Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Walt Disney" - New World

From New World Encyclopedia
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Walt Disney is particularly noted for his innovations in [[animation]] and theme park design. He was nominated for a record number 48 [[Academy awards]] and 7 [[Emmys]].
 
Walt Disney is particularly noted for his innovations in [[animation]] and theme park design. He was nominated for a record number 48 [[Academy awards]] and 7 [[Emmys]].
  
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==1901-1937: Early Life==
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== Early Life==
  
 
Born December 5, 1901, he was the son of Flora and [[Elias Disney]], and had three brothers and one sister.
 
Born December 5, 1901, he was the son of Flora and [[Elias Disney]], and had three brothers and one sister.
  
 
[[Image:Walt01.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Disney as an ambulance driver during the war.]]  
 
[[Image:Walt01.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Disney as an ambulance driver during the war.]]  
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Walt Disney's ancestors emigrated from Gowran, [[County Kilkenny]] in [[Ireland]]. His father [[Elias Disney]] moved to the United States after his parents failed at farming in Canada.  Elias moved to [[Chicago]] in the late 1800s soon after his marriage to Flora Call where their children were born.
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Walt Disney's ancestors emigrated from Gowran, [[County Kilkenny]] in [[Ireland]]. His father [[Elias Disney]] moved to the United States after his parents failed at farming in Canada and settled in [[Chicago]] soon after his marriage to Flora Call. where their children were born.  
  
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In April, 1906 Elias moved his family to [[Marceline, Missouri]] where his brother owned property. There he bought a house and 45 acres of farmland. The young Walt learned here to love trains and drawing.   
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In April, 1906 Elias moved his family to [[Marceline, Missouri]] There he bought a house and 45 acres of farmland. The young Walt learned here to love trains and drawing.  The family was to experience several moves as Elias Disney pursued various ways to support his family. They moved back to Chicago in 1917 where he took night courses at the [[Chicago Art Institute]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Walt Disney: An American Original|publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]]|date=1976,1994|location=New York|id=ISBN ISBN 0-7868-6027-8|pages=pp. 42-43}}</ref> Disney dropped out of high school so he could join the [[U.S. Army|Army]], but at 16 he was underage and they would not accept him.
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The family was to experience several moves as Elias Disney pursued various ways to support his family. They moved back to Chicago in 1917 where took night courses at the [[Chicago Art Institute]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Bob|title=Walt Disney: An American Original|publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]]|date=1976,1994|location=New York|id=ISBN ISBN 0-7868-6027-8|pages=pp. 42-43}}</ref> Disney dropped out of high school so he could join the [[U.S. Army|Army]], but at 16 he was underage and they would not accept him.
 
  
 
Instead, he decided to join the [[Red Cross]]. His mother forged Walt's birth certificate saying he was born in 1900 instead of 1901 so that he would be accepted. The Red Cross sent him to France for a year where he drove an ambulance covered with his drawings of imaginative characters.
 
Instead, he decided to join the [[Red Cross]]. His mother forged Walt's birth certificate saying he was born in 1900 instead of 1901 so that he would be accepted. The Red Cross sent him to France for a year where he drove an ambulance covered with his drawings of imaginative characters.
 
   
 
   
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He moved to Kansas City to begin his career as a commercial artist, working on ads for newspapers, magazines, and movie theaters. It was also there that he met a shy cartoonist named [[Ub Iwerks|Ubbe Iwwerks]]. The two decided to start their own art business, and formed a company called "Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists" in January 1920. Ultimately, their business failed but Disney, always one to learn from his experiences decided to head for Hollywood.
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After his war experience, he moved to Kansas City to begin his career as a commercial artist, working on ads for newspapers, magazines, and movie theaters. It was also there that he met a shy cartoonist named [[Ub Iwerks|Ubbe Iwwerks]]. The two decided to start their own art business, and formed a company called "Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists" in January 1920. Ultimately, their business failed but Disney, always one to learn from his experiences decided to head for Hollywood.
  
 
===Hollywood===
 
===Hollywood===
 
When Disney arrived in [[Los Angeles]], he had $40 in his pocket and an unfinished cartoon in his suitcase. Disney stated that his first ambition was to be a film director, but he was turned down for live action films by every major studio. Disney then turned back to animation and set up his first cartoon studio in a garage in his Uncle's house.    ts based upon his work, ''Alice's Wonderland''.
 
When Disney arrived in [[Los Angeles]], he had $40 in his pocket and an unfinished cartoon in his suitcase. Disney stated that his first ambition was to be a film director, but he was turned down for live action films by every major studio. Disney then turned back to animation and set up his first cartoon studio in a garage in his Uncle's house.    ts based upon his work, ''Alice's Wonderland''.
  
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Disney found his brother Roy, who was recovering from [[tuberculosis]] in a [[Los Angeles]] veteran's hospital and pleaded with his brother to help him with his fledgling studio, saying that he could not keep his finances straight without him. Roy agreed to go into business with hs brother and was to become his financial consultant throughout the years. HTogether they started [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney Brothers' Studio]] in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California|the Silver Lake district]], where the studio remained until 1939.
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Disney found his brother Roy, who was recovering from [[tuberculosis]] in a [[Los Angeles]] veteran's hospital. Roy agreed to go into business with hs brother and was to become his financial consultant and manager throughout the years. Together they started [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney Brothers' Studio]] in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California|the Silver Lake district]], where the studio remained until 1939.
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In 1925, Disney hired a young woman named [[Lillian Disney|Lillian Bounds]] to ink and paint celluloid. They were married on [[July 15]] [[1925]].  
 
