Disney+: Episodes That Are Missing Or Altered

Summary

• Episodes of classic shows on Disney+ are often missing or altered, sparking confusion among fans.
• Reasoning behind missing episodes varies from content concerns to licensing issues.
• Alterations to episodes range from removal of specific scenes to changing licensed music tracks.

For many fans, the idea that there are Simpsons episodes not on Disney Plus makes no sense. The streaming service has continued to evolve since its November 2019 launch. One thing that remains a growing pain for some fans is the number of episodes of classic television series that are out of order or missing completely. As Disney+ mines the past for content, mistakes are bound to happen. But, in some cases, the decision to alter or leave out content altogether is a deliberate decision by Disney+.

While some episodes and scenes in classic shows have not aged well, the latest original shows on the streaming platform aren’t immune to changes. As Disney+ continues to add new content to its ever-growing archive of material, it has become apparent that it continues to alter or remove episodes and elements from series that fans might have expected to appear. Fans of shows might wonder why there are Simpsons episodes not on Disney Plus and find no answers. The reasons are available, and many of them come from problematic scenes.

Episodes That Are Missing On Disney+

Goof Troop

“Goof Troop Christmas: Have Yourself A Goofy Little Christmas”

Given that Goofy, the best friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, is a staple of the House of Mouse, it’s somewhat surprising to learn that one of the episodes of the cartoon sitcom Goof Troop was removed from Disney+ for quite controversial reasons. It’s reported that the final episode of Goof Troop, “Goof Troop Christmas: Have Yourself A Goofy Little Christmas”, isn’t available to stream due to concerns about its religious messaging.

While there hasn’t been any official confirmation from Disney, it does seem to be that something in the episode’s interpretation of Christmas has prevented the House of Mouse from adding it to their platform. Some sources go so far as to cite “religious violence” as the reason. This term is almost undoubtedly too strong, as there’s nothing in “Goof Troop Christmas” that could come close to being construed as such, it does still make for an incredibly intriguing reason for an episode of a show to be missing.

Bear In The Big Blue House

Multiple Episodes Missing

Children’s puppet show Bear in the Big Blue House ran from 1997 to 2006 on Playhouse Disney, and has now become a staple of Disney+ for many younger viewers. However, the episodes of Bear in the Big Blue House on Disney+ doesn’t represent the entirety of the series, and there are multiple installments missing. The reason that most of these missing episodes aren’t present, such as “A Berry Bear Christmas” parts 1 and 2, aren’t known. There have been petitions to have them added to the streamer, but so far Disney hasn’t acted on the fan demand.

However, there are some episodes of Bear in the Big Blue House missing from Disney+ for music licensing reasons. While specific details are scarce, it’s been reported that several episodes such as “And to all a Good Night” didn’t make it to Disney+ due to specific songs used (in the case of “And to all a Good Night”, it’s the “Goodbye Song” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”).

Andi Mack

Multiple Episodes Missing

Fans of the series may still argue if Lizzie McGuire is too similar to Andi Mack, but one way they aren’t is that Lizzie McGuire is completely accessible on Disney+. Numerous episodes of Andi Mack are missing from Disney and it’s the third season that retains the most episodes, with 17 of the 20 available to watch. The first season is missing the most, with only two left to watch on the streaming service (“Were We Ever” and “Best Surprise Ever”) while the second season has 12 of the 25 episodes.

One of the second season’s missing episodes made history for the Disney Channel: “Cyrus’ Bash-Mitzvah!” The episode revealed the coming-out of Andi’s friend, Cyrus. In all, there are only 29 episodes on Disney+. These episodes are missing because of a specific cast member from the show appearing in them as Stoney Westmoreland, who played Andi’s grandfather, was arrested for sex crimes. Every Andi Mack episode he appeared in was removed from Disney+ (via PopCulture.com).

The Little Mermaid

Season 1, Episode 1 – “Whale Of A Tale”

Some people might not know that The Little Mermaid actually boasted a spin-off TV show. While most of the episodes of this kids’ series are now available on Disney+, mysteriously, the pilot is actually absent from the streaming service. There doesn’t appear to be a reason that Whale Of A Tale is missing, considering it isn’t banned and doesn’t include content that Disney would wish to avoid. Instead, the DIsney+ menu lists “The Great Sebastian” as the show’s first episode instead of the actual pilot.

For anyone who hasn’t seen it, “Whale of a Tale” has Ariel befriend a young baby Killer Whale and attempt to take him in, all while her father forbids it. This story takes place one year before The Little Mermaid movie and sometime after the events from the spin-off movie, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning. However, there is some good news for Little Mermaid fans who want to see the episode despite Disney+ removing it.

It’s still available to watch on YouTube and some other platforms, so fans of the show will have to settle for that.

Darkwing Dark

Season 3, Episode 8 – “Hot Spells”

Darkwing Duck is a beloved classic within the Walt Disney archives. With so many fantastic Darkwing Duck episodes to watch, those with the streaming service are spoiled for choice considering the quality of the kid’s TV series. However, there is one episode that is missing from Disney+. The reason this is not on Disney+ has to do with the parental groups that protested the episode when it was originally released on television. The reason given was “it’s religiously sensitive subject matter.”

More specifically, this episode has what many parents claimed were “Satanic themes.” The plot has Darkwing, Gosalyn, and Morgana go to Morgana’s old magic school where Gosalyn is allowed to take some classes. Soon, Beelzebub learns they are there and decides he will get Darkwing once and for all, and he eventually steals the hero’s soul, only for Gosalyn and Morgana to have to save him. Four Darkwing Duck episodes were banned (“Tiff of the Titans,” “Bearskin Thug,” and “Aduckyphobia”), but this was the only one that was never shown again.

TaleSpin

“Lost Horizons,” “Flying Dupes”

TaleSpin is a cult hit and another show that’s gaining a second life within the context of Disney+. It would be strange for any episodes of this great series to be missing. Yet, Disney+ has failed to upload two key episodes from TaleSpin — Lost Horizons and Flying Dupes. Fans watching TaleSpin on Amazon or YouTube find that every single episode from the show is available to enjoy. The real reason why Disney decided they would not air these two adventures is the outdated themes.

When it comes to “Lost Horizons,” the episode is a satire of World War II and has harsh Asian stereotyping involved. While it aired on Toon Disney, it was pulled in 2002 and is not available to be shown in reruns, or on Disney+, because of sensitivity issues. The episode “Flying Dupes” has a terrorist theme, as Baloo is tasked with delivering a package to the Thembrian High Marshall that he doesn’t know contains a bomb. It was on the DVD release but was pulled from syndication and is not on Disney+.

The Muppet Show

Season 5, Episodes 3 & 22 – “Brooke Shields” & “Chris Langham”

There are two episodes of The Muppet Show missing from its Disney+ release. The first one is the season 5 episode with Brooke Shields as the main guest star. The second is also from season 5, this one with guest star Chris Langham. When it came to why Brooke Shields’ episode didn’t make the cut for Disney+, a representative for Disney said it was all about licensing the music. For Langham, it is missing because he is a convicted sex offender (via Yahoo! Movies).

The episode has Fozzie running the show

Also, due to rights issues, all scenes containing the song “Lullaby of Birdland” have been deleted from an episode in season two of the original The Muppet Show series. Actor Don Knotts guest-starred in the episode, which is available on the platform, but with the song cut out of the show. The episode has Fozzie running the show, and he gets the band to play the song “Lullaby of Birdland” to end the episode. This also caused backstage scenes to get removed, and a Swedish Chef skit ended up closing the episode in a weird moment.

Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends

Season 1, Episode 13 – “The Quest Of The Red Skull”

An entire episode of the 80s animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends is missing from Disney+. One of the best episodes of Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, “The Quest Of The Red Skull,” has not been included with the others on the platform. This isn’t actually the first time the episode has been omitted as it was also left out of syndication in years past because of its subject matter. The episode centers around the Red Skull and his past in Nazi Germany and an attempt to destroy the world.

The main reason this episode is not on Disney+, and was pulled from syndicated reruns after it originally aired, was the Nazi symbolism. The episode does not shy away from showing Swastikas, referencing Hitler and the Nazis, and many of Red Skull’s minions yelling “Heil Hitler.” While this is also on display in the MCU movie, Captain America: The First Avenger, as well as The Rocketeer, those movies are rated PG-13, while this cartoon is meant for kids and Disney+ chose to omit it (via CBR).

DuckTales

Season 1, Episode 7 & – “Sphinx for the Memories”, “Launchpad’s Civil War”

A pair of episodes of the original DuckTales animated series are missing from Disney+. They include “Sphinx for the Memories” and “Launchpad’s Civil War.” In “Sphinx for the Memories,” the episode features the gang traveling to Egypt and exploring a marketplace. This episode was available on VHS and DVD in the past, but it is not on Disney+ and it’s not clear why.

As for “Launchpad’s Civil War,” this is an episode where the characters go to Duck Ridge for an American Civil War reenactment. When Launchpad meets some of the aged Union veterans who once served under his ancestors, he wants to avenge his family’s honor by having a rematch against the Confederate re-enactors. Disney gave no reason why this episode is missing. However, the fact there are Confederate flags everywhere and the mayor is proud his great-grandfather won the battle as a Confederate might play into its omission.

