Find out more about everyone’s favourite orphaned cat and why he has New York City heart.
Oliver & Company is a 1988 animated Disney feature loosely based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. Instead of Victorian London and workhouses, the story takes place in 1980s New York and follows Oliver, an abandoned kitten who joins a gang of streetwise dogs.
The film premiered on 18 November 1988 and is recognised as Disney’s 27th animated classic. It runs for approximately 1 hour 17 minutes.
The film tells the story of Oliver, a stray kitten who is taken in by a group of dogs led by Fagin. When Oliver is later found by a wealthy girl named Jenny, the gang is drawn into conflict with the villain Sykes, a loan shark. The plot mirrors Oliver Twist, but with a lighter tone and a modern setting.
Oliver – the abandoned kitten protagonist.
• Dodger – a streetwise dog and lead member of Fagin’s crew.
• Fagin – a kind-hearted but struggling man who looks after the dogs.
• Tito – a fiery little Chihuahua.
• Georgette – a glamorous and spoiled poodle.
• Jenny – the rich young girl who adopts Oliver.
• Sykes – the primary antagonist and loan shark.
Billy Joel voices Dodger, Bette Midler voices Georgette, Joey Lawrence voices Oliver, and Cheech Marin voices Tito. The voice cast was chosen to help give each character strong musical and personality identity.
No. It is adapted from Oliver Twist, which is a work of fiction bu author Charles Dickens. The film keeps the theme of an orphan seeking belonging but changes setting, tone and characters dramatically.
It is inspired by the outline of the novel rather than its themes. Disney removes the darker elements such as workhouses, child exploitation and the death of Nancy, replacing Victorian poverty with a light-hearted New York adventure centred on found family.
The soundtrack features original songs performed by Billy Joel, Huey Lewis, Bette Midler and Ruth Pointer. Its pop-rock style gives the film a distinctly 1980s feel and is one of the most memorable aspects of the movie.
The standout tracks are “Why Should I Worry?” performed by Billy Joel and “Once Upon a Time in New York City” performed by Huey Lewis. Many fans consider the soundtrack one of Disney’s best.
No. Unlike many Disney films, Oliver & Company has never received a direct sequel or TV spin-off.
Yes. It was produced and released by Walt Disney Pictures and represents a stylistic experiment for the studio during the late 1980s.
It is currently available to stream on Disney+ in many regions. It also exists on DVD and Blu-ray, though availability varies.
The pitch was described internally at Disney simply as “Oliver Twist with dogs.”
• The film was originally titled “Oliver and the Dodger.”
• It was the first soundtrack released under the Walt Disney Records label.
• Oliver’s design was inspired partly by a 1941 Disney short, Lend a Paw.
• Each song was created by different writers to give characters unique musical personalities.
Yes. Oliver & Company performed well at the box office, especially for a pre-Renaissance Disney film. It earned strong theatrical revenue, later improved further through VHS and home media sales, and remains remembered for its soundtrack and modernisation of Oliver Twist. While not as celebrated as later films like The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, it was financially solid and helped lead Disney toward its 1990s animation revival.
