Animated movies have a way of lingering in our memories long after the theater lights dim. This set of questions looks at the history behind some famous films and the creative choices that shaped their final versions.
You will see questions about the early concepts for theme park designs, the production hurdles faced by animation studios, and some unexpected casting stories from Hollywood history. Some details here might be well-known, while others dig into obscure production secrets.
If you enjoy digging into film facts, check out our DreamWorks history, explore Disney classics, or browse through behind-the-scenes trivia.
Which Disney World park was originally designed as a model community to showcase urban planning and future technology?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
EPCOT
EPCOT
The Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Which Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale spent decades in development limbo at Disney before finally being adapted in 2013 under a different title?
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen
The Ugly Duckling
The Ugly Duckling
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
Before the role was finalized by Mike Myers, which actor provided original, drastically different voice recordings for the character of Shrek?
Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Chris Farley
Chris Farley
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Which Smash Mouth song is prominently featured during the opening sequence of the 2001 film ‘Shrek’?
I’m a Believer
I’m a Believer
Then the Morning Comes
Then the Morning Comes
Walkin’ on the Sun
Walkin’ on the Sun
All Star
All Star
The 2001 film ‘Shrek’ is based on a 1990 children’s picture book written by which author?
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss
William Steig
William Steig
Which song did the filmmakers of ‘Shrek’ originally use as a temporary placeholder for the opening credits before deciding to keep it in the final film?
‘All Star’ by Smash Mouth
‘All Star’ by Smash Mouth
‘Hallelujah’ by Rufus Wainwright
‘Hallelujah’ by Rufus Wainwright
‘I’m a Believer’ by Smash Mouth
‘I’m a Believer’ by Smash Mouth
‘Stay Home’ by Self
‘Stay Home’ by Self
What feature did Walt Disney famously insist upon in the Magic Kingdom to prevent cast members from being seen by guests while traveling outside of their designated themed zones?
Hidden apartments for executives
Hidden apartments for executives
Atmospheric control vents disguised as trees
Atmospheric control vents disguised as trees
The original archives containing lost character designs
The original archives containing lost character designs
Underground tunnels/utilidors
Underground tunnels/utilidors
Which character from Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ underwent the most drastic visual transformations during design because early concept sketches were deemed too insect-like and ‘ugly’?
Geppetto
Geppetto
Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket
Blue Fairy
Blue Fairy
Pinocchio
Pinocchio
Which comedian had recorded a significant amount of dialogue for the lead role of Shrek before his passing in 1997?
Bill Murray
Bill Murray
John Belushi
John Belushi
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
Chris Farley
Chris Farley
What major hurdle did the production team face when trying to secure the rights to Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star’ for the film ‘Shrek’?
The song’s songwriters had already sold exclusive movie rights to another studio
The song’s songwriters had already sold exclusive movie rights to another studio
The band demanded a live-action cameo in the film as a condition of use
The band demanded a live-action cameo in the film as a condition of use
The studio could not afford the expensive licensing fee for the song
The studio could not afford the expensive licensing fee for the song
The band was reluctant to have their music featured in a family-friendly animated film
The band was reluctant to have their music featured in a family-friendly animated film
Which popular Disney attraction was famously planned for over a decade, with early concept art even featuring a walk-through ‘Museum of the Weird’?
The Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion
It’s a Small World
It’s a Small World
Which Hans Christian Andersen tale took Disney several decades of failed development cycles to finally adapt because they could not make the protagonist relatable?
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Thumbelina
Thumbelina
The Nightingale
The Nightingale
Which actor was originally cast as the voice of Shrek and recorded most of his dialogue before his passing in 1997?
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
John Belushi
John Belushi
Chris Farley
Chris Farley
John Candy
John Candy
Which Smash Mouth song was originally used only as a temporary placeholder during Shrek’s opening scene before the filmmakers decided to keep it?
I’m a Believer
I’m a Believer
Walkin’ on the Sun
Walkin’ on the Sun
All Star
All Star
Then the Morning Comes
Then the Morning Comes
What major geographic challenge did the construction of Walt Disney World in Florida present to engineers during the 1960s?
Original plans requested a space elevator in the center of the park
Original plans requested a space elevator in the center of the park
Building it on a swamp
Building it on a swamp
Lack of adequate parking for guests
Lack of adequate parking for guests
Strict adherence to the city of Anaheim’s zoning laws
Strict adherence to the city of Anaheim’s zoning laws
Which legendary folktale character was reportedly rejected from early Disney animated feature pitches because the story was deemed too dark and incompatible with the brand’s ‘happily ever after’ focus?
The Pied Piper
The Pied Piper
The Big Bad Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga
Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
What accent did Chris Farley use when recording the character’s voice in the original ‘Shrek’ tests?
A thick Scottish accent
A thick Scottish accent
A light New York accent
A light New York accent
A Southern drawl
A Southern drawl
A British Cockney accent
A British Cockney accent
How did Smash Mouth’s song ‘All Star’ end up being featured in the opening sequence of ‘Shrek’?
It was originally used as a temporary placeholder track, but executive and test audience approval led to keeping it.
It was originally used as a temporary placeholder track, but executive and test audience approval led to keeping it.
It was specifically commissioned by DreamWorks and written by the band to match the storyboard.
It was specifically commissioned by DreamWorks and written by the band to match the storyboard.
It won a promotional contest where fans voted for their favorite song to be used in the movie.
It won a promotional contest where fans voted for their favorite song to be used in the movie.
It was personally selected by Mike Myers because of his close friendship with the band’s members.
It was personally selected by Mike Myers because of his close friendship with the band’s members.
Which early Disney show was the first to utilize Audio-Animatronic technology on a massive, synchronized scale?
The Country Bear Jamboree
The Country Bear Jamboree
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
The Enchanted Tiki Room
The Enchanted Tiki Room
The PeopleMover
The PeopleMover
Which classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale is widely considered too dark for a Disney adaptation because it features a personified figure of Death rather than a conventional villain?
Godfather Death
Godfather Death
The Valiant Little Tailor
The Valiant Little Tailor
The Goose Girl
The Goose Girl
The Seven Ravens
The Seven Ravens
Which actor was originally cast to voice the main character in the 2001 animated film but tragically passed away before completing the project?
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
John Belushi
John Belushi
Chris Farley
Chris Farley
John Candy
John Candy
Why did the filmmakers initially plan to replace Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star’ in the opening sequence?
They felt the song was already overplayed and wanted a fresh, original track.
They felt the song was already overplayed and wanted a fresh, original track.
The band demanded a voice acting role as part of the deal.
The band demanded a voice acting role as part of the deal.
The record label refused to license the song for an animated film.
The record label refused to license the song for an animated film.
They wanted to use a fully orchestral score instead of pop songs.
They wanted to use a fully orchestral score instead of pop songs.
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
When you finish this set, you might enjoy testing your film knowledge further with our book adaptations, movie soundtracks, or classic villain collections.
