1995 Disney cult classic “A Goofy Movie” was embraced by African-American viewers. Now, director of the iconic film, Kevin Lima, is dedicating the animated flick to the audience who loved it most.

Lima appears in new Disney Plus documentary “Not Just a Goof,” where he recalls “A Goofy Movie,” which saw moderate success, grossing $35 million domestically against an $18 million budget. As People points out, the special shows a montage of those explaining how much the film meant to Black viewers. 

“A Goofy Movie,” which turned 30 this month, was tributed and parodied in an episode of “Atlanta,” titled “A Goof Who Sat by the Door,” during the show’s fourth and final season. The episode showed a fictional Disney executive who set out to make “the Blackest movie of all time” with “A Goofy Movie.” While the voice actors were largely white, making a cameo as singer Powerline was Tevin Campbell, although the character was styled after Bobby Brown.

Lima recalled being “quite shocked when I had discovered that the African American community had embraced this movie. Looking back at it, it lives in its DNA.”

Like his childhood love, “A Jungle Book,” Lima shared his hope for “A Goofy Movie” to touch the next generation of future animators.

“And I think that expression and inspiring expression in kids and adults, it is incredibly important in our society. Some people don't have the ability to express themselves any other way,” he said.