What year was 'Peter Pan' released?

The Disney animated film “Peter Pan” was released in 1953.

Produced by Walt Disney Productions, the film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on February 5, 1953. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures and became Disney’s 14th animated feature. The story adapts J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan play and follows Peter, Wendy Darling, her brothers, and Tinker Bell in Never Land.

The film was directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson. Bobby Driscoll voiced Peter Pan, while Kathryn Beaumont voiced Wendy. Live-action reference footage helped animators study movement and performance before drawing the characters.

Some viewers confuse the year with 1951, when a television promotional appearance featuring the young stars helped publicize the project. Others may think of later releases, including the 2002 sequel “Return to Never Land” or the 2023 live-action adaptation. Those are separate productions; the original Disney animated “Peter Pan” belongs to 1953.