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Wolfgang Reitherman

Wolfgang Reitherman

Director and producer · Died May 22, 1985, aged 75 · Munich, Germany

Wolfgang Reitherman (June 26, 1909 – May 22, 1985) was a German-American animator and filmmaker. He began working for Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of classic Disney shorts, including The Band Concert, Music Land, and Elmer Elephant and in all, Reitherman worked on various Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Slave in the Magic Mirror) to The Fox and the Hound (co-producer). He did the climatic dinosaur fight in Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring in Fantasia, the Headless Horseman chase in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" section in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, the Crocodile in Peter Pan, and Maleficent as a dragon in Sleeping Beauty (the former three he animated and the latter he directed). Beginning with 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, "Woolie", as he was called by friends, served as Disney's chief animation director. One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He also served as a producer and sequence director, and starred as himself in the 1941 feature film The Reluctant Dragon. All three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard and Robert — provided voices for Disney characters, including Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, and Wart in The Sword in the Stone. Reitherman directed several Disney animated feature films including, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats (1970),Robin Hood (1973) and The Rescuers (1977). He is also known for reusing animation in movies directed by him. According to Floyd Norman, this was just one of his trademarks, and had nothing to do with time or cost savings: "Woolie was our director on The Jungle Book. Reuse was just Woolie’s thing. He never did it to save money. I really don’t think the “Old Guard” ever had any interest in saving money. I was never a big fan of reuse, but it wasn’t my place to tell these old guys what to do. One final thought. It never seemed to bother Walt, and I never heard him complain about reuse."

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 26, 1909
Died
May 22, 1985 (aged 75)
From
Munich, Germany
Works as
Director and producer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 71 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 3% in 30 days

What are Wolfgang Reitherman's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
48%
Self
16%
Society
11%
Ideas
9%
Morality
6%
Survival
5%
Power
4%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 2

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 5 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Warm
8
Hopeful
4
Melancholic
4
Tense
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Wolfgang Reitherman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on Disney+ (35).

Subscription and free streaming for Wolfgang Reitherman's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

71 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Mickey, les J.O. rigolos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Actor

  • Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Goofy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Disney's Halloween Treat(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Fox and the Hound(1981)

    Director · Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Small One(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Halloween Hall o' Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Animation

  • The Rescuers(1977)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh(1977)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Producer

  • Robin Hood(1973)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Superstar Goofy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • The Aristocats(1970)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • The Jungle Book(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Winnie the Pooh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show Creator

  • Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • The Sword in the Stone(1963)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Hunting Instinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • Aquamania(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Holiday for Henpecked Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • One Hundred and One Dalmatians(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Goliath II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Donald in Mathmagic Land(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping Beauty(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Truth About Mother Goose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • The Goofy Adventure Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • The Goofy Success Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • Lady and the Tramp(1955)

    Animation · Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Ben and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Animation

  • Peter Pan(1953)

    Animation · Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Alice in Wonderland(1951)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Cinderella(1950)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Animation

  • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Goofy Gymnastics(1949)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Tennis Racquet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Animation

  • Fun and Fancy Free(1947)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Mickey and the Beanstalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Animation

  • How to Ride a Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Animation

  • How to Fish(1942)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • How to Swim(1942)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • El Gaucho Goofy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Animation

  • Saludos Amigos(1942)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dumbo(1941)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Reluctant Dragon(1941)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Fantasia(1940)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Pinocchio(1940)

    Animation · Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Donald's Cousin Gus(1939)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Goofy and Wilbur(1939)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Polar Trappers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Animation

  • Donald's Nephews(1938)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Clock Cleaners(1937)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hawaiian Holiday(1937)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Mickey's Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Animation

  • The Worm Turns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Animation

  • Moving Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Animation

  • Elmer Elephant(1936)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Broken Toys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • Cock o' the Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • Music Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Fire Brigade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • Water Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Service Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Animation

  • The Band Concert(1935)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Two-Gun Mickey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • The Goddess of Spring(1934)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Wise Little Hen(1934)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Funny Little Bunnies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

Career shape

A full career of 68 titles from 1934 to 2005.

Biggest box office

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

$216M worldwide

Highest rated

Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 68: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting22 of 68: 17 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score90thProducing6 of 68: 2 only producing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thOther crew44 of 68: 44 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

68 titles, 5 with more than one role.

By decade

1930s22 · crew1940s15 · crew1950s10 · crew1960s11 · crew1970s7 · crew1980s1 · crew2000s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Wolfgang Reitherman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 86th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 37 titles divides audiences: 27 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed1

Most loved · director

Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)

Midcredits 95th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 73/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Wolfgang Reitherman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles20–38 · median 26 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles3–17 · median 7 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles5–11 · median 8 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles1–37 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles21–55 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Wolfgang Reitherman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wolfgang Reitherman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vance Gerry shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers