12 Extraordinary Documentaries on Disney+ That Give You a Peek Behind the Magic

This bittersweet documentary covers the life of the late, great lyricist Howard Ashman. The film highlights Ashman's knack for wordplay and storytelling which helped define the "Disney Renaissance" era of animation starting in the late 1980s. In addition to covering his Disney-era work with his longtime writing partner Alan Menken, the documentary also explores his quirky and experimental off-Broadway work, his personal life, the tragedy of the AIDS crisis, and his legacy.

Watch Howard on Disney+.

Behind the Attraction gives viewers a look at different rides in Disney parks from around the world. From fun facts and history, to how the attractions are transformed and tweaked for each new park, there's a wealth of information in this charming docuseries. Featured attractions include the Haunted Mansion, the Jungle Cruise, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and more.

Watch Behind the Attraction on Disney+.

Movie prop collector Dan Lanigan documents his journey to reunite classic Disney props from iconic movies with the people who worked on the films. Along the way, the filmmakers, casts, and crew share stories from behind the scenes as they help restore lost pieces from Mary Poppins, Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more.

Watch Prop Culture on Disney+.

This eight-part docuseries goes behind the scenes of The Mandalorian, following the show's cast, crew, and creative team as they build out the universe of Star Wars beyond the Skywalker Saga. Featuring in-depth interviews and roundtable discussions, the series offers viewers a peek at every step of the process.

Watch Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian on Disney+.

This docuseries follows people across Disney to show what a normal day of working for the Mouse looks like. From the animation studio to the legendary Imagineers, each episode shows just how much work goes into creating the magic we're used to seeing from Disney.

Watch One Day at Disney on Disney+.

If you've ever wondered about the enormous amount of work that goes into creating Disney's most immersive experiences, this docuseries is for you. In this six-part miniseries, the story of the Imagineers — a group of highly creative and technically masterful experts who work on Disney's parks — is revealed. The series covers challenges Imagineers faced during this tumultous time such as changes in leadership, near-shutdowns, major failures, and more.

Watch The Imagineering Story on Disney+.

Over the course of 20 bite-sized episodes, viewers get to meet several of the people who are tasked with bringing the classic Pixar magic to life. Each episode covers a different aspect of work at Pixar, and walks viewers through the entire creative process from start to finish.

Watch Inside Pixar on Disney+.

Ballet is serious business, and that's exactly what this docuseries is all about! On Pointe follows students, dancers, and staff over the course of a season at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Throughout the year, dancers undergo intense training and challenges as they pursue their dreams of dancing on some of the world's biggest stages.

Watch On Pointe on Disney+.

The Sherman Brothers produced some of the most iconic songs from the golden era of Disney, writing notable tracks for Disney theme parks and movies like Mary Poppins. Off screen, though, their lives (and their relationship) was a little more complicated.

Watch The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story on Disney+.