Disney+ Does Sharks

The recent launch of the much anticipated Disney+ across the UK and much of Europe is good timing as many of us have gone into isolation for at least the next three weeks.

As well as the Disney classics we also have Star Wars and Marvel to stream, but there is also plenty of shark action -  not something you might think as obvious on Disney+.

Some of that comes in the form of Jaws homages thanks to The Simpsons, of which there is 30 seasons available since 20th Century Fox was bought by Disney: Every Jaws Reference In The Simpsons

Where there is Disney we also get offerings by Pixar, which naturally includes Finding Nemo with of doff of its cap - or should that be flipper - with the great white shark being named Bruce, which we all know was Steven Spielberg's nickname for the shark model in Jaws. 

Back to the Disney classics, and it's fair to say that Disney's renaissance in animation began its return with 1989's The Little Mermaid, which features a thrilling great white shark sequence with Glut trying to munch Arial. 

“Swim faster! There’s a shark, Eddie!” Actor Gary Dubin on the set of Jaws 2.

And sticking with Disney animation, did you know an actor from Jaws 2 featured in The Aristocats? Gary Dubin, better known to us as shark victim Eddie, was on voice duties as Toulouse the kitten in the 1970 animation. 

Mayor Vaughn goads Matt Hooper with the National Geographic, well even that is on Disney+. And that means plenty of documentary shark action including Journey to Shark Eden and Sharks of Lost Island. 

Lots to dip into if you are a shark fan. And with Touchstone Pictures films being featured on the platform, such as Three Men and a Baby with Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson, does that mean we might eventually see Richard Dreyfuss in the likes of Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Stakeout? 

By Dean Newman

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