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.
In 1934 the grumpiest and most difficult to impersonate duck on the planet, Donald was introduced to the Disney family. The next year, in 1935, Mickey appeared in colour for the first time. The studio held the Technicolor patent for a couple of years and was therefore the only cartoonist making colour shows. Mickey was the very first animated character to speak with his first words being 'Hot Dog!' way back in 1929 in the episode called 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.
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.
Throughout his lifetime, Walt Disney won 53 awards, including the largest number of Academy Awards, at twenty-six won. He was also given an Oscar with seven dwarf Oscars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1938). This history of award winning animation will only continue as the studios continue to grow.
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.
In 1934 the grumpiest and most difficult to impersonate duck on the planet, Donald was introduced to the Disney family. The next year, in 1935, Mickey appeared in colour for the first time. The studio held the Technicolor patent for a couple of years and was therefore the only cartoonist making colour shows. Mickey was the very first animated character to speak with his first words being 'Hot Dog!' way back in 1929 in the episode called 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.
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.
Throughout his lifetime, Walt Disney won 53 awards, including the largest number of Academy Awards, at twenty-six won. He was also given an Oscar with seven dwarf Oscars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1938). This history of award winning animation will only continue as the studios continue to grow.