  
 
====Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies====
 
====Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies====
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{{main|Mickey Mouse}}
 
  
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Disney had to develop a new "star".  The mouse was originally named "Mortimer", but later christened "[[Mickey Mouse]]" by Lillian Disney who felt the name "Mortimer" was too serious.
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Disney had to develop a new "star".  The mouse was originally named "Mortimer", but later christened "[[Mickey Mouse]]" by Lillian Disney who felt the name "Mortimer" was too serious. Disney himself performed as the [[voice actor|voice]] of Mickey Mouse until 1946.  
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Disney himself performed as the [[voice actor|voice]] of Mickey Mouse until 1946.  
 
  
 
Joining the Mickey Mouse series in 1929 were a series of musical shorts called ''[[Silly Symphonies]]''.  Within the next 8 years ''Mickey Mouse'' had become a world renowned character whose image began to appear on everything from watches to ?? The first color ''Symphony'' was ''[[Flowers and Trees]]'', which won the first [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film|Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons]] in 1932.
 
Joining the Mickey Mouse series in 1929 were a series of musical shorts called ''[[Silly Symphonies]]''.  Within the next 8 years ''Mickey Mouse'' had become a world renowned character whose image began to appear on everything from watches to ?? The first color ''Symphony'' was ''[[Flowers and Trees]]'', which won the first [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film|Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons]] in 1932.
  
 
[[Image:Walt Disney22.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Disney introduces his popular creations: Mickey, Minnie Mouse and Pluto to [[Hansel and Gretel]] ([[Dorothy Rodin]] and [[Virginia Murray]]).]]
 
[[Image:Walt Disney22.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Disney introduces his popular creations: Mickey, Minnie Mouse and Pluto to [[Hansel and Gretel]] ([[Dorothy Rodin]] and [[Virginia Murray]]).]]
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In 1932, Disney received a special [[Academy Award]] for the creation of Mickey Mouse, whose series was moved into color in 1935 and soon launched spinoff series for supporting characters such as [[Donald Duck]], [[Goofy]], and [[Pluto (dog)|Pluto]].
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In 1932, Disney received a special [[Academy Award]] for the creation of Mickey Mouse, whose became color in 1935, and soon launched spinoff series for supporting characters such as [[Donald Duck]], [[Goofy]], and [[Pluto (dog)|Pluto]].
  
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===Family Life===
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===Marriage and Family Life===
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As Mickey's co-creator and producer, Disney was almost as famous as his mouse cartoon character, but remained a largely private individual. He as his wife, Lillian's  greatest hope was to be a have a large family; however, the Disneys' first attempts at pregnancy ended in miscarriage. This, coupled with pressures at the studio, led to Disney having "a hell of a breakdown", as he called it. His doctors said that he had to get away for a while, so he and his wife went on a [[Caribbean]] cruise and then traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]]
 
  
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Lilly finally gave birth to a daughter, [[Diane Marie Disney]], on December 18, 1933. The Disneys then adopted second daughter, [[Sharon Mae Disney]], born on December 21,1934.
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In 1925, Disney hired a young woman named [[Lillian Disney|Lillian Bounds]] to ink and paint celluloid. They were married on July 15, 1925.
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As Mickey's co-creator and producer, Disney was almost as famous as his mouse cartoon character, but remained a largely private individual. He as his wife, Lillian's  greatest hope was to be a have a large family; however, the Disneys' first attempts at pregnancy ended in miscarriage. This, coupled with pressures at the studio, led to Disney having "a hell of a breakdown", as he called it. His doctors recommended a vation and eventually Lilly finally gave birth to a daughter, [[Diane Marie Disney]], on December 18, 1933. The Disneys then adopted second daughter, [[Sharon Mae Disney]], born on December 21,1934.
  
 
==1937-1941: The Golden Age of Animation==
 
==1937-1941: The Golden Age of Animation==
 
==="Disney's Folly": ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''===
 
==="Disney's Folly": ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''===
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Although his studio produced the two most successful cartoon series in the industry, Disney's ambition was to make longer films, and in 1934 he began plans for a full-length feature. When the rest of the film industry learned of Disney's plans to produce an ''animated'' feature-length version of [[Snow White]], they dubbed the project "Disney's Folly" and were certain that the project would destroy the Disney studio. Both Disney's wife and bother, who was the financial partner in their business, tried to talk Disney out of the project, but he was undeterred. He employed [[Chouinard Art Institute]] professor Don Graham to start a training operation for the studio staff, and used the ''Silly Symphonies'' as a platform for experiments in realistic human animation, distinctive character animation, special effects, and the use of specialized processes and apparatus such as the [[multiplane camera]].
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Although his studio produced the two most successful cartoon series in the industry, Disney's ambition was to make longer films, and in 1934 he began plans for a full-length feature. When the rest of the film industry learned of Disney's plans to produce an ''animated'' feature-length version of ''Snow White'', they dubbed the project "Disney's Folly" and were certain that the project would destroy the Disney studio. Both Disney's wife and bother, who was the financial partner in their business, tried to talk Disney out of the project, but he was undeterred. He employed [[Chouinard Art Institute]] to begin a training operation for the studio staff, and used the ''Silly Symphonies'' as a platform for experiments in realistic human animation, distinctive character animation, special effects, and the use of specialized processes and apparatus such as the [[multiplane camera]].
  
