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Ben Sharpsteen

Ben Sharpsteen

Director and producer · Died December 20, 1980, aged 85 · Tacoma, Washington, USA

Benjamin Sharpsteen was an American film director and producer for Disney. He was born on 4 November 1895 in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from an agricultural college but gave up farming to join the Marines during World War II. He became an animator, joining the old International Film Company in New York, but soon joined Walt Diseny. He directed 31 films between 1920 and 1980. He also created a museum documenting the history of California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan, and the history of the Upper Napa Valley as well. He died in Napa County, California on 20 December 1980.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 4, 1895
Died
December 20, 1980 (aged 85)
From
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Works as
Director and producer
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Ben Sharpsteen's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Ideas.

Genres

Animation12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile
: browse their Family movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Ideas
27%
Society
17%
Self
13%
Survival
10%
Friendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeNature6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 17 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 6

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 14 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 14 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
12
Warm
7
Contemplative
8
Absurd
4
Thrilling
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ben Sharpsteen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on Disney+ (25).

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Sharpsteen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

129 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • 100 Years of Disney Animation: A Shorts Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Mickey & Minnie 10 Classic Shorts (Volume 1) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Celebrate Christmas With Mickey, Donald & Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Goofy at the Olympic Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Art Direction

  • DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Donald Duck's First 50 Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Mickey Mouse Disco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Best of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures(1975)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Walt Disney Masterpieces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Winnie the Pooh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Escape to Paradise/Water Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • The Danube (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Producer

  • Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Producer

  • Mysteries of the Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Cruise of the Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director · Producer

  • Donald in Mathmagic Land(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Ama Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • White Wilderness(1958)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Portugal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • The Navajos: Children of the Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Producer

  • Alaskan Sled Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Lapland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • The Crisler Story/Prowlers of the Everglades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Producer

  • The Blue Men of Morocco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Associate Producer

  • Samoa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • Sardinia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • Secrets of Life(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Switzerland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • The African Lion(1955)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Vanishing Prairie(1954)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Living Desert(1953)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Water Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • The Olympic Elk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Production Supervisor

  • Alice in Wonderland(1951)

    Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Cinderella(1950)

    Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)

    Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Fun and Fancy Free(1947)

    Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • The New Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • The Olympic Champ(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Dumbo(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Fantasia(1940)

    Director · Producer · Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Pinocchio(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Fox Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Polar Trappers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Mickey's Trailer(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Boat Builders(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937)

    Director · Post Production Supervisor · Sequence Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Pluto's Quin-puplets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Clock Cleaners(1937)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hawaiian Holiday(1937)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Mickey's Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Moose Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Don Donald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • The Worm Turns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Donald and Pluto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Mickey's Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Moving Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Orphan's Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Broken Toys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Cock o' the Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • On Ice(1935)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mickey's Fire Brigade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • The Cookie Carnival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Mickey's Service Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Two-Gun Mickey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Mickey Plays Papa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • Peculiar Penguins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • The Wise Little Hen(1934)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Hot Choc-late Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • Funny Little Bunnies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • The Grasshopper and the Ants(1934)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Shanghaied (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • The China Shop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Animation

  • The Night Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • The Pied Piper(1933)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Puppy Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Lullaby Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Old King Cole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Gala Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Mechanical Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Father Noah's Ark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Mellerdrammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Birds in the Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • The Mad Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Animation

  • Building a Building(1933)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Mickey's Good Deed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • Santa's Workshop(1932)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Babes in the Woods(1932)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Klondike Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • The Whoopee Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • King Neptune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • Trader Mickey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • Mickey in Arabia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • The Bears and the Bees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • Just Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • The Duck Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • The Bird Store (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Orphans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Beach Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Fox Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Spider and the Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Clock Store (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • Egyptian Melodies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Cat's Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Busy Beavers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The China Plate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • Mother Goose Melodies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • Traffic Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • Birds of a Feather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • The Birthday Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Animation

  • Playful Pan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Pioneer Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • The Gorilla Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Monkey Melodies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • The Chain Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • The Fire Fighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Midnight in a Toy Shop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Arctic Antics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Frolicking Fish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Cannibal Capers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Animation

  • Mickey's Choo-Choo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Animation

  • El Terrible Toreador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Animation

  • The Barnyard Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Animation · Background Designer

  • Mickey Mouse Cartoons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Animation

  • The Bootblack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 121 titles from 1920 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

$185M worldwide

Highest rated

Mickey's Trailer (1938)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing51 of 121: 46 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thProducing7 of 121: 4 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew68 of 121: 66 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

121 titles, 5 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1920s5 · crew1930s79 · crew1940s7 · crew1950s18 · crew1960s5 · crew1980s3 · crew1990s1 · crew2000s1 · crew2020s2 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ben Sharpsteen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 28; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 82nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · producer

White Wilderness (1958)

86th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Mickey's Trailer (1938)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 78/100 and the pacing 58/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ben Sharpsteen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films and violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles21–35 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles6–28 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles4–21 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles10–56 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles32–63 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ben Sharpsteen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Sharpsteen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walt Disney shares the most, 16.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Mixed roles