Among other changes, the setting of the film was relocated from 19th century London to 1980s New York City, Fagin's gang is made up of dogs (one of which is Dodger), and Sykes is a loan shark.

Wandering the streets by himself in search of someone to adopt him, the kitten meets a laid-back Jack Russell Terrier named Dodger, who agrees to help him steal food from a hot dog vendor.

[3] In late 1984 or 1985,[b] Eisner and Katzenberg invited twenty film executives to pitch potential ideas for upcoming animated features, infamously called the "Gong Show".

[8][7] After Ron Clements had pitched The Little Mermaid (1989) and Treasure Planet (2002) to Eisner and Katzenberg,[7] story artist Pete Young suggested, "Oliver Twist with dogs.

[16] Some producers, directors, and male storyboard artists felt unhappy with the direction of the film, who thought that "it had lost some of its contemporary edge.

[16] Dodger originally had a smaller role;[21] the writers intended for Fagin to visit Sykes' office with Einstein, who was attacked by the Dobermanns and "carried out, bloodied and lifeless.

"[12] The panda subplot was eventually dropped when he suggested to have Fagin hold Oliver for ransom because he was a valuable, rare Asian cat.

[26] According to Disney's former senior vice president for feature animation Peter Schneider, it was easy to cast pop music artists because they all had children on their own.

Joel also confirmed that he loved the "old Disney movies" and Oliver Twist,[28] stating that his grandfather read all of Charles Dickens' novels.

[12] Scribner reversed his decision when he thought that the "feeling that [Oliver] is really occurring" would decline if it was not true to the period, which included the art of New York City and several billboards, advertisements, and etcetera.

[12] Scribner borrowed a technique from Lady and the Tramp (1955) by blocking out the scenes on real streets, and then photographing them with cameras mounted 18 inches (46 cm) off the ground.

[3] Throughout two and a half years of production, 300 artists and technicians were involved in the film,[45][46] and a million of story sketches[46][47] and 119,275 animation cels were produced.

[3] Eleven minutes of the film used "computer-assisted imagery",[3] such as cityscapes,[3] Sykes's limo,[3] the Brooklyn Bridge,[3] Fagin's trike,[3][50][51] the interior of the tunnel,[51] and the stairway scene during "Perfect Isn't Easy".

[55] At his suggestion of his friend David Geffen, Katzenberg brought in lyricist Howard Ashman, who composed the song "Once Upon a Time in New York City".

[48] Katzenberg wanted to recruit a team of singer-songwriters to provide a song, which included Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, and Huey Lewis.

[58] Redford was hired to compose the score because of his previous collaboration with Disney music executive Chris Montan on the television series St.

Oliver & Company premiered theatrically in North America on November 18, 1988―the same day on which Disney celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse short, Steamboat Willie (1928).

More than 30 company logos and brand names were shown in the film, including Kodak, Dr. Scholls, Sony, Diet Coke, Tab, McDonald's, Yamaha, Ryder, and USA Today.

[22][67] Katzenberg urged the marketing campaign to focus on the classic Dickens novel and the pop score,[56] and promotional tie-ins included Sears, which produced and manufactured products with themes inspired from the film, and McDonald's which sold Christmas musical ornaments based on Oliver and Dodger, and small finger puppets based on the characters in a Happy Meal.

[68] For its theatrical re-release in 1996, the film was accompanied with a promotional campaign by Burger King and consumer rebate and refund offers up to $15 from Kodak, Con Agra Cuisine, and Walt Disney Home Video.

[citation needed] Despite its successful box office performance, Oliver & Company was not released on home video, although it was one of the most requested Disney films.

[71] After its theatrical re-release, Oliver & Company was released on VHS and widescreen LaserDisc in the United States on September 24, 1996, for a limited time.

Its consensus states, "Predictable and stodgy, Oliver & Company isn't one of Disney's best, though its colorful cast of characters may be enough to entertain young viewers looking for a little adventure.

Animation historian Charles Solomon wrote a favorable review, stating the film "offers virtually ideal family holiday fare.

The cartoon action will delight young children, while older ones, who usually reject animation as 'kid stuff,' will enjoy the rock songs and hip characters, especially the brash Tito.

"[87] Writing for People magazine, Peter Travers opined in his review, "Too slight to rank with such Disney groundbreakers as Pinocchio and Fantasia, the film is more on the good-fun level of The Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians.

"[88] Desson Howe of The Washington Post felt that the film "retrieves some of the old Disney charm with tail-wagging energy and five catchy songs."

Likewise, fellow Washington Post film critic Rita Kempley praised the songs and animation, and called it a "happy adaptation of the Victorian classic.

It is totally without distinctive visual style, suggesting only the sort of bland cartoon drawings one finds in a manual of first-aid instructions.

In the episode "Pluto Saves the Day", Dodger (voiced by Jess Harnell instead of Billy Joel) leads a musical group known as Pet Shop Dogs, formed by other dogs of Disney animated films, also including Tito, Francis and DeSoto, performing the song "Everybody Wants to Be a Woof" (a parody of the song "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" from The Aristocats).