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Students and staff training elevated the technical level of the studio so that it was now able to give the feature the quality Disney desired.  The success of ''Snow White'' proved Disney's detractors wrong, and earned Disney the [[Oscar]] - one full-sized one, and seven miniature Oscar statuettes. On December 24, 1939 The feature animation staff, having just completed ''Pinocchio'', continued work on ''Fantasia'' and ''Bambi'', while the shorts staff continued work on the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto cartoon series.
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Students and staff training elevated the technical level of the studio so that it was now able to give the feature the quality Disney desired.  The success of ''Snow White'' proved Disney's detractors wrong, and earned Disney the [[Oscar]] - one full-sized one, and seven miniature Oscar statuettes. In 1939 the feature animation staff, after completing ''Pinocchio'', began work on ''Fantasia'' and ''Bambi'', while the shorts staff continued work on the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto cartoon series.
  
 
===Animators' strike and WWII===
 
===Animators' strike and WWII===
 
''Pinocchio'' and ''Fantasia'' followed ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' into movie theatres in 1940, but both were financial disappointments. The inexpensive ''Dumbo'' was planned as an income generator, but during production of the new film, most of the animation staff went on strike, permanently straining the relationship between Disney and his artists. Disney reflected that this was another time in his life when he suffered a "breakdown.
 
''Pinocchio'' and ''Fantasia'' followed ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' into movie theatres in 1940, but both were financial disappointments. The inexpensive ''Dumbo'' was planned as an income generator, but during production of the new film, most of the animation staff went on strike, permanently straining the relationship between Disney and his artists. Disney reflected that this was another time in his life when he suffered a "breakdown.
  
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Shortly after ''Dumbo'',a successful money maker, was released in October 1941, the [[United States]] entered [[World War II]]. The U.S. Army contracted for most of the Disney studio's facilities and had the staff create training and instructional films for the military. The military films did not generate income, however, and the feature film ''Bambi'' underperformed when it was released in April 1942.  By the late 1940s, the studio had recovered enough to continue production on the full-length features ''Alice in Wonderland'' and ''Peter Pan''.They also began work on ''Cinderella''. Some Disney analysts believe that the studio would have gone bankrupt during the war years if it were not for the U.S. military films that Disney produced.
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Shortly after ''Dumbo'' was released in October 1941 and became a successful moneymaker, the [[United States]] entered [[World War II]]. The U.S. Army contracted for most of the Disney studio's facilities and had the staff create training and instructional films for the military. The military films did not generate income, however, and the feature film ''Bambi'' underperformed when it was released in April 1942.  By the late 1940s, the studio had recovered enough to continue production on the full-length features ''Alice in Wonderland'' and ''Peter Pan'', which had been shelved during the war years, and began work on ''Cinderella''. Some Disney analysts believe that the studio would have gone bankrupt during the war years if it were not for the U.S. military films that Disney produced.
 
  
 
==1955-1966: Theme Parks and Television==
 
==1955-1966: Theme Parks and Television==
  
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On a business trip to [[Chicago]] in the late-1940s, Disney drew sketches of his ideas for an [[amusement park]] where he envisioned his employees spending time with their children.   Disney, who a lifelong love of trains had once constructed a miniature working train in his backyard for his daughters.  Soon, Disney had a small group of employees working on Disneyland development as engineers and planners, and were dubbed [[Imagineer]]s. Disney knew that he wanted his park to be surrounded by a train.
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In the late-1940s, Disney began to draw sketches of his ideas for an [[amusement park]] where he envisioned his employees spending time with their children. Disney, who had a lifelong love of trains knew that he wanted the park to be surrounded by a train. He had once constructed a miniature working train in his backyard for his daughters.  Soon, Disney had a small group of employees working on Disneyland development as engineers and planners. They were appropriately dubbed the ''Imagineers.''
  
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As Walt Disney Productions began work on Disneyland, it also began expanding its other entertainment operations. ''Treasure Island'' (1950) became the studio's first all-live-action feature, and was soon followed by such successes as ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' (in [[CinemaScope]], 1954), ''The Shaggy Dog'' (1959), and ''The Parent Trap'' (1961). The Walt Disney Studio was one of the first to take full advantage of the then-new medium of television, producing its first TV special, ''[[One Hour in Wonderland]]'', in 1950. In 1955, he debuted the studio's first daily television show, the popular ''[[Mickey Mouse Club]]'', which would continue in many various incarnations into the 1990s.
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As Walt Disney Productions began work on Disneyland, it also began expanding its other entertainment operations. ''Treasure Island'' (1950) became the studio's first all-live-action feature, and was soon followed by such successes as ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' (in [[CinemaScope]], 1954), ''The Shaggy Dog'' (1959), and ''The Parent Trap'' (1961). The Walt Disney Studio was one of the first to take full advantage of the then-new medium of television, producing its first TV special, ''One Hour in Wonderland'', in 1950. In 1955, he debuted the studio's first daily television show, the popular ''Mickey Mouse Club'', which would continue in various incarnations into the 1990s.
 
