Robin Williams will be heard as the Genie once more in a new short (Picture: CBS Photo Archive)
Fans of the Genie rejoice, for Disney has created a special animation that features the Aladdin character and uses previously unheard recordings from the late Robin Williams.
Actor and comedian Williams made a huge impression in the 1992 Disney flick, improvising many of his lines and finding a place in the hearts of many fans thanks to his energetic vocal performance.
He also gave iconic renditions of classic songs Prince Ali and Friend Like Me, written by Disney musical duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
Although Williams did not voice the Genie in 1994’s direct-to-video film The Return of Jafar due to a falling out with Disney, he returned to reprise his role for Aladdin and the King of Thieves in 1996.
Will Smith stepped into his slippers for the 2019 live-action remake, directed by Guy Ritchie.
Now, Josh Gad – himself a popular Disney voice star thanks to his turn as snowman Olaf in the Frozen franchise – has revealed that there’s a new snippet of Robin Williams’ Genie to come, as part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
‘Now that it’s premiered at Annecy, I’m so excited to finally have the world see what @DisneyAnimation has created to celebrate the incredible 100-year legacy of the studio,’ Gad shared on Instagram.
‘I nearly cried when I was told Olaf would appear alongside the Genie, utilising previously unheard audio from my idol #RobinWilliams.’
The actor and Broadway star posted a picture of a screen that revealed the Genie coming out of an artists’ sketchbook in an office and smiling down at Olaf, who stood waiting.
The late actor improvised a lot of his lines for his voice work in the 1992 film (Picture: Vera Anderson/WireImage)
The Genie is one of the most enduringly popular of all Disney characters (Picture: Disney)
Williams died aged 63 in 2014 after suffering with lewy body disease, a form of dementia.
‘I’m sorry — what?!?!?! We get more OG genie?! This is like a dream pairing,’ enthused one fan in the comments.
‘Two of the best animated comedic icons. If you see me crying when I watch this just leave me be.’
‘Omg this would be amazing. I am still devastated that Robin Williams is gone. You and Robin would have been such an amazing collaboration,’ commented another.
Josh Gad revealed the surprise that features in nine-minute short Once Upon a Studio (Picture: Getty)
Annecy International Animation Film Festival takes place annually in the French city, with the special animation being shown there for the first time on Sunday night.
The Genie and Olaf feature alongside more than 400 other Disney characters in in nine-minute short Once Upon a Studio, a passion project from directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy.
According to Variety, the short shows the characters causing ‘gentle comic mayhem’ around the Roy E Disney animation building on the Disney studio lot in Burbank, California.
He appears alongside Williams’ Genie as his Disney character, Frozen’s Olaf (Picture: Walt Disney Studios/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
It also features legendary company animator Burny Mattinson, who died aged 87 in February, just shy of his 70th work anniversary with Disney.
He remains their longest-serving employee.
The team also brought back more than 40 original voice actors for the project, which features characters including Tiana, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Merlin, Moana and Maui and – of course – Mickey and Minnie.
Once Upon a Studio will play ahead of upcoming Disney film Wish, due in UK cinemas on November 22.
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