Who Cannot Say They Are A Disney Expert?

By Katina Brady


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 brand is huge incorporating movie production, television channels, stores, specialised merchandise, performances, spectaculars and of course adventure resorts. It is likely that everyone has been in contact with the Disney brand at one time or another in their life.

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.

The original studio was called the Disney Brothers and they signed their initial contract in 1923. It was not until 1928 that Mortimer Mouse, soon to be Mickey along with Minnie appeared in Steamboat Willie, which was in black and white. He became the poster boy for the company, even though there seems very few cartoons starring him regularly aired. He was also the first cartoon character to have his very own star on the Walk of Fame, Hollywood.

In 1934 a grumpy duck, Donald was included in the Disney repertoire. A few months later in 1935 Mickey had his debut in colour. The studio possessed the patent for Technicolor for a short amount of time and therefore was the only studio producing colour cartoons. In the Karnival Kid in 1929, Mickey did another 'first', and that was to talk saying the important words 'Hot Dog!'.

The original classic characters also appear in the background of more modern movies; almost like celebrity guests. In the opening shots of the Little Mermaid (1989) an eagle-eyed Disney aficionado may notice Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald in the king's court. I know, I had to go and check too.

In The Rescuers (1977) the production team had snuck a nude lady picture into the background meaning 2.4 million videos had to be recalled. There are theories of other hidden messages and oddities in the movies if you know where to look.Several dog characters from Lady and the Tramp also appear in a pet shop window in 101 Dalmatians which only die-hard fans would notice.

Walt Elias Disney, the big boss also appeared in their classic movies, such as Fantasia, one of the studios finest, which was made in 1940. The sorcerer's name was Yen Sid which when read backwards provides Disney's name. The rather adorable film entitled Wall-E, is another, rather obvious reference to the founder of the company.

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.




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