Destino (2003) — Disney at Its Most Surreal and Haunting

Scene from Destino (2003)

I only just discovered this wonderful film thanks to a friend who brought it to my attention (she couldn’t believe I’d never heard of it before, and neither could I). As someone who isn’t particularly fond of modern Disney, finding something this strange, mythological, and artistically daring was a genuine surprise.

Destino feels less like a traditional animated short (it's under 7 minutes long) and more like a dream pulled from the subconscious, filled with melting landscapes, impossible transformations, tragic romance, and dark mythic imagery. Originally conceived as a collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí in 1945, the film brings the Spaniard’s unmistakable surrealism to life in a way that feels hypnotic and haunting.

It’s beautiful, eerie, melancholic, and unlike almost anything modern Disney has made, at least from what I’ve seen. Sharing this in case anyone else somehow missed it, too.

Watch it here on YouTube