I was thinking about…The Walt Disney Story
By Andy Lee
Walt Disney, renowned worldwide for creating iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, pioneered the American animation industry and built an unrivaled entertainment empire. As The Walt Disney Company celebrates its 100th anniversary, we reflect on the creative genius who started it all.
Born in Chicago in 1901, Walt Disney grew up enamored with cartoons and vaudeville shows. He honed his artistic talents by taking night classes at the Chicago Art Institute and began experimenting with animated shorts in Kansas City. In 1922, Walt launched his first studio, Laugh-O-Gram, which quickly went bankrupt.
Undeterred, Walt told his brother Roy, “There’s a lot of things I want to do. The one I’m going to do is make animated cartoons.” Together the brothers moved to Hollywood and founded Disney Brothers Studio in 1923. After screening his Laugh-O-Gram shorts, Walt created the Alice Comedies series.
It was Alice that introduced the iconic Mickey Mouse to the world in 1928’s Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon with synchronized sound. An instant star was born, and Walt remarked, “I only hope we don’t lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.”
As an innovator, Walt constantly pushed the boundaries of animation. He collaborated closely with his team to bring films like Snow White and Bambi to life using groundbreaking techniques like the multiplane camera. Walt fostered a creative environment, once stating, “We allow no geniuses around our studios.”
Persevering after early struggles, Walt produced smash hits including Pinocchio and Fantasia, winning 22 Oscars. He also quipped, “I’d say it’s been my biggest problem all my life…that I’ve been bored with nothing to do.”
Expanding beyond animation, Walt broke new ground with live-action movies, nature documentaries, and the TV series Disneyland. In 1955, against all advice, Walt opened Disneyland, immersing himself in every detail down to the fonts.
Though a pioneer, Walt gained a reputation as a perfectionist boss who accepted nothing short of excellence. Animator Shamus Culhane called him “a genius” who was also “cruel” and would “trample on anybody.” Many animators felt pushed to their limits by Walt’s intense demands.
But Walt’s unrelenting drive stemmed from limitless imagination. He once advised, “Keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” This led Walt to develop groundbreaking technology like audio-animatronics.
When Walt died of lung cancer in 1966, Roy finished building Walt Disney World, realizing his brother’s dream. Today, Disney’s media empire including studios, parks, TV networks and merchandise generates billions in revenue.
Walt pioneered an entirely new entertainment medium and brought timeless tales upholding virtue to life. Actor Tom Hanks called him “the greatest storyteller of the 20th century.” Critic Leonard Maltin said, “There is no way the motion picture art form would be what it is today without Walt Disney.”
The Disney empire remains rooted in Walt’s boundless creativity and innovation. “Imagination has no age,” he once said, “and dreams are forever.” As The Walt Disney Company starts its second century, the ideals of its founder continue bringing joy and inspiration to generations worldwide.
Walt Disney created sheer magic through his animation, setting the standard for family entertainment that parents and children could enjoy together. Though not without flaws himself, Walt crafted stories upholding moral goodness that resonated across generations. His pioneering spirit lives on in the company bearing his name.
Even with massive success, Walt never stopped taking risks or pushing creative boundaries. He dreamed up innovative ideas like Disneyland against all conventional wisdom. Driven by curiosity and imagination, Walt created timeless magic that touched the hearts of young and old alike.
Stay curious, keep exploring. 😊
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