Prop Culture

Prop Culture
Production information
Episode count	8
No. of seasons	1
Network(s)	Disney+
First aired	May 1, 2020
Attribution information
Creator(s)	Dan Lanigan
Executive producer(s)	Jason Henry Dan Lanigan
Production company	Cinema Relics Productions ABC Studios
Starring	Dan Lanigan

"In a movie, every detail, no matter how small, is designed to tell you something. I'm Dan Lanigan, and I've spent my entire life collecting artifacts from my favorite films. Now, I'm setting out to learn more about the props from the Disney movies that I love...because these historic artifacts make you feel like you're a part of the story."

―Daniel Lanigan

Prop Culture, originally announced as Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies, is a documentary series for the Disney+ streaming service. It premiered on May 1, 2020.

On April 10, 2019, just ahead of their "Investor Day" event on April 11, Disney announced a number of series for the Disney+ streaming service. This included the documentary series Prop Culture, albeit announced through the working title Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies, an anthology series that takes a unique look at beloved films through the props and costumes (now modern 'artifacts') that made them unique. Hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan, the films including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. For Pirates of the Caribbean, Lanigan met with guest stars, including concept designers Jim Byrkit and Crash McCreery, costume designer Penny Rose, and swordsmith Tony Swatton, along with visiting St. Vincent and the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.

By May 27, 2023, Prop Culture was reportedly removed from Disney+. Following a post by William Swift on Facebook, Dan Lanigan responded about how he was "upset" and "doesn't understand" why Prop Culture was removed, due to his belief that Prop Culture was an inexpensive show.

In February 2025, some of the content on Prop Culture was posted on the channel "Cinema Relics" on YouTube. When asked about sharing the old Prop Culture content in a Q&A on YouTube, Lanigan stated they are not able to do full episodes due to copyright restrictions, and so they slowly put out different parts so they don't upset Disney. "Honestly, the only reason we're doing this is because it's not on Disney+ anymore."

Official description

Disney Plus Press

Film historian and prop collector Dan Lanigan reunites iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney's most beloved films. Throughout this journey, Dan will recover lost artifacts, visit private collections, and help restore pieces from the Walt Disney Archives to their original glory. Among the films featured this season are Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Prop Culture is produced by ABC Studios, a label of Disney Television Studios. The series is executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan.

D23

This anthology series, hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan, looks at beloved films such as Mary Poppins, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Tron through some of their most memorable props and costumes. We’ll hear from the craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them, and the collectors and archives that have cherished them over the years. Prop Culture is produced by ABC Studios, Alternative and executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan.

On Disney+

Movie prop collector Dan Lanigan reunites iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney's most beloved films. Throughout this journey, Dan will recover lost artifacts, visit private collections, and help restore pieces from the Walt Disney Archives to their original glory.

Details

Movie prop collector Dan Lanigan reunites iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney’s most beloved films. Throughout this journey, Dan will recover lost artifacts, visit private collections, and help restore pieces from the Walt Disney Archives to their original glory. The series features award-winning film artists including: actors Christopher Lloyd, Kathleen Turner, and Rick Moranis; directors Joe Johnston, Henry Selick, and Steven Lisberger; and composers Danny Elfman and Paul Williams. Dan examines props and effects artifacts with the craftsmen who created them, such as: character designers, Rick Heinrichs and Crash McCreery; special effects innovators, Phil Tippett and Howard Berger; prop makers, Tony Swatton and Richard Taylor; miniature builders, Fon Davis and Don Bies; costume designers, Penny Rose and Calista Hendrickson; and puppet builders, Dave Goelz and Amy Van Gilder. The executive producers are Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan. "Prop Culture" is produced by ABC Studios, a division of Disney Television Studios.

Trivia

• Many of the props featured in this series that belong to the Walt Disney Archives were previously displayed in past exhibits held by them over the years with the Bowers Museum exhibit in 2020 hosting a display that served as a teaser for this series.
• Throughout many of the episodes, remnants of Disney Parks attractions as well as highlighted props that were displayed in some of them can be found throughout the series:
  • In Episode 4, Daniel Lannigan and a Disney Imagineer travel to the Disneyland version of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to see the Aztec treasure chest used in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
• Episode 4 (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) is the only installment in the series where none of the actors from the original film are interviewed or shown props that they worked with. Though it did feature Jim Byrkit, Crash McCreery, Penny Rose, Tony Swatton among others.

Gallery

Promotional images

Prop Culture poster

Disney+

Prop Culture (2003)

Video

Prop Culture - Official Trailer - Disney+

Hidden Treasure of Pirates Of The Caribbean Locations

Screen Used Jack Sparrow Costume from Pirates of the Caribbean revealed

External links

• Watch Prop Culture | Disney+ - Archived
• Prop Culture - On Disney+ - Disney.com