Balto (film)

Balto
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
Directed by	Simon Wells
Screenplay by	Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser David Steven Cohen Roger S. H. Schulman
Story by	Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser
Produced by	Steve Hickner
Starring	Kevin Bacon Bridget Fonda Phil Collins Bob Hoskins
Cinematography	Jan Richter-Friis (live action)
Edited by	Renee Edwards Nick Fletcher Sim Evan-Jones
Music by	James Horner
Production companies	Amblin Entertainment Amblimation
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	December 22, 1995 (1995-12-22) (United States) March 29, 1996 (1996-03-29) (United Kingdom)
Running time	78 minutes
Countries	United States[1] United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$31 million[2]
Box office	$11 million[3]

Balto is a 1995 animated adventure film directed by Simon Wells, produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures.^[4] It is loosely based on the true story of the eponymous dog who helped save children infected with diphtheria in the 1925 serum run to Nome. The film stars the voices of Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Phil Collins, and Bob Hoskins. Though primarily an animated film, it uses a live-action framing device that takes place in New York City's Central Park and features Miriam Margolyes as an older version of one of the children. This was the third and final film to be produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio, before the studio's closure in 1997.

Although the film was a financial disappointment due to being overshadowed by the success of Pixar's Toy Story, its subsequent sales on home video led to two direct-to-video sequels: Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002) and Balto III: Wings of Change (2005), though none of the original voice cast reprised their roles.