[[Image:disneyandvonbraun.jpg|thumb|250px|Walt Disney meets with [[Wernher von Braun]].]]
 
[[Image:disneyandvonbraun.jpg|thumb|250px|Walt Disney meets with [[Wernher von Braun]].]]
 
As the studio expanded and diversified into other media, Disney devoted less of his attention to the animation department, entrusting most of its operations to his key animators, whom he dubbed the ''Nine Old Men''. During Disney's lifetime, the animation department created the successful ''Lady and the Tramp'' (in [[CinemaScope]], 1955), ''One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1961), the financially disappointing ''Sleeping Beauty'' (in [[Super Technirama]] [[70mm]], 1959) and ''The Sword in the Stone'' (1963).
 
As the studio expanded and diversified into other media, Disney devoted less of his attention to the animation department, entrusting most of its operations to his key animators, whom he dubbed the ''Nine Old Men''. During Disney's lifetime, the animation department created the successful ''Lady and the Tramp'' (in [[CinemaScope]], 1955), ''One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1961), the financially disappointing ''Sleeping Beauty'' (in [[Super Technirama]] [[70mm]], 1959) and ''The Sword in the Stone'' (1963).
  
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[[Disneyland]], one of the world's first [[theme park]]s, finally opened on July 17, 1955, and was immediately successful. Visitors from around the world came to visit Disneyland, which boasted a plethora of attractions based upon a number of successful Disney films and their well recognized and well loved characters. After 1955, the Disneyland TV show became known as ''Walt Disney Presents''. The show went from black-and-white to color in 1961 — changing its name to ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' — and eventually evolved into what is today known as the [[Walt Disney anthology series|''The Wonderful World of Disney'']], which continued to air on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] until 2005. Since 2005, Disney features have been split between ABC, the [[Hallmark Channel]], and [[Cartoon Network]] via separate broadcast rights deals. It currently airs periodically, with features such as the December 2005 revival of ''[[Once Upon a Mattress]]''.
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[[Disneyland]], one of the world's first [[theme park]]s, finally opened on July 17, 1955, and was immediately successful. Visitors from around the world came to visit Disneyland, which boasted attractions based upon a number of successful Disney films and their well loved characters. After 1955, the Disneyland TV show became known as ''Walt Disney Presents''. The show went from black-and-white to color in 1961 — changing its name to ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' — and eventually evolved into what is today known as the [[Walt Disney anthology series|''The Wonderful World of Disney'']], which continued to air on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] until 2005. Since 2005, Disney features have been split between ABC, the [[Hallmark Channel]], and [[Cartoon Network]] via separate broadcast rights deals. It currently airs periodically, with features such as the December 2005 revival of ''Once Upon a Mattress''.
  
 
===Early 1960s successes===
 
===Early 1960s successes===
 
By the early 1960s, despites its ups and downs, Walt Disney Productions had established itself as the world's leading producer of family entertainment. After decades of trying, Disney finally procured the rights to [[P.L. Travers]]' books about a magical nanny. ''Mary Poppins'', released in 1964, was the most successful Disney film of the 1960s, comining animation and live-action it featured Julie Andrews, who won and oscar for her performance and a memorable musical score. Many hailed the live-action/animation combination feature as Disney's greatest achievement. The same year, Disney debuted a number of exhibits at the [[1964 New York World's Fair]], including [[sound reproduction|Audio]]-[[Animatronic]] figures, all of which were later integrated into attractions at Disneyland and a new theme park project to be built in FLorida.
 
By the early 1960s, despites its ups and downs, Walt Disney Productions had established itself as the world's leading producer of family entertainment. After decades of trying, Disney finally procured the rights to [[P.L. Travers]]' books about a magical nanny. ''Mary Poppins'', released in 1964, was the most successful Disney film of the 1960s, comining animation and live-action it featured Julie Andrews, who won and oscar for her performance and a memorable musical score. Many hailed the live-action/animation combination feature as Disney's greatest achievement. The same year, Disney debuted a number of exhibits at the [[1964 New York World's Fair]], including [[sound reproduction|Audio]]-[[Animatronic]] figures, all of which were later integrated into attractions at Disneyland and a new theme park project to be built in FLorida.
  
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===Disney World and EPCOT===
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===Plans for Disney World and EPCOT===
 
 
Disney World was to include a larger, more elaborate version of Disneyland to be called the Magic Kingdom, and would also feature a number of golf courses and resort hotels. The heart of Disney World, however, was to be the Experimental Prototype City (or Community) of Tomorrow, or [[Epcot|EPCOT]] for short. EPCOT was designed to be an operational city where residents would live, work, and interact using advanced and experimental technology, while scientists would develop and test new technologies to improve human life and health.
 
Disney World was to include a larger, more elaborate version of Disneyland to be called the Magic Kingdom, and would also feature a number of golf courses and resort hotels. The heart of Disney World, however, was to be the Experimental Prototype City (or Community) of Tomorrow, or [[Epcot|EPCOT]] for short. EPCOT was designed to be an operational city where residents would live, work, and interact using advanced and experimental technology, while scientists would develop and test new technologies to improve human life and health.
  
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Quote brother here.
 
Quote brother here.
  
