Walter Elias Disney
December 5, 1901-December December 16, 1966 http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Walt_Disney Ub Iwerks March 24, 1901-July 7, 1971 http://blog.visitmo.com/kansas-city-filmfest-celebrates-animation-roots/ Steamboat Willie November 18, 1928 http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=89284 Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit 1927 http://www.disfanreview.com/2013/12/disney-japan-releases-holiday-themed.html |
How It All Started
Ever since Disney was little he had a passion for drawing, even when his father grew ill and Walt had to do the majority of his father's job. During his years at McKinley high school in Chicago, he took drawing classes, photography classes, and even did cartoons in the school newspaper. As he grew older, he didn't depart. His first successful Studio was the Disney Brothers Studios where his team grew large. Charles Mintz was upset with the high cost on the series "Alice Comedies" made by Iwerks and Disney so told them to make a new character, which was Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit. This character was very successful; Mintz hired away the workers of Disney Bros. Studio to move Oswald with his studio. Iwerks refused to leave. Disney needed a way to show people that his cartoons were his creations which was how Mickey Mouse was formed, drawn by Iwerks and voiced by Disney himself.
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Steamboat Willie and Accomplishments
His first animation with Mickey Mouse was Steamboat Willie. The Disney Bros. worked together with Pat Powers and his advanced technology to finish it off with some sound, which made it his first successful cartoon with sound. This time, Pat wanted to control Steamboat Willie and tried to hire Disney's workers and they did leave, even Iwerks. Pat hoped he'd lure Disney too but it didn't work. Luckily, Disney and his brother Roy found a new distributor and Disney continued his career on. He won his first Academy Award in 1932 for "Flowers and Trees". During the Great Depression, December 21, 1937 was the premiere of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" which was his first full-length animated film. Despite the troubles of the Great Depression, this movie earned $1.499 million dollars and won 8 Oscars. Walt won a total of at least 60 awards in his lifetime. He died at age 65 by lung cancer.
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“Laughter is America's most important export.” |