A HISTORY OF THE DISNEY COMPANY

Steven Rothwell

Kirsten Butler

Professor Lynn

Raymond

English 1102

Purpose of Presentation

To give a well rounded look at the History of Disney

It will be put into perspective with information on its founder, its animation, its economic success and growing fame

It will show the effect of American cultural life on disney, and disney’s effect on America.

Walt Disney

Born in Chicago, on December 5, 1901.

Son of Elias and Flora Disney, he had 3 other Brothers.

Loved art and writing from an early age,

His first job in art was as an advertising cartoonist in Kansas City, Missouri

Fig 1. Walt Disney as an Ambulace driver,1918. “Walteredisney.com” <walteredisney.com>

Early Beginnings

Started an animation studio with Disney wanted to pursue a career as a

newspaper artist so his brother, Roy, got him a job at the Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio where he met cartoonist Ubbe Iwerks.

Disney worked at the Kansas City Film Ad Company where he made commercials based on cut-off animation

Then Disney began experimenting with the camera doing animation and then opened an animation business.

The Foundation of the Disney Company

After a failed studio in the Midwest, Walt Disney and Roy decided to restart in Hollywood California.

Hollywood was already the “movie capitol” of america.

Walt decided to invite his previous animator from Kansas City.

Their first productions were “Alice Comedies, a blend of live action and animation.

Fig 1. Walt Disney and Roy Disney. “Celebrating Nine Decades of Disney” The Walt Disney Company Blog. <https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog/celebrating-nine-decades-disney>

Steamboat Willie

Roy and Walt decided they needed to make expand and make more money. They decided to produce 3 cartoons. They were unsold until sound was added.

Short film premiered in 1928, directed by Walt Disney and Ube Iwerks

The debut of Mickey mouse and Minnie Mouse

First Cartoon with synchronized sound

Was part of the Silly Symphonies series, Disney’s first success

Fig 1. Steamboat Willie “Finally! Steamboat Willie” Disneyfilmproject <http://www.disneyfilmproject.com/2009/05/finally-steamboat-willie.html>

Disney’s Main Characters

The Six main Characters of Disney, known internationally.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto

Mickey is the most famous of all Disney Characters, with his premiere in “Steamboat Willie”

They have all starred in Short Cartoons, movies and comics.

Introduced through the “Silly Symphonies” Series over the course of the thirties, they remain popular today.

Snow White (1937)

The first feature animated film in history. Based on a fairy tale, not a disney

character. Cell animated feature film Earliest Walt Disney “classic” Snow white is the first “Disney Princess” Popularity of it led it to being rereleased

in the 90s Earned Walt Disney an Oscar

America in the 1930s

The radio and the motion picture was changing the american cultural landscape.

The great depression changed america greatly, with large numbers of people moving to new states.

America not a homogenous country, but demographics were much different than today.

DISNEY IN WORLD WAR II

Walt disney animators designed unit symbols

Fig 1 and 2. Unit insignias: “Fifinella” and “21st Bombardment Squadron. “Service with Character” Hyperion 2719 2014. Web. <http://2719hyperion.blogspot.com/p/service-with-character-disney-world-war.html>

• The United States was attacked on Dec 7,

1941. This brought the United States into

World War 2.

• World War 2 was an unprecedented effort for

the United States, with whole industries being

turned towards the War Effort.

• The Disney made War Propaganda for every

branch of the U.S. Government.

DISNEY PROPAGANDA

• Propaganda was a crucial part in the United State’s War effort.

• Cartoons such as “The Spirit of ‘43” and others boosted Morale on the home front, and encouraged Citizens to engage in constructive behavior for the War.

• Disney Animators worked with Frank Capra for “Why we fight”

• Disney made Instructional Training films for the Military

DISNEY STRIKE

• Disney animators went on Strike during WW2

• Conflict over pay, and leader ship.

• 5 week Strike

• Disney Company became a Union Shop after FDR sent a labor mediator

• Labor Relations were strained during the Depression, and continued into World War II

Fig 1. Mickey Mouse on strike “The Disney Strike, 1941” The Animation Guild. Web. 2014

Films During the war

• The Disney Company produced 14 movies during the 1940s, 8 during the World War.

• 3 of those were propaganda pieces, made with encouragement from the U.S. Government

• Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros were specifically aimed at increasing US popularity in Central and South America.

