Fans of The Lion King 2 get an extra treat on the new DVD — Disney’s short film, One by One. All images © Walt Disney Enterprises.

Scott Henrick (of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate) once described Disney's The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride as "a worthy successor to the throne of the most successful animated film of all time." But the real gem of this direct-to-video feature's fancy-schmancy two-disc DVD re-release — released in stores Aug. 31, 2004 — may be One by One, an outstanding new animated short directed by Pixote Hunt.

According to its producer, Don Hahn, One by One was originally developed a few years ago by Hunt — to date, Disney's only African-American director — as one of a series of animated shorts based on various forms of "world music." At one time, the proposed shorts — Mike Gabriel's award-winning Lorenzo was one of these — were intended to be collected as a feature film anthology of music-driven segments, or possibly to fill the rotating slots in Fantasia 2000. (Hunt directed the film's opening sequence, abstractly adapting Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5.") Instead, One by One makes its world debut on The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride DVD, a special release that the Walt Disney Co. (rightfully) hopes will reach the widest possible audience.

The four-minute short — exec produced by Roy E. Disney — opens in a squalor-stricken, rusted-out South African shantytown. When one of its young inhabitants discovers a colorful bird's feather (no, it's not one of Zazu the toucan's) borne on the wind, it inspires him to encourage his friends to beg, borrow and steal the necessary materials to make dozens of kites — each with its own colorful kid-drawn motif — with which they fill the African sky. Whether or not this "spiritual triumph of children" represents their dreams or reality, it definitely is artistically and thematically inspiring. One by One is the animated equivalent of a tone poem or haiku, but much more engaging.

One by One takes its title and inspiration from "One by One," a "freedom song" written and performed by Lebo M, one that was cut from the animated Lion King but is included in the live Broadway musical production. (It occurs immediately following the show's intermission.) The chant-like song "One by One" was originally recorded in South Africa by the Children's Choir, then augmented by additional recording of the Adult Choirs in South Africa and New York City.