The 29th feature length animated film released by Disney was unusual in more ways than one. The most unusual thing about it was that it was a sequel to another animated film, something that Disney had never done before. Rescuers Down Under was a follow-up to the modestly successful The Rescuers.
The film also shared the bill with a Mickey Mouse featurette, The Prince and the Pauper.
Coming just one year after Disney rejuvenated its feature animated film division with The Little Mermaid, this outing, which featured no music or songs, was just a straight up adventure. While modestly successful, its release came a little too late to make an impression on the studio heads at Disney. With its hit soundtrack, huge merchandise sales and positive reception, The Little Mermaid had laid out where Disney felt its theatrical future should be. The Rescuers Down Under would get little fanfare or interest from the company. Beauty and the Beast would get the company's full resources the next year.