Walt Disney's rise to fame was not easy; it consisted of persistence, patience, motivation, and a dream.
"Whenever I go on a ride, I'm always thinking of what's wrong with the thing and how it can be improved."-Walt Disney (justdisney.com)
"I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it." -Walt Disney (justdisney.com)
Walt Disney came to California in 1923. He was hoping to find work as a director, but he received a contract for his own work and launched Disney Bros. Studio with his brother Roy. By 1924, Walt Disney was no longer working as an animator; he was focusing on story development and directing. At age 26, he had a studio in Hollywood. Walt Disney was a persistent man. After several business setbacks, such as Oswald the Rabbit, he created Mickey Mouse. Disney had originally intended to sign a contract for Oswald the Rabbit, but he was turned down. The backers owned the copyright and they left Walt Disney with nothing. He was preparing to give the sad news to workers, but he created Mickey Mouse instead. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928, while he was returning from a business trip.
"Born of necessity, the little fellow literally freed us of immediate worry. He provided the means for expanding our organization to its present dimensions and for extending the medium cartoon animation towards new entertainment levels. He spelled production liberation for us."-Walt Disney (about Mickey Mouse) (www.justdisney.com)
Mickey Mouse appeared on television for the first time on November 18, 1928. The creation of Mickey Mouse established the Disney Bros. Studio as the leading animation studio in the country.
The Third Mickey Mouse film was Steamboat Willie. Steamboat Willie was the first animated film with synchronized sound, also known as a "talking picture".
Talking pictures were becoming very popular during that time. Walt Disney got married during this time period. He married Lillian Bounds, who was a studio inker.
Mickey Mouse was very successful. The success of Mickey Mouse allowed Walt Disney to expand on Walt Disney Studios, which was newly renamed from formerly being known as Disney Bros. Studio. Walt Disney took on multiple challenging projects, such as "Silly Symphonies," which were one-reel shorts that allowed him to experiment with images, music, and story lines.
Mickey Mouse was very successful. The success of Mickey Mouse allowed Walt Disney to expand on Walt Disney Studios, which was newly renamed from formerly being known as Disney Bros. Studio. Walt Disney took on multiple challenging projects, such as "Silly Symphonies," which were one-reel shorts that allowed him to experiment with images, music, and story lines.
In the next three years, the Walt Disney Studio created the first three strip technicolor cartoons. The Walt Disney Studio also introduced a multi-plane camera to create the illusion of depth in animated films, and the studio developed individual styles of movement and personality in it's characters. Also, Walt and Lillian Disney had two daughters during this time period. Their names were Diane and Sharon. "The contributing success of Walt's cartoons led to a revolution in the art and technology of animation." (www.waltdisney.org)
"Having redefined the art of animation, Walt dared to produce a feature-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." (www.waltdisney.org)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature-length film. The film took four years to develop. Walt DIsney and his brother, Roy Disney, obtained six figure loans. Each loan was enough to finance an entire movie. Walt disney found an art instructor and brought him to the studio to work with the animators on his team. Walt Disney insisted that the animators on his team should study live models and animals. The premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was on December 21, 1937. "....Disney won a unique Academy Award for the innovative movie: a standard sized Oscar and seven miniature castings." (www.waltdisney.org)
"Having redefined the art of animation, Walt dared to produce a feature-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." (www.waltdisney.org)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature-length film. The film took four years to develop. Walt DIsney and his brother, Roy Disney, obtained six figure loans. Each loan was enough to finance an entire movie. Walt disney found an art instructor and brought him to the studio to work with the animators on his team. Walt Disney insisted that the animators on his team should study live models and animals. The premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was on December 21, 1937. "....Disney won a unique Academy Award for the innovative movie: a standard sized Oscar and seven miniature castings." (www.waltdisney.org)
After the success of Snow White, Disney created a new studio in Burbank, California. There, he produced Bambi, Pinocchio, and Fantasia. The movies received good regards from critics, but none of the movies were financially successful immediately. There wasn't immediate financial success because World War II effected overseas income.
The late 30's to mid 40's was a difficult period in Walt Disney's life. However, overcoming the difficult time strengthened his business.
"This difficult period in Walt's life included the deaths of his parents, a studio strike that threatened the company's viability, and a period when the U.S. military used part of the studio as a base. The company released Dumbo and produced training films for the military, public service shorts, and morale-boosting films, and Walt embarked on a goodwill tour of South America to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Latin American countries. He later produced two Latin American-themed animated movies based on the trip." (www.waltdisney.org)
The late 30's to mid 40's was a difficult period in Walt Disney's life. However, overcoming the difficult time strengthened his business.
"This difficult period in Walt's life included the deaths of his parents, a studio strike that threatened the company's viability, and a period when the U.S. military used part of the studio as a base. The company released Dumbo and produced training films for the military, public service shorts, and morale-boosting films, and Walt embarked on a goodwill tour of South America to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Latin American countries. He later produced two Latin American-themed animated movies based on the trip." (www.waltdisney.org)
"In 1942, Disney released “Der Fuehrer’s Face,” an anti-Nazi propaganda movie that bolstered support for the war, and eventually won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film." (www.openculture.com)
"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do. And one thing it takes to accomplish something is courage."-Walt Disney (www.justdisney.com)
"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do. And one thing it takes to accomplish something is courage."-Walt Disney (www.justdisney.com)