101 Dalmatians is an American media franchise owned by The Walt Disney Company and based on Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The franchise began in 1961 with the release of Walt Disney's traditionally animated feature film One Hundred and One Dalmatians and has since expanded to include multiple films, television series, video games, and other media spanning from 1961 to the present.
Origin
The source material for the franchise is the 1956 children's novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. Smith also wrote a 1967 sequel, The Starlight Barking, but this has not been used as source material for any of Disney's adaptations.
Films
Animated films
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) – The original animated feature directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton S. Luske, and Clyde Geronimi, produced by Walt Disney.
- 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003) – A direct-to-video animated sequel released by Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
Live-action films
- 101 Dalmatians (1996) – A live-action family comedy starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil and Jeff Daniels as Roger, written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Stephen Herek.
- 102 Dalmatians (2000) – A live-action sequel directed by Kevin Lima, with Glenn Close reprising her role as Cruella de Vil.
- Cruella (2021) – A live-action prequel serving as an origin story for Cruella de Vil, starring Emma Stone as the titular character, directed by Craig Gillespie. A sequel is in development.
Television series
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–1998) – An animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, focusing on the adventures of the puppies, particularly Lucky, Rolly, and Cadpig.
- 101 Dalmatian Street (2019–2020) – A British animated series set in modern-day London, following Dylan and Dolly, descendants of Pongo and Perdita, who care for their 97 younger siblings.
Related productions
- Cruella de Vil appears as a character in the live-action series Once Upon a Time (seasons 4–5), portrayed by Victoria Smurfit.
- Cruella de Vil appears in the 2015 Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants, portrayed by Wendy Raquel Robinson, where her son Carlos is a main character.
Video games
Multiple video games have been released, including 101 Dalmatians: Escape from DeVil Manor (1997), 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue (2000), and appearances in crossover games such as Kingdom Hearts (2002), Disney Magic Kingdoms (2021), and Disney Speedstorm (2024).
Reception
The 1961 animated film holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The 1996 live-action film received mixed reviews (41% on Rotten Tomatoes), while Cruella (2021) received generally favorable reviews (74% on Rotten Tomatoes). The franchise has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in box office revenue across its theatrical releases.
Disney Parks and Resorts
The franchise has a limited presence at Disney Parks, primarily through retail shops and occasional shows. Cruella de Vil appears as a meetable character, usually situated on Main Street, U.S.A.