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==1967-present: Legacy==
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== Legacy and Cal Arts==
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===Continuing the vision===
 
 
[[Image:Disneyland plaque.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Plaque at the entrance that embodies the intended spirit of Disneyland by Walt Disney: to leave reality and enter fantasy]]
 
[[Image:Disneyland plaque.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Plaque at the entrance that embodies the intended spirit of Disneyland by Walt Disney: to leave reality and enter fantasy]]
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After Walt Disney's death, Roy Disney returned from retirement to take full control of Walt Disney Productions and WED Enterprises. He still refused to talk about his brother, and his grief, though rarely shown to other people, lasted until his death in 1971. In October of that year, their families met in front of [[Cinderella Castle]] at the Magic Kingdom to officially open the Walt Disney World Resort. After an orchestra made up of over 66 countries performed a medley of Disney music, Roy stepped up to the podium.  
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Today, Walt Disney's animation/motion picture studios and theme parks have developed into a multi-billion dollar television, motion picture, vacation destination and media corporation that carries his name. [[The Walt Disney Company]] today owns, among other assets, five vacation resorts, eleven theme parks, two water parks, thirty-nine hotels, eight motion picture studios, six record labels, eleven cable television networks, and one terrestrial television network.
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After giving his dedication for [[Walt Disney World]], he then asked Lillian Disney to join him. As the orchestra played "[[When You Wish Upon a Star]]", she stepped up to the podium accompanied by Mickey Mouse. He then said, "Lilly, you knew all of Walt's ideas and hopes as well as anybody; what would Walt think of it [Walt Disney World]?". "I think Walt would have approved," she replied. Roy died from a cerebral hemorrhage in December, the day he was due to open the Disneyland Christmas parade.
 
  
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When the second phase of the Walt Disney World [[theme park]] was built, EPCOT was translated by Walt Disney's successors into EPCOT Center, which opened in 1982. As it currently exists, EPCOT is essentially a living [[world's fair]], a far cry from the actual functional city that Disney had envisioned. In 1992 Walt Disney Imagineering took the step closer to Walt's vision and dedicated [[Celebration, Florida|Celebration]], [[Florida]], a town built by the Walt Disney Company adjacent to Walt Disney World, that harkens back to the spirit of EPCOT. EPCOT was also originally intended to be devoid of Disney characters which initially limited the appeal of the park to young children.  The company later changed this policy.  The sale of alcoholic beverages is also permitted at EPCOT, something never allowed in the Magic Kingdom.
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Disney was a major benefactor for [[The California Institute of the Arts]] (CalArts) . When he died, one fourth of his estate went towards CalArts. He also donated 38 acres (154,000&nbsp;m²) of the Golden Oaks ranch in [[Valencia, California|Valencia]] for the site of a new campus which opened in 1971. CalArts is one of the largest independent universities in California today, largely due to the contributions of the Disneys.
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===The Disney entertainment empire===
 
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Today, Walt Disney's animation/motion picture studios and theme parks have developed into a multi-billion dollar television, motion picture, vacation destination and media corporation that carries his name. [[The Walt Disney Company]] today owns, among other assets, five vacation resorts, eleven theme parks, two water parks, thirty-nine hotels, eight motion picture studios, six record labels, eleven cable television networks, and one terrestrial television network.
 
  
 
===Disney Animation today===
 
===Disney Animation today===
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[[Traditional animation|Traditional hand-drawn animation]], with which Walt Disney built the success of his company, no longer continues at the [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]] studio. After a stream of financially unsuccessful traditionally-animated features in the late-1990s and early 2000s, the two satellite studios in [[Paris, France|Paris]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] were closed, and the main studio in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] was converted to a computer animation production facility. In 2004, Disney released their final traditionally animated feature film, ''[[Home on the Range (movie)|Home on the Range]]''. The [[DisneyToons]] studio in [[Australia]], which produced lower-budget traditionally animated films, at first appeared to survive the purge, but its closing was announced in July 2005.
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[[Traditional animation|Traditional hand-drawn animation]], the foundation of success of the Walt Disney Company, no longer continues at the [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]] studio. After a stream of financially unsuccessful traditionally-animated features in the late-1990s and early 2000s, Disney's main studio in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] was converted to a computer animation production facility. In 2004, Disney released their final traditionally animated feature film, ''Home on the Range''.  
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Only recently with [[Roy E. Disney]]'s return and [[Bob Iger]] now the CEO and with the Disney purchase of [[Pixar]] Animation Studios, reviving the traditional style of animation for which Disney has been famous for is again a reality. New creative head of Disney animation, [[John Lasseter]], commissioned veteran Disney animator [[James Baxter (animator)|James Baxter]] to produce an animated test sequence for Disney CEO Robert Iger in February of 2006. If approved, the film based on this test sequence, called the [[Frog Princess]], will be released in 2007.{{fact}}
 
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===CalArts===
 
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Disney devoted substantial time in his later years funding [[The California Institute of the Arts]] (CalArts), . When he died, one fourth of his estate went towards CalArts, which greatly helped the building of its campus. He also donated 38 acres (154,000&nbsp;m²) of the Golden Oaks ranch in [[Valencia, California|Valencia]] for the school to be built on. CalArts moved onto the Valencia campus in 1971.
 
