Oliver & Company — Disney's 1988 New York–Set Animated Musical

Source and setting

The story is a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist, a work that has inspired many other screen and television versions. Rather than placing the action in Victorian England, the filmmakers shifted the location and the era to late-20th-century New York.

Plot overview

In this retelling, the title character is a street kitten who finds companionship with a group of stray dogs. The ensemble includes a charismatic leader named Dodger and a human criminal who fills the role of the story's antagonist. Where Dickens set his tale in London, the film transplants the action to New York City. One significant change is that the villainous enforcer is portrayed as a loan shark, fitting the modern urban setting.

Release and reception

Oliver & Company premiered on November 18, 1988, the same day another animated feature, The Land Before Time, reached theaters. The movie performed well commercially, earning a healthy sum at the box office, though critical response ranged from praise for its music and characters to reservations about its deviations from the source material.

Re-releases and home formats

The film returned to cinemas in North America and the United Kingdom with a re-release on March 29, 1996, which covered the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Later that year it became available on home video. Subsequent home media editions included a DVD in 2002, a 20th Anniversary DVD in 2009, and a 25th Anniversary Blu‑ray edition released in 2013.

• Year of original release: 1988
• Studio: Walt Disney Feature Animation
• Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures