This animated take on Oliver Twist re-imagines Oliver as an adorable orphaned kitten who struggles to survive in New York City and falls in with a band of canine criminals led by an evil human. First, Oliver meets Dodger, a carefree mutt with street savoir faire. But when Oliver meets wealthy Jenny on one of the gang’s thieving missions, his life changes forever.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Oliver (voice): Joey Lawrence
• Dodger (voice): Billy Joel
• Tito (voice): Cheech Marin
• Einstein (voice): Richard Mulligan
• Francis (voice): Roscoe Lee Browne
• Rita (voice): Sheryl Lee Ralph
• Fagin (voice): Dom DeLuise
• Roscoe (voice): Taurean Blacque
• Desoto (voice): Carl Weintraub
• Sykes (voice): Robert Loggia
• Jenny (voice): Natalie Gregory
• Winston (voice): William Glover
• Georgette (voice): Bette Midler
• (voice): Deborah Gates
• Additional Voice (voice): Charles Bartlett
• Additional Voice (voice): Jonathan Brandis
• Additional Voice (voice): Kal David
• Additional Voice (voice): Marcia Del Mar
• Additional Voice (voice): Victor DiMattia
• Additional Voice (voice): Judi M. Durand
• Additional Voice (voice): Greg Finley
• Additional Voice (voice): Javier Grajeda
• Louie the Sausage Vendor (voice): Frank Welker
• Additional Voices (voice): Nancy Parent
• Rita (singing voice) (uncredited): Ruth Pointer
• Additional Voices (voice): J.D. Hall

Film Crew:

• Screenplay: James Mangold
• Novel: Charles Dickens
• Story: Roger Allers
• Editor: Mark A. Hester
• Screenplay: Tim Disney
• Animation: Chris Buck
• Editor: James Melton
• Songs: Howard Ashman
• Original Music Composer: J.A.C. Redford
• Songs: Billy Joel
• Director: George Scribner
• Screenplay: Jim Cox
• Songs: Barry Manilow
• Producer: Kathleen Gavin
• Character Designer: Glen Keane
• Songs: Huey Lewis
• Other: Alan Smart
• Layout: Bill Perkins
• Animation: Anthony DeRosa
• Animation: Jay Jackson
• Color Designer: Maria Gonzalez
• Animation Manager: Pat Sito

Movie Reviews:

• CinemaSerf: I suppose it was only a matter of time before this classic Charles Dickens story got the Disney treatment – but given that it’s completely devoid of any darkness or eeriness, this rather too cheerful and vibrant pet-fest doesn’t really work for me. The eponymous kitten is adopted by a gang of dogs that, much like “Fagin’s Boys” in the book, engage in a bit of petty crime for their boss “Fagin” who, himself, lives in terror of the malevolent “Sykes”. When the latter cottons on that “Oliver” has been adopted into a wealthy home, he insists that “Fagin” enact a trap to lure “Jenny” from her luxury mansion so he can ransom her back to her dad. It falls to “Oliver” and his canine companions to thwart this dastardly plan. You can’t really fault the quality of the animation and an array of musicians including Barry Manilow and Dan Hartman are behind the songs that won’t exactly stick in your mind afterwards, but that do help to keep this amiable production rolling along. Sadly, though, it’s all just way too predictably light and fluffy and takes just a little too much of a factory approach to one of the more substantial stories of English literature. Younger kids may like it though – it’s pretty joyous and extols the virtues of loyalty, team playing and friendship and it’s not without the odd laugh to two.