China. The invading Huns are based on the Xiongnu, a group of nomadic people who ruled over a part of Asia from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD. Mulan’s tale originates from the Northern Wei, which existed between 386-536 AD. The poet Xu Wei suggested this claim, whilst the Qing dynasty’s Sui Tang Romance placed Mulan around 620, during the foundation of the Tang dynasty. The Huns are based on the Xiongnu, a nomadic people who lived in China from the 3rd century BC until the 1st century AD. The cannons Mulan uses, called Huolongchushui were first recorded in the 14th century. As you can see, historical accuracy is out the window for this universe.

Raya is in the fictional Kumandra, the film is based on a conglomerate of central Asian nations and cultures where dragons were left petrified for 500 years by the Druun. I haven’t been able to find any direct clues to when Raya takes place. Sisu is based on the Naga, a mythical serpent that appears in Buddhism and Hinduism, both of which are ancient religions. Raya feels a little older in terms of technology and culture, but Mulan could easily predate it. Both could take place one before the other, or even centuries apart.

We move to the Dark Ages, which is the setting for both The Black Cauldron and The Sword in the Stone. The Dark Ages can be anywhere between the 5th to the 15th centuries. The Black Cauldron is based on The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, taking elements from Welsh mythology and retelling them in a new story. Prydain is actually a name used by the Welsh for Great Britain. We can assume that Prydain will one day be named Britain or England, so I put it before The Sword in the Stone. This film also is the first chronologically to feature fairies, who are quite commonplace in Celtic folklore.

The Sword in the Stone features a young King Arthur, who will become the One True King of Britain by pulling Excalibur from the titular stone. The Arthurian legends tend to take place during the Saxon invasion of Britain, which happened in the late 5th century into the early 6th century. The legends themselves first appeared during this time, so we can assume that The Black Cauldron took place shortly beforehand. Merlin – the greatest wizard of the age – can time travel into the future, preferring the modern 20th century. His owl Archimedes is highly educated and can be understood by all other characters.

Sleeping Beauty is mentioned in dialogue to take place within 14th century Germany; a time of dragon slaying, chivalric romance, big pointy hats, and forgetting to invite the most dangerous evil fairy to your daughter’s christening. The fairies present pretty much drive the whole plot, though Maleficent is more draconic than Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, further suggesting there are different species of fairy within the Disney universe. The film introduces the first fairy godmothers seen within the timeline, as well as a variation of the sleeping curse that the Evil Queen will later use to poison Snow White.

Moving swiftly on, we next have The Emperor’s New Groove, set in Peru during the Incan dynasty, which existed between 1425 to 1572. This is followed by The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the first film in the timeline to have a concrete date in 1482. The iconic Parisian cathedral was first built in 1163. Christianity was at its most influential during this period of history, with Frollo persecuting the gypsy population. Belle makes a background cameo in the film; the mayhem in Paris could explain by Belle and Maurice moved to their little town. However, Beauty and the Beast has always been associated with 18th century France, so I would consider her presence in Hunchback to be a mere easter egg.

I added in Wish here, placing it before Snow White based on various factors in the movie. The film seems to serve as an origin story for the wishing star as well as potential origin stories for the Fairy Godmother (Asha) and the Magic Mirror (King Magnifico). There is no sense of dating when Wish occurs, but this felt like the best place to put it.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves takes place in Germany, but I placed it in the 15th century. Although still very Middle Ages in terms of setting and design, it feels a little more modern when compared to Sleeping Beauty. Several objects within the dwarves’ cottage were invented in the 15th century, so we are placing the film here in the timeline.

Pocahontas immediately dates itself as being set in 1607, during the historical Virginia Company expedition to the New World, led by Governor John Ratcliffe. Of course, the film alters historical events significantly for a more family friendly story. Pocahontas and John Smith fall in love and part ways in a bittersweet finale, though look like the ties between the English colonists and the Powhatan tribe will be strong and respectful. The real Pocahontas did save John’s life, was a frequent visitor to Jamestown, but later married John Rolfe as a teenager and died at the age of 22. Her adult life was adapted just as liberally in the film’s direct-to-video sequel.

Beauty and the Beast is most definitely set in the 18th century, but I chose to place it in the 1770s prior to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, assuming they happened in this universe. The extravagant costumes and fashion of the film represent this period in French history.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow follows next, based on the novel by Washington Irving. The film has a confirmed date of 1790, although the book was published in 1820. Ichabod Crane travels to Sleepy Hollow, New York, discovering the legend of the Headless Horseman, who turns out to be real and chases Ichabod to an unknown fate – making him potentially the only hero to actually die in a Disney animated film.

Both Cinderella and The Little Mermaid take place close to one another, based in the early 19th century. The King and Grand Duke both cameo at Ursula and Eric’s bogus wedding. Cinderella takes place in France, appearing more modern than Beauty and the Beast. The French monarchy was dissolved in 1870, so the film takes place before then. The Little Mermaid likely takes place in a Danish colony in the Caribbean. Ariel is the daughter of King Triton, who wields Poseidon’s trident, likely meaning that Ariel is Hercules’ cousin. It makes more sense than Tarzan being Elsa and Anna’s brother!