• The war ate into Disney’s market, and this hindrance on profit contributed to the 1941

• Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1942), and Bambi (1942) were made during this period.

AMERICAN CULTURE DURING THE WAR

• The Second World War saw America attacked, millions of men and women in uniform, and unprecedented levels of American power amidst the carnage.

• Disney movies were already considered an American Icon.

• Disney art showed up on American fighting vehicles, as unit mascots, they sold war bonds, they were seen as doing their part.

1950S AMERICA

• The “Affluent Society”

• Beginnings of the Cold War

• The rise of the Television

• Change in Disney Strategy

DISNEY AND TV• Television was becoming a huge part of

American Culture

• Walt wanted to capitalize on this

• Disney’s First television series was Disneyland

• Disney was was hit on television, eventually having its own cable network in 1982 and acquiring ABC in 1996

Disney Movies of the 50s• Disney made over 25 films during

this decade

• Only 5 of these were animated films. Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Sleeping Beauty were made in the 50s.

• Some of Disney’s most Iconic live action films were made in this decade, such as Old Yeller

American Culture in the 1950’sand into the 1960’s: Transitions

• American Culture in the 1950s was stable, but upset by foreign incidents and internal trouble

• The 1960s saw the America enter the beginnings of a turbulent time

• The Kennedy assassination, the Civil rights movement, and the start of the Vietnam War were the major events of this time period.

• Disney presented to the entire country every week on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color

1960’s

Walt Disney productions was very busy in the 60s being dominated by Disneyland and the futuristic city of EPCOT.

Disney News begins publication in 1965 Disney diagnosed with lung cancer in

Sept. of 1966, died December 15,1966 Disney begin to go down hill after the

death of Disney due to no good direction. Disney only produced 3 animated film this

decade. The majority were live action.

WITHOUT WALT

After the death of Walt it was not certain if Disney would still be successful.

Decisions that Walt would usually make were harder to decide on without his input.

Disney’s new management Donn Tatum and Card Walker really started to make big changes to Disney when Roy Disney quits the company due to problems with the new management.

Disneyland

When Disneyland first opened in Anaheim, California in 1955 it was a great place for children to have fun, Walt noticed that it wasn’t really fun for the parents so he made an effort to make it fun for the whole family. He said that America needed a place where they can connect with their imagination.

Walt didn’t get to see the growth of Disney but his legacy will always be there.

1970’s

People enjoyed staying at this resort because of its attractions, especially keeping the kids busy.

1971- Roy Disney dies Donn Tatum (Chairman) and Card Walker

(president) still left in charge. Disney made only a few major animated movies,

keeping to live action and television.

Disney World

After seven years of planning Disney World Opened October 1, 1971

Around 10,000 people came to witness the Grand Opening of Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Disney World didn’t have as many people as Disneyland did on its Grand opening day, but was still a huge deal.

The animal kingdom, Epcot, and the magic kingdom are some of the more demanding attractions.

1980’s

In 1981 Disney announces its plans for a cable network.

In 1982 the Coca- Cola company tries to buy Disney but fails.

In 1983 Disney Chanel begins, this was a huge deal because a lot of the Disney shows could all be shown on one channel.

Disney channel is still a huge deal today Disney produces more animated films, the

Little Mermaid being a huge animated hit

MODERN DISNEY

Today Disney is still going strong. The channel itself receives about 84 million viewers a day.

Disney keeps getting bigger and better by adding new shows, animations, and more attractions.

Disney Animation has come into its own again

Over 20 animated films made since 1990

Disney and Technology

Walt Disney pushed his company to adopt and acquire new technologies

Disney owned the patent for Technicolor at first

Disney films have always shown high quality of work

Disney and Pixar created the World’s first feature Length animated movie

Disney bought Pixar in the 2006

Conclusion

Disney has been an Icon of American culture with its close association with American Values, and long history of media success

Disney has changed along with America, its values and reputation are usually held in high regard.

Disney will continue to be a huge force in American culture and business.

Works Cited

Telotte, J.P. The Mouse Machine: Disney and Technology. Urbana and Chicago :University of Illinois Press, 2008.

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Brode, Douglas. From Walt to Woodstock: How Disney created Counterculture. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004

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Giroux, Henry A. The Mouse That Roared: Disney and the End of Innocence. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publisher, 1999.

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Maltin, Leonard The Disney Films. 4th Ed. New York, New York: Disney Editions, 2000

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