  
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Lillian Disney devoted much of her time after her husband died to pursuing CalArts and organized hundreds of fund raising events for the university in her late husband's honor (as well as funding the Walt Disney Symphony Hall). After Lillian's passing, the legacy continued with daughter Diane and husband Ron continuing the tradition. CalArts is one of the largest independent universities in California today, mostly because of the contributions of the Disneys.
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Only recently with the Disney purchase of [[Pixar]] Animation Studios, reviving the traditional style of animation for which Disney has been famous for is again a reality. The Frog Princess is an animated film currently in development by Walt Disney Feature Animation. It will be the first traditionally animated (2-D) feature film in Disney's animated features canon since 2004's Home on the Range
  
 
== Academy Awards ==
 
== Academy Awards ==
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Among many awards, Walt Disney holds the record for having the most [[Academy Awards]]. 22 won, and 4 honorary.
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Among his many awards, Walt Disney currently holds the record for having the most [[Academy Awards]]; 22 wins, and 4 honorary.
 
*'''1969''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day  
 
*'''1969''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day  
 
*'''1959''' Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for: Grand Canyon  
 
*'''1959''' Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for: Grand Canyon  
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*Honorary Award for: ''Fantasia'' (1940)
 
*Honorary Award for: ''Fantasia'' (1940)
 
Shared with: William E. Garity J.N.A. Hawkins  
 
Shared with: William E. Garity J.N.A. Hawkins  
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For their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of ''Fantasia'' (certificate).
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For their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures.
 
*Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award   
 
*Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award   
 
*'''1940''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling(1939)
 
*'''1940''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling(1939)
 
*'''1939''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
 
*'''1939''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
 
*Honorary Award for: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
 
*Honorary Award for: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
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For Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field (one statuette - seven miniature statuettes).
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*'''1938''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
 
*'''1938''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
 
*'''1937''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
 
*'''1937''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
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*'''1932''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)
 
*'''1932''' Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)
 
*Honorary Award For the creation of [[Mickey Mouse]].
 
*Honorary Award For the creation of [[Mickey Mouse]].
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==Other Honors==
 
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Walt Disney was the inaugural recipient of a star on the [[Anaheim walk of stars]]. The star is in honor of Walt's significant contributions to the city of [[Anaheim, California]], specifically, [[Disneyland]], now the [[Disneyland Resort]]. It is located at the pedestrian entrance to the Disneyland Resort on Harbor Boulevard.
 
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Walt Disney also received the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] on May 24, 1968 (P.L. 90-316, 82 Stat. 130-131).
 
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==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 23:38, 18 January 2007

For the company founded by Disney, see The Walt Disney Company. For other uses, see Walt Disney (disambiguation)
Walt Disney
Walt disney portrait.jpg
Walt Disney
Born
December 5, 1901
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died
December 15, 1966
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Walter Elias Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966), was an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is most remembered for being an animator, entrepreneur, visionary, and philanthropist who founded, along with his brother Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney Productions, Disneyworld and Disenyland.

Walt Disney is particularly noted for his innovations in animation and theme park design. He was nominated for a record number 48 Academy awards and 7 Emmys.

Early Life

Born December 5, 1901, he was the son of Flora and Elias Disney, and had three brothers and one sister.

File:Walt01.jpg
Disney as an ambulance driver during the war.

Walt Disney's ancestors emigrated from Gowran, County Kilkenny in Ireland. His father Elias Disney moved to the United States after his parents failed at farming in Canada and settled in Chicago soon after his marriage to Flora Call. where their children were born.

In April, 1906 Elias moved his family to Marceline, Missouri There he bought a house and 45 acres of farmland. The young Walt learned here to love trains and drawing. The family was to experience several moves as Elias Disney pursued various ways to support his family. They moved back to Chicago in 1917 where he took night courses at the Chicago Art Institute.[1] Disney dropped out of high school so he could join the Army, but at 16 he was underage and they would not accept him.

Instead, he decided to join the Red Cross. His mother forged Walt's birth certificate saying he was born in 1900 instead of 1901 so that he would be accepted. The Red Cross sent him to France for a year where he drove an ambulance covered with his drawings of imaginative characters.

After his war experience, he moved to Kansas City to begin his career as a commercial artist, working on ads for newspapers, magazines, and movie theaters. It was also there that he met a shy cartoonist named Ubbe Iwwerks. The two decided to start their own art business, and formed a company called "Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists" in January 1920. Ultimately, their business failed but Disney, always one to learn from his experiences decided to head for Hollywood.

Hollywood

When Disney arrived in Los Angeles, he had $40 in his pocket and an unfinished cartoon in his suitcase. Disney stated that his first ambition was to be a film director, but he was turned down for live action films by every major studio. Disney then turned back to animation and set up his first cartoon studio in a garage in his Uncle's house. ts based upon his work, Alice's Wonderland.

Disney found his brother Roy, who was recovering from tuberculosis in a Los Angeles veteran's hospital. Roy agreed to go into business with hs brother and was to become his financial consultant and manager throughout the years. Together they started Disney Brothers' Studio in the Silver Lake district, where the studio remained until 1939.

Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies

Disney had to develop a new "star". The mouse was originally named "Mortimer", but later christened "Mickey Mouse" by Lillian Disney who felt the name "Mortimer" was too serious. Disney himself performed as the voice of Mickey Mouse until 1946.

Joining the Mickey Mouse series in 1929 were a series of musical shorts called Silly Symphonies. Within the next 8 years Mickey Mouse had become a world renowned character whose image began to appear on everything from watches to ?? The first color Symphony was Flowers and Trees, which won the first Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons in 1932.

