Overview
A young elephant with extraordinary ears discovers the power of believing in oneself, with the help of a loyal friend.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- tender
- melancholic
- family movie night
- classic animation afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrate the film's economical storytelling, expressive animation, music, humor, and unusually tender emotional appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dumbo is mocked and exploited because of his enormous ears before discovering that the trait can enable his extraordinary ability.
Mrs. Jumbo is separated from her baby after defending him from ridicule, forming the film's central emotional wound.
The Pink Elephants on Parade sequence turns Dumbo's intoxicated dream into an abstract procession of shifting pink forms.
Songs such as Baby Mine and When I See an Elephant Fly carry the film's tenderness, humor, and transformation.
Films like Dumbo, and why
Bambi
shared hand-drawn animation, animal protagonists, outsider themes, and gentle emotional storytelling
The Little Mermaid
shared family fantasy, musical storytelling, self-discovery, and an empathetic outsider protagonist
Pinocchio
shared Disney animation, social exclusion, parental separation, and eventual self-acceptance
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
shared whimsical animal world, musical numbers, friendship, and heartfelt family appeal
Movie Details
- Directors
- Ben Sharpsteen, Bill Roberts, Samuel Armstrong, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Norman Ferguson
- Release Date
- 1941-10-31
- Runtime
- 64 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (5396)
Cast
- Edward Brophy
- Margaret Wright
- Verna Felton
- Sarah Selby
- Noreen Gammill
- Dorothy Scott
- Herman Bing
- Cliff Edwards
- Jim Carmichael
- Hall Johnson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dumbo about?
- A ridiculed circus elephant discovers that the feature others mock can become the key to his freedom and confidence.
- What is Dumbo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dumbo as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Dumbo violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dumbo.
- What did critics think of Dumbo?
- Critics broadly celebrate the film's economical storytelling, expressive animation, music, humor, and unusually tender emotional appeal.
- Which films are like Dumbo?
- Films with a similar feel include Bambi, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
- How long is Dumbo?
- Dumbo runs 64 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dumbo?
- In United States, Dumbo streams on Disney Plus.
