From 1989 to 1999, the Disney Renaissance was in full swing. Beginning with "The Little Mermaid" and concluding with "Tarzan," the 10 films Walt Disney Animation Studios produced during that time marked a critically and commercially successful resurgence for the studio. The studio had previously struggled in the 18 years following Walt Disney's death in 1966, with films such as "The Black Cauldron" undergoing massive production issues and bombing at the box office. The success of the Disney Renaissance coincided with the expanding home video market, and direct-to-video sequels to some of the studios' biggest hits were produced, with "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Lion King" among them. By the 2000s, direct-to-video sequels for "Pinocchio," "Dumbo" and "The Aristocats" were also in development, but were ultimately scrapped when John Lasseter took over as Chief Creative Officer of all of Disney Animation in 2006.

In 2001, a trailer for "Dumbo II" was included in the "Dumbo...