🎬 Welcome to the Club (2022)

"Welcome to the Club" is a 2022 American animated short film based on the long-running television series The Simpsons. Produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television Animation, it was released exclusively on Disney+ as part of the platform's Disney+ Day celebration on September 8, 2022. The short was directed by David Silverman, a veteran Simpsons director and producer who has helmed numerous episodes and the 2007 feature film.

The short follows Lisa Simpson as she sets out to become an officially recognized Disney Princess, only to be tricked by Loki (disguised as Bart) into considering the path of a Disney Villain instead. What follows is a musical number featuring a cavalcade of classic Disney antagonists—including Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Maleficent, and Scar—who attempt to convince Lisa that villainy is more appealing than a conventional happily ever after. The short culminates in an appearance by Mickey Mouse and a visual gag involving the Disney princes.

As a crossover between The Simpsons and the broader Disney animated canon, "Welcome to the Club" represents a unique piece of corporate synergy following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019. The short received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its self-aware humor and the novelty of seeing Simpsons characters interact with iconic Disney figures, while others viewed it as a thinly veiled piece of brand promotion. The promotional campaign included posters parodying the final scene of Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise, featuring Lisa and Ursula.