The Simpsons

Season 3, Episode 1 – “Stark Raving Dad”

Concerning The Simpsons episodes not on Disney Plus, it is no surprise that “Stark Raving Dad” is not on the streaming service. Most fans know it as “the Michael Jackson episode” because Jackson voices a character impersonating Michael Jackson in a mental institution. However, this is not a Disney+ decision, as the episode was removed from syndication and reruns before Disney+ ever launched.

“This is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter,”
Brooks said.

Executive producer James L. Brooks chose to pull the episode from all streaming services, future DVD boxed sets, and syndication in March 2019. His decision came after HBO released the documentary, Leaving Neverland, a film about allegations made against Jackson. “This is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter,” Brooks said. As a result, the episode is not available to stream anywhere anymore, including its spot as one of The Simpsons episodes not on Disney Plus.

Smart Guy

Season 1, Episode 4 – “Don’t Do That Thing You Do”

On Disney+, Smart Guy features six episodes in its first season but it actually had seven episodes. The original fourth episode is called “Don’t Do That Thing You Do” and it is not present on the streaming platform. With a plot centering on Marcus’s band Markadocious, the episode seems like it wouldn’t cause a problem. It does have a couple of all-star guests, including Gabrielle Union and Christina Milian. This is the only episode of the series missing from Disney+.

However, the reason that “Don’t Do That Thing You Do” might be missing from Disney+ is because of licensing issues. The problem likely lies with the song “I Don’t Know Why” by Jason Weaver. The track is from Weaver’s 1996 EP “Stay With Me” and it plays in two different scenes in the series. It is there both as a lyrical and an instrumental version as the “Featured Song” of the episode. This is a problem with several shows, such as the two episodes of The Muppet Show that were either removed or altered due to music rights.

The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody

Season 1, Episode 18/ Season 3, Episode 20 – “Smart And Smarterer” & “Doin’ Time In Suite 2330”

Two episodes of The Suite Life are absent from Disney+. The first episode originally aired in the fall of 2005 and is called “Smart and Smarterer.” While London proves herself to be a chess wizard, Zack’s grades are slipping. He notices that his friend, Bob, has dyslexia and therefore has extra time to do his schoolwork. To avoid summer school, Zack pretends to have dyslexia. The less-than-sensitive storyline almost wasn’t released and was never part of the reruns.

Season 3 is missing its twentieth episode, “Doin’ Time in Suite 2330.” Disney+ removing this episode also has a controversial reason. While the previous episode was about sensitivity issues, this one was about the guest star who appeared. Singer Chris Brown appeared in the episode as a guest and after his domestic abuse charges against Rihanna in 2008, the episode was pulled from reruns and syndication on streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. It is a case of Disney+ not wanting Brown to appear in a kids’ show on their service.

Fantastic Four

Season 1, Episode 4 – “Incursion Of The Skrulls”

An episode of the 90s Fantastic Four animated series, “Incursion Of The Skrulls,” is missing from Disney+. This episode spotlighted the Super Skrull and an invasion of Earth not unlike what happens in the Secret Invasion comic book storyline and upcoming streaming series. The episode is based on Fantastic Four #2, which introduced Marvel Comics fans to the Skrulls. This makes it an important cartoon, but no one who watches Fantastic Four on Disney+ will ever see it because of one evil act the Skrulls did.

The Skrulls destroy the Twin Towers in the episode as part of the invasion, an unfortunate reminder of a historical tragedy that would occur a few years later on 9/11. Seeing the towers fall in the episode surely was a triggering moment for many Americans at the time, and Disney+ has likely kept it off the streaming service because of this unfortunate coincidence.

Episodes That Have Been Altered On Disney+

Bluey

Multiple Episodes

Of all the shows with missing or altered episodes on Disney+, one of the most surprising is Bluey. It’s an understatement to say that Bluey has become a cultural phenomenon, and is a show beloved by adults and children alike. A key reason is that it manages to be both incredibly funny while also being completely wholesome, which is why many subscribers find it nothing short of shocking to learn just how many Bluey episodes are altered on Disney+.

There is a somewhat simple explanation, however, and none of the altered or censored Bluey episodes can be said to be controversial. Bluey is an Australian TV show, and what’s considered acceptable for a show aimed at younger viewers differs from guidelines in the US. This means that, for example, mentions of bowel functions have been removed due to the current rules of the FCC.

Gravity Falls Fez Logo

Every Episode

Gravity Falls is a much-loved kid’s show that appeals to its target audience and adults alike. It’s zany, whimsical, and full of charm. While it might have started on channels like Disney XD, it now has a home among the other animated shows on Disney+. However, fans quickly noticed a change in the episodes. The symbol that featured on Grunkle Stan’s fez has been removed from every single installment.

