Nearly everyone in the entire world has grown up with Disney, watching cartoons on TV, movies in the cinema, characters on clothes and lunch-boxes and played with plushies and action figures. This means everyone is a Disney expert in their own right through their own experiences. All have opinions, specialist knowledge and fond memories.
The Disney franchise is immense and covers a wide range of businesses which produces movies, TV channels, shops, merchandise, spectaculars and adventure parks. Everybody at some point in their life has had some interaction with Disney as a corporation whether it is watching a movie, visiting a resort or purchasing company merchandise.
Over the last 14 years the brand has extended at a rate of knots. The studio acquired the Muppets brand, Pixar Studios, the virtual world, Club Penguin and rather controversially Lucas Film Ltd, the studios responsible for Stars Wars. This ensures they will be part of the childhoods of many generations to come. They also launched a cruise line, with the first boat Disney Dream sailing in 2011 and Disney Fantasy's first trip in 2012.
Although most die-hard Disney fans will know that Mortimer who was later to be Mickey Mouse, appeared in Steamboat Willie alongside Minnie Mouse in 1928 they may not know that the then, Disney Brothers Studio, had in fact worked on animation since their first contract in 1923. Mickey Mouse was treated like a celebrity and had a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. He was the first animated character to be honoured in this way.
It was not until 1934 that Donald Duck, another favourite character was introduced to the family, with the first colour Mickey cartoon appearing the following year. At this time Disney held the patent on Technicolor meaning he was the only animator making colour films. Mickey was also the first cartoon character to talk, saying the profound words 'Hot Dog!', in 1929 in The Karnival Kid.
These tried and tested characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto) were popular for decades, and even started making 'guest appearances' in other movies. For fans who care to look closely, in the opening scenes of the Little Mermaid, Goofy, Mickey and Donald Duck can be seen in the background crowd. I'll wait while you go and look.
Hidden messages are also considered common in Disney films although not all are admitted to. The Rescuers (made in 1977) contained in the background a picture of a naked lady. This necessitated withdrawing over 3 million copies of the film. In the pet shop window in 101 Dalmatians can be seen a number of characters from Lady and the Tramp.
Even Walt Elias Disney, the founder of the company, liked to appear in his own movies, albeit surreptitiously. For example he appears in the 1940s classic, Fantasia. The sorceress, Yen Sid was Disney's name backwards. His name is also referenced in the 2008 film Wall-E, the name of a loveable robotic garbage collector.
Walt Disney won the record for most Academy Awards won in history at a total of twenty six. Additionally he received three Golden Globes and was presented with the honorary Oscar and seven miniature Oscars for the 1938 movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Throughout his career Walt won over 50 awards for his animation career. Such recognition is likely to be maintained as the studios enlarge and they release bigger and more innovative movies.
The Disney franchise is immense and covers a wide range of businesses which produces movies, TV channels, shops, merchandise, spectaculars and adventure parks. Everybody at some point in their life has had some interaction with Disney as a corporation whether it is watching a movie, visiting a resort or purchasing company merchandise.
Over the last 14 years the brand has extended at a rate of knots. The studio acquired the Muppets brand, Pixar Studios, the virtual world, Club Penguin and rather controversially Lucas Film Ltd, the studios responsible for Stars Wars. This ensures they will be part of the childhoods of many generations to come. They also launched a cruise line, with the first boat Disney Dream sailing in 2011 and Disney Fantasy's first trip in 2012.
Although most die-hard Disney fans will know that Mortimer who was later to be Mickey Mouse, appeared in Steamboat Willie alongside Minnie Mouse in 1928 they may not know that the then, Disney Brothers Studio, had in fact worked on animation since their first contract in 1923. Mickey Mouse was treated like a celebrity and had a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. He was the first animated character to be honoured in this way.
It was not until 1934 that Donald Duck, another favourite character was introduced to the family, with the first colour Mickey cartoon appearing the following year. At this time Disney held the patent on Technicolor meaning he was the only animator making colour films. Mickey was also the first cartoon character to talk, saying the profound words 'Hot Dog!', in 1929 in The Karnival Kid.
These tried and tested characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto) were popular for decades, and even started making 'guest appearances' in other movies. For fans who care to look closely, in the opening scenes of the Little Mermaid, Goofy, Mickey and Donald Duck can be seen in the background crowd. I'll wait while you go and look.
Hidden messages are also considered common in Disney films although not all are admitted to. The Rescuers (made in 1977) contained in the background a picture of a naked lady. This necessitated withdrawing over 3 million copies of the film. In the pet shop window in 101 Dalmatians can be seen a number of characters from Lady and the Tramp.
Even Walt Elias Disney, the founder of the company, liked to appear in his own movies, albeit surreptitiously. For example he appears in the 1940s classic, Fantasia. The sorceress, Yen Sid was Disney's name backwards. His name is also referenced in the 2008 film Wall-E, the name of a loveable robotic garbage collector.
Walt Disney won the record for most Academy Awards won in history at a total of twenty six. Additionally he received three Golden Globes and was presented with the honorary Oscar and seven miniature Oscars for the 1938 movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Throughout his career Walt won over 50 awards for his animation career. Such recognition is likely to be maintained as the studios enlarge and they release bigger and more innovative movies.
