Short subjects are as integral a part of the Walt Disney Company's history as Mickey, Donald, and huge lines at Space Mountain. After all, it was in one-reelers that Uncle Walt and his hard-working animators first captured the world's attention, before moving onto feature-length flicks and really kick-starting the House of Mouse as we know it. Such quick little cartoons are more bountiful on television than in theaters nowadays, but in any case, the studio's storied tradition of entertaining minds and sparking imaginations in ten minutes or less is anything but kaput. Be they experimental vignettes with no dialogue or reappearances by beloved characters from Disney's computer-generated canon, there's almost always something unique to admire about these mini-movies when they spring out of the woodwork. Covering a fifteen-year period, the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection offers up a varied selection of pint-sized pictures, a twelve-title line-up that does a fine job of showing off the company's capacity for making us tear up and laugh ourselves silly in no time flat.

The Ballad of Nessie (2011). The famous monster of Loch Ness searches for a new home after being forced out by a golf course tycoon.

Feast (2014). A hungry little pooch tries to help reunite an estranged couple.

Frozen Fever (2015). Queen Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel) braves a case of the sniffles to give her sister Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) the best birthday ever.

Get a Horse! (2013). Mickey Mouse crosses back and forth from the worlds of 2D and 3D animation, in order to save his sweetheart Minnie from peril.

How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (2007). Goofy (voice of Bill Farmer) decides to deck out his pad with a state-of-the-art entertainment system.

John Henry (2000). One of America's greatest folk legends is retold, following a former slave (voice of Geoffrey Jones) as he takes on a train to ensure the freedom of his people.

The Little Matchgirl (2006). A penniless young girl dreams of a life filled with warmth and family.

Lorenzo (2004). A fat feline becomes locked in a battle with his tail after a magical black cat brings it to life.

Paperman (2012). An office drone tries like the dickens to gain the notice of a pretty girl he meets on the train.

Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (2010). Two elves are assigned by Mrs. Claus (voice of Betty White) to retrieve a special gift...from the right jolly one's own workshop.

Tangled Ever After (2012). While Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore) and Flynn (voice of Zachary Levi) say their wedding vows, their loyal animal companions search the kingdom for their runaway rings.

Tick Tock Tale (2010). A misfit clock comes to the rescue when a thief tries to swipe his time-keeping teammates.

While you can watch each short individually and in any order you wish, it's almost more fun and even enlightening to buzz through them chronologically. The evolution of Disney animation since the start of the new millennium unfolds before us, beginning with the jubilant John Henry and its intentionally unpolished look and ending with Frozen Fever's picturesque sheen. Some of these vignettes embrace the technology that recent years have wrought (with the Frozen and Tangled shorts rendered in gorgeous CG), while others keep in touch with their traditional roots (with the Goofy segment recycling backgrounds from some of the character's original capers). The variety of styles and genres on display is impressive, giving viewers plenty of options to choose from, no matter what mood we're in. In the market for a breezy, holiday-themed adventure? Prep & Landing does just the trick. Looking for something more steeped in melancholy? You won't dig up a better tearjerker than The Little Matchgirl. How about stories that boldly tinker with their visual presentations? Paperman and Lorenzo push boundaries and attempt things precious few animated features -- great or small -- have ever taken stabs at. Thanks to optional introductions featuring their creators, you come away from these shorts with an appreciation for the creativity and passion put into them, even in the case of something like Frozen Fever that's clearly meant to tide kiddies over until an official sequel can be launched.

Some (if not all) of the films featured in this set have already been spread out over various other home media releases, but if you've been hoping they'd come together under one roof, the wait is over. Though I'd love to see Disney's earliest mini-masterpieces be granted high-def makeovers, this assortment will do just fine until that time comes, for it serves as a comprehensive chronicle of the latest chapter in one of the cinema's great cartoon dynasties. Whether you're a long-time fan or a youngster getting their first glimpse at the company's signature magic, the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection has something to endear nearly all tastes.

(Released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment; not rated by MPAA.)