Walt Disney
After watching a lot of Disney movies over spring break, I’d thought I’d look more into the person who founded the iconic multi-billion dollar company.
Disney grew up in Missouri and developed a love for drawing and creativity at an early age. When he was 16, he dropped out of school because he wanted to join the army, but rejected for being too young. He then joined the Red Cross but then moved back to the US in 1919.
After moving back, he strived to become a newspaper artist. He got a job at Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio and met Ubbe Eert Iwwerks. From that point, he worked on cutout animation and commercials that were based on them. At the same time, he was trying out other methods of animation and eventually opened his own company. His cartoons were called Laugh-O-Grams. Because these cartoons were so popular, Disney was able to buy his own studio. With this studio, he created Alice in Cartoonland which was a combination of live action and animation. Although these cartoons were popular, the studio had gone so far in debt that in 1923, Disney had to declare bankruptcy.
He then moved to Hollywood with his brother and started the Disney Brothers’ Studio. There, the characters Oswald and