Classic ‘80s Film, Which Was Surprisingly Dark for a Kid's Movie, Is Finally Being Added to Disney+

Disney+ recently announced that it will be adding an iconic animated film from the 1980s to the platform on May 25. The movie, The Brave Little Toaster, was about a group of appliances who set out to find their owner after being abandoned in the woods.

The film was based on a novella of the same name, written by Thomas M. Disch. Although the movie was originally released in theaters in 1987, it became much more popular after being released on home video and airing on the Disney Channel in 1988. The film went on to inspire two sequels, The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue and The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars.

Although this was a movie meant for children, it was surprisingly dark. When asked about the tone of the film in a Reddit AMA, director Jerry Rees said, "I asked our voice actors to keep the characters believing their world - never playing it for laughs. And David Newman, in writing the score, tapped into an inherent sadness in being abandoned and seeking reunion. I think all of us making the film took the attitude of being the characters rather than just observing the characters. If you ARE an old car headed for the crusher, that's some dark business!"

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Rees continued, "I think the ONLY reason I was able to make that tone of a movie was because we were off the studio grid. No studio would EVER have let us do that. At the time it was just nuts, including having improv comics from adult comedy clubs doing voices. Now that aspect happens all the time. And with the progress of films like UP, which dealt with a miscarriage and aging and having a spouse die - yes, there is hope of doing a film with darker layers - with the right backing..."

In addition to The Brave Little Toaster, Disney+ will also be adding The Weekenders to the platform on May 25. This series, which ran from 2000 until 2004, followed four pre-teen friends trying to have the perfect weekend.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 7:03 AM.