The Walt Disney Company unveiled a moving tribute to one of its most cherished creative forces with the premiere of The Last Verse, a three-minute-and-30-second short film featuring a previously unreleased verse to the iconic song, “It’s a Small World.” The verse, penned by legendary composer Richard Sherman before his passing in May 2024, was his parting gift to the studio he loved and shaped for decades.
Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, created timeless Disney classics, including the original “It’s a Small World” song for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. He shared this new verse with Disney CEO Bob Iger during the summer of 2023, a deeply personal moment Iger described as unforgettable.
“Hearing Richard Sherman recite the final verse to ‘It’s a Small World’ before he died will be a moment I will carry with me forever,” Iger said. “This beautiful short film is our tribute to their immeasurable musical contributions, their memory, and to the countless memories they helped create for generations of people around the world.”
Also Check Out: Disney+ Announces New Series ‘The World According To Jeff Goldblum’
The Last Verse debuted last Wednesday during The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20, a two-hour ABC News Studios documentary commemorating the 60th anniversary of Mary Poppins (1964). The film takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through the past 60 years of “It’s a Small World,” a song that has become a global cultural touchstone.
Directed by Henry Alex Rubin, known for his critically acclaimed documentary Murderball, and produced in collaboration with adam&eveDDB, the short film weaves together the song’s legacy, its influence on Disney’s global brand, and the Sherman Brothers’ storied history.
“It’s hard to truly capture the influence and impact that Disney has had on our lives over the past century,” said Richard Brim, Global Chief Creative Officer at adam&eveDDB. “With this film, we wanted to tap into those feelings of nostalgia that are so often associated with the iconic brand, whilst paying homage to the legends that are the Sherman brothers.”
Originally created under the personal supervision of Walt Disney, “It’s a Small World” debuted as a message of unity and hope at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair in support of UNICEF. After its resounding success, the attraction was relocated to Disneyland Park, where it opened on May 28, 1966. Today, the song and its ride have become mainstays at Disney Parks around the globe, symbolizing joy and harmony for countless visitors.
The short film is available to stream on Disney+, and also is shared on YouTube and Disney’s social media platforms.
FOR FANBOYS, BY FANBOYS
Have you checked out LRM Online’s official podcasts and videos on The Genreverse Podcast Network? Available on YouTube and all your favorite podcast apps, This multimedia empire includes The Daily CoG, Breaking Geek Radio: The Podcast, GeekScholars Movie News, Anime-Versal Review Podcast, and our Star Wars dedicated podcast The Cantina. Check it out by listening on all your favorite podcast apps, or watching on YouTube!
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Google Play