File:Walt Disney22.jpg
Disney introduces his popular creations: Mickey, Minnie Mouse and Pluto to Hansel and Gretel (Dorothy Rodin and Virginia Murray).

In 1932, Disney received a special Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse, whose became color in 1935, and soon launched spinoff series for supporting characters such as Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1925, Disney hired a young woman named Lillian Bounds to ink and paint celluloid. They were married on July 15, 1925.

As Mickey's co-creator and producer, Disney was almost as famous as his mouse cartoon character, but remained a largely private individual. He as his wife, Lillian's greatest hope was to be a have a large family; however, the Disneys' first attempts at pregnancy ended in miscarriage. This, coupled with pressures at the studio, led to Disney having "a hell of a breakdown", as he called it. His doctors recommended a vation and eventually Lilly finally gave birth to a daughter, Diane Marie Disney, on December 18, 1933. The Disneys then adopted second daughter, Sharon Mae Disney, born on December 21,1934.

1937-1941: The Golden Age of Animation

"Disney's Folly": Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Although his studio produced the two most successful cartoon series in the industry, Disney's ambition was to make longer films, and in 1934 he began plans for a full-length feature. When the rest of the film industry learned of Disney's plans to produce an animated feature-length version of Snow White, they dubbed the project "Disney's Folly" and were certain that the project would destroy the Disney studio. Both Disney's wife and bother, who was the financial partner in their business, tried to talk Disney out of the project, but he was undeterred. He employed Chouinard Art Institute to begin a training operation for the studio staff, and used the Silly Symphonies as a platform for experiments in realistic human animation, distinctive character animation, special effects, and the use of specialized processes and apparatus such as the multiplane camera.

Students and staff training elevated the technical level of the studio so that it was now able to give the feature the quality Disney desired. The success of Snow White proved Disney's detractors wrong, and earned Disney the Oscar - one full-sized one, and seven miniature Oscar statuettes. In 1939 the feature animation staff, after completing Pinocchio, began work on Fantasia and Bambi, while the shorts staff continued work on the Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto cartoon series.

Animators' strike and WWII

Pinocchio and Fantasia followed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs into movie theatres in 1940, but both were financial disappointments. The inexpensive Dumbo was planned as an income generator, but during production of the new film, most of the animation staff went on strike, permanently straining the relationship between Disney and his artists. Disney reflected that this was another time in his life when he suffered a "breakdown.

Shortly after Dumbo,a successful money maker, was released in October 1941, the United States entered World War II. The U.S. Army contracted for most of the Disney studio's facilities and had the staff create training and instructional films for the military. The military films did not generate income, however, and the feature film Bambi underperformed when it was released in April 1942. By the late 1940s, the studio had recovered enough to continue production on the full-length features Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.They also began work on Cinderella. Some Disney analysts believe that the studio would have gone bankrupt during the war years if it were not for the U.S. military films that Disney produced.

1955-1966: Theme Parks and Television

In the late-1940s, Disney began to draw sketches of his ideas for an amusement park where he envisioned his employees spending time with their children. Disney, who had a lifelong love of trains knew that he wanted the park to be surrounded by a train. He had once constructed a miniature working train in his backyard for his daughters. Soon, Disney had a small group of employees working on Disneyland development as engineers and planners. They were appropriately dubbed the Imagineers.

As Walt Disney Productions began work on Disneyland, it also began expanding its other entertainment operations. Treasure Island (1950) became the studio's first all-live-action feature, and was soon followed by such successes as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (in CinemaScope, 1954), The Shaggy Dog (1959), and The Parent Trap (1961). The Walt Disney Studio was one of the first to take full advantage of the then-new medium of television, producing its first TV special, One Hour in Wonderland, in 1950. In 1955, he debuted the studio's first daily television show, the popular Mickey Mouse Club, which would continue in various incarnations into the 1990s.

File:Disneyandvonbraun.jpg
Walt Disney meets with Wernher von Braun.

As the studio expanded and diversified into other media, Disney devoted less of his attention to the animation department, entrusting most of its operations to his key animators, whom he dubbed the Nine Old Men. During Disney's lifetime, the animation department created the successful Lady and the Tramp (in CinemaScope, 1955), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), the financially disappointing Sleeping Beauty (in Super Technirama 70mm, 1959) and The Sword in the Stone (1963).

Disneyland, one of the world's first theme parks, finally opened on July 17, 1955, and was immediately successful. Visitors from around the world came to visit Disneyland, which boasted attractions based upon a number of successful Disney films and their well loved characters. After 1955, the Disneyland TV show became known as Walt Disney Presents. The show went from black-and-white to color in 1961 — changing its name to Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color — and eventually evolved into what is today known as the The Wonderful World of Disney, which continued to air on ABC until 2005. Since 2005, Disney features have been split between ABC, the Hallmark Channel, and Cartoon Network via separate broadcast rights deals. It currently airs periodically, with features such as the December 2005 revival of Once Upon a Mattress.