Speaking of which, we come to Tangled and the Frozen franchises. Rapunzel and Flynn make cameos attending Elsa’s coronation. It was confirmed in the official Frozen artbook that the film takes places in the 1840s. Rapunzel has her short hair, so we can confirm the events of Tangled occurred three years prior. This comes from Elsa and Anna’s parents dying in a shipwreck, with Elsa’s coronation taking place three years later. As for years, I decided on 1845 for Frozen, as that was when The Snow Queen was published. This meaning that Tangled took place in 1842, with the animated series happening over those three years afterward. Frozen II takes place a further three years later in 1848. The film brings nature magic and spirituality back to the forefront, with the elemental spirits being exclusive to Northuldra, further suggesting each culture or region has their own magic and deities.

Alice in Wonderland comes next, which I placed in 1865, as that is when Lewis Carroll’s book was published. The 2010 live action film somewhat poses itself as a direct sequel to the film, though I’ve chosen to leave it out, as with all the remakes!

Afterward, we have Tarzan, which I’ve placed in the early 1880s. Both Wikipedia and the Disney Wiki have contradicting information, stating the film is in the 1890s. That would make no sense though if certain dialogue is taken into consideration. Jane and her father plan to reveal Tarzan to society, planning to introduce him Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Queen Victoria. Well, if this were in the 1890s, then Dickens would be dead, Kipling would have only just earned fame, and Queen Victoria would be in her final years. So, I chose to set it in the early 1880s, as Charles Dickens died in 1882.

The next few films can be done in rapid succession: Home On the Range in 1889; Pinocchio in the 1890s based on the presence of a ferris wheel, which were first built in 1893; The Jungle Book actually in 1893, as that was when Rudyard Kipling published his book; The Great Mouse Detective with the confirmed date of 1897, during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as showing how evolved the mice are in the Disney universe; The Wind in the Willows, set between 1909 and 1910, based on Mr. Toad’s time in prison, breaking out on Christmas Eve in 1909; Lady and the Tramp also in 1909, though it could take place over a couple of years based on Lady’s growth and the arrival of her owners’ baby; The Aristocats in Paris 1910; and Atlantis: The Lost Empire occurs in 1914, although the prologue takes place 8500-8800 years prior. I slotted Strange World here, as it is implied it is a fictional pulp magazine, and can been seen sitting next to a book with Atlantean language on its cover. Perhaps Milo Thatch collected the stories.

1926 is the setting for both the extensive Winnie the Pooh franchise, and The Princess and the Frog. A.A. Milne wrote his beloved books for his son Christopher Robin, so it made sense to place the films here. The films likely take place over a couple of years. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ended with Christopher Robin heading to school, which was further explored in Pooh’s Grand Adventure and the 2011 film, which I set in 1928. Christopher Robin, the live action sequel to the Pooh films, could be considered part of the timeline, though would be the only live action movie on the list, being set in the 1950s. The Princess and the Frog begins in 1912, confirming that Tiana’s father fought and likely died in or after World War I.

The remainder of the list are all set within the modern era. Dumbo is set in 1941 in Florida. Interestingly, Dumbo becomes an international celebrity, but also inspires the American air force to design fighter planes resembling elephants. Bambi takes place over several years, but I put it in 1942 to match the film’s release date. One Hundred and One Dalmatians is in 1958, as indicated by a newspaper in the movie. Encanto occurs in the 1950s, with the Madrigal family likely fleeing the Thousand Days War, which occurred between 1899 and 1902.

The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under take place close to one another. In the first timeline, I said they were in the 1970s, but other re-watching both films, they appear to be set in the 1950s or 1960s. The Rescue Aid Society was founded in 405 AD, and is set within the UN building in New York, their headquarters opened in 1951. The Rescuers Down Under features a lot of crashed World War II airplanes, with the medical mice operating from a WWII medical truck, whilst morse code is used to contact other mice.

The Lion King doesn’t particularly have a distinct date or time, since it is set entirely around animals. Because Scar’s pelt cameos in Hercules as the Nemean Lion, it has been theorised that the film occurred in ancient times. I highly doubt a devoured, burnt lion pelt could be perfectly preserved and shipped from Africa to Greece. Instead, we’re going to place it in 1994, the same release year of the movie.

Lilo & Stitch has one of the most extensive franchises when it comes to spin-offs and sequels. It is set in Hawaii in 2002, earning a sequel, a direct-to-video sequel that kicked off the animated series, plus both an anime that features a grown up Lilo, and even a Chinese spin-off. I don’t know if the latter two are canon or not. However, in the animated series, Lilo and Stitch had crossovers with Kim Possible, The Proud Family, American Dragon, and Recess, so they can all be considered canon within this timeline!

Next, we have Bolt in 2008, followed time travel shenanigans in Meet the Robinsons, which occurs in 2008, but then jumps forward in time to 2037 where the world is a lot more futuristic and hi-tech. Due to time travel and alternate histories, Meet the Robinsons could exist in another timeline. This sense of futurism continues into Big Hero 6, set within San Fransokyo, which is basically what if San Fransisco was built by the Japanese.
Our final entry on the timeline is Treasure Planet set in the far future. A time of intergalactic voyages, farting aliens, space pirates, and 18th century fashion is back in season. Clearly, early interactions between humans and aliens have led to a large expansive universe of space travel and commerce. Lilo & Stitch may have had a role in this, and a young Jim Hawkins has a toy of Stitch, perhaps regarded as a legendary figure this far in the future.

This will be updated when new films come out. Free to leave further comments and suggestions!