”
What if the Shriners sue us?
”

It may be because the imagery closely matches that of masonic groups, but it’s quite a stretch for Disney to need to edit and alter the hat. This might also be Disney avoiding a possible lawsuit, as the symbol changed midway through the series for a similar reason. Creator Alex Hirsch said that the creators asked, “What if the Shriners sue us? We need to change it to a more abstract [symbol]. We randomly changed Stan’s fez symbol in the middle of the series and then just, like, never brought it up” (via CBR).

WandaVision

Finale Post-Credits Scene

WandaVision ended with a stunning post-credits scene that was expected to have a major impact on MCU Phase 4. That scene ended up being digitally altered after it originally aired on Disney+. While no explanation was given, the scene has been changed to include many more trees around the cabin where the powerful Scarlet Witch now lives. It also added what appears to be a shadow racing across the forest, and the inclusion of the theme from the first Doctor Strange movie.

It all pointed to the show’s connection to Wanda’s appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While many people believed that the shadow racing down the mountain was Doctor Strange, one video editor pointed out that it was likely an error where a visual effects artist was editing out a lighting issue in a previous shot and accidentally left it in there when the next scene played, which was the shadow racing across the forest (via Reddit).

Star Wars Droids

Every Episode

Star Wars: Droids – The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO, the animated series that aired in 1985, had been out of circulation for a long time. However, Disney+ recently uploaded the entire series to the platform. Even better, they’ve digitally remastered the original video and audio, giving it the best presentation the series has ever had. Star Wars Droids is full of funny moments, and intriguing connections to both the prequel and sequel trilogies that are likely to be of interest to fans of the franchise.

The animated series has been retconned and reimagined since its original release, but it remains a beloved addition to the Star Wars library for fans, and seeing it on Disney+ was a treat for the fans. This show was added, along with Ewoks and Clone Wars as part of the Star Wars Vintage Collection, and Disney+ ensured that they released Star Wars: Droids with all the love and care it could. Now new fans can watch it and enjoy it for the beloved classic series that it has become.

The Mandalorian

Season 2, Episode 4 – “Chapter 12: The Siege”

Star Wars is no stranger to alterations to the original material and The Mandalorian has had an episode altered on Disney+ thanks to a misplaced crewmember. “Jeans Guy” was visible in the background of a shot in the Imperial base in “Chapter 12” and quickly became a meme. The scene had Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), Cara Dune (Gina Carano), and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) in a firefight. The denim-clad crew member was swiftly edited out of the episode, but not before the legend of Jeans Guy was imagined as a classic Kenner Star Wars action figure.

This is something that has happened before, as a Game of Thrones episode saw someone on the crew accidentally leave a Starbucks cup on set, and it appeared in a shot in the series. Disney quickly fixed the episode, edited out “Jeans Guy” and reuploaded the episode so it wouldn’t appear again in the series. This didn’t stop it from becoming a huge meme on the internet for Star Wars fans and non-fans alike.

Lizzie McGuire

Season 2, Episode 16 – “Inner Beauty” Among Others

Lizzie McGuire is known for its witty sound effects and fabulous background music. Sound effects and in-house songs have not changed on Disney+, but numerous scenes used licensed music, like Matt’s trouble-making montage set to “Bad Boys” or Lizzie’s roller-skating date with Ronnie set to “Everywhere” by Michelle Branch. These licensed music tracks are no longer included in the series’ scenes. Another major change is the alteration to “Inner Beauty.”

The season 2 episode in which Miranda, one of Lizzie McGuire’s most likable characters, struggles with an eating disorder. Lizzie and Miranda are creating a music video using the Swedish pop group Play’s song, “Us Against the World.” The Play song is licensed music, so Disney+ replaced it with canned music. Even though DIsney+ can’t use the song in the Lizzie McGuire episode, the song was included on the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack album, so it isn’t like they didn’t have the rights when they originally used it.

Good Luck Charlie

Season 4, Final Episode – “Good Luck, Teddy”

The final two-part episode of Good Luck Charlie has an interesting alteration. It aired as “Goodbye, Charlie” (with parts one and two). However, the special is listed on Disney+ as “Good Luck, Teddy.” The best reason for the name change is the reference to the 1964 film titled Goodbye Charlie. There could have been copyright issues with using that name on the platform. However, the more likely reason is the plot of the movie Goodbye Charlie, which is about a womanizer who is murdered by a jealous husband.

The idea that the season finale of a teen show geared toward minors would share the name with a movie about murder and adultery was enough for Disney+ to switch up the title. Strangely enough, there is no alteration to Teddy and Spencer’s Elton John cover, “Your Way,” which they sing at Teddy’s going away party. While the episode changed the title because of a previous movie, the show retained the rights to use the song in the episode.