Early 1960s successes

By the early 1960s, despites its ups and downs, Walt Disney Productions had established itself as the world's leading producer of family entertainment. After decades of trying, Disney finally procured the rights to P.L. Travers' books about a magical nanny. Mary Poppins, released in 1964, was the most successful Disney film of the 1960s, comining animation and live-action it featured Julie Andrews, who won and oscar for her performance and a memorable musical score. Many hailed the live-action/animation combination feature as Disney's greatest achievement. The same year, Disney debuted a number of exhibits at the 1964 New York World's Fair, including Audio-Animatronic figures, all of which were later integrated into attractions at Disneyland and a new theme park project to be built in FLorida.

Disney World and EPCOT

Disney World was to include a larger, more elaborate version of Disneyland to be called the Magic Kingdom, and would also feature a number of golf courses and resort hotels. The heart of Disney World, however, was to be the Experimental Prototype City (or Community) of Tomorrow, or EPCOT for short. EPCOT was designed to be an operational city where residents would live, work, and interact using advanced and experimental technology, while scientists would develop and test new technologies to improve human life and health.

Death of Walt Disney

Walt Disney's grave site.

In late 1966; after many years of chain-smoking cigarettes, Disney was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died, from cardiac arrest, on December 15, 1966 ten days after his 65th birthday. He was cremated on December 17, 1966 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Roy O. Disney worked to finish the Florida project, naming it Walt Disney World in honor of his brother. Roy Disney died just three months after the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. Quote brother here.

Legacy and Cal Arts

Plaque at the entrance that embodies the intended spirit of Disneyland by Walt Disney: to leave reality and enter fantasy

Today, Walt Disney's animation/motion picture studios and theme parks have developed into a multi-billion dollar television, motion picture, vacation destination and media corporation that carries his name. The Walt Disney Company today owns, among other assets, five vacation resorts, eleven theme parks, two water parks, thirty-nine hotels, eight motion picture studios, six record labels, eleven cable television networks, and one terrestrial television network.

Disney was a major benefactor for The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) . When he died, one fourth of his estate went towards CalArts. He also donated 38 acres (154,000 m²) of the Golden Oaks ranch in Valencia for the site of a new campus which opened in 1971. CalArts is one of the largest independent universities in California today, largely due to the contributions of the Disneys.

Disney Animation today

Traditional hand-drawn animation, the foundation of success of the Walt Disney Company, no longer continues at the Walt Disney Feature Animation studio. After a stream of financially unsuccessful traditionally-animated features in the late-1990s and early 2000s, Disney's main studio in Burbank was converted to a computer animation production facility. In 2004, Disney released their final traditionally animated feature film, Home on the Range.

Only recently with the Disney purchase of Pixar Animation Studios, reviving the traditional style of animation for which Disney has been famous for is again a reality. The Frog Princess is an animated film currently in development by Walt Disney Feature Animation. It will be the first traditionally animated (2-D) feature film in Disney's animated features canon since 2004's Home on the Range

Academy Awards

Among his many awards, Walt Disney currently holds the record for having the most Academy Awards; 22 wins, and 4 honorary.

  • 1969 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
  • 1959 Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for: Grand Canyon
  • 1956 Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: Men Against the Arctic
  • 1955 Best Documentary, Features for: The Vanishing Prairie (1954)
  • 1954 Best Documentary, Features for: The Living Desert (1953)
  • Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: The Alaskan Eskimo (1953)
  • Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953)
  • Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Bear Country (1953)
  • 1953 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Water Birds (1952)
  • 1952 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Nature's Half Acre (1951)
  • 1951 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Beaver Valley (1950)
  • 1949 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Seal Island (1948)
  • 1943 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Der Fuehrer's Face (1942)
  • 1942 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Lend a Paw (1941)
  • Honorary Award for: Fantasia (1940)

Shared with: William E. Garity J.N.A. Hawkins For their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures.

  • Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
  • 1940 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling(1939)
  • 1939 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
  • Honorary Award for: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
  • 1938 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
  • 1937 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
  • 1936 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Orphan Kittens (1935)
  • 1935 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)
  • 1934 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Little Pigs (1933)
  • 1932 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)
  • Honorary Award For the creation of Mickey Mouse.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. ↑ Thomas, Bob (1976,1994). Walt Disney: An American Original. New York: Hyperion, pp. 42-43. ISBN ISBN 0-7868-6027-8. 
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Resources

  • Barrier, Michael (1999). Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516729-5.
  • Broggie, Michael (1997, 1998, 2005). Walt Disney's Railroad Story. Virginia Beach, Virginia. Donning Publishers. ISBN 1563420090
  • Eliot, Marc (1993). Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince. Carol. ISBN 1-55972-174-X
  • Mosley, Leonard (1985, 2002). Disney's World: A Biography Chelsea, MI: Scarborough House. ISBN 0-8128-8514-7.
  • Gabler, Neal. (2006) Walt Disney: The Triumph of American Imagination, New York, NY. Random House. ISBN 0-679-43822-X
  • Schickel, Richard, and Dee, Ivan R. (1967, 1985, 1997). The Disney Version: The Life, Times, Art and Commerce of Walt Disney. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher. ISBN 1-56663-158-0.
  • Sherman, Robert B. and Sherman, Richard M. (1998) Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond ISBN 0-9646059-3-7.
  • Thomas, Bob]] (1991). Disney's Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 1562828991
  • Thomas, Bob (1976, 1994). Walt Disney: An American Original New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0-7868-6027-8
  • Watts, Steven, The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life, University of Missouri Press, 2001, ISBN 0826213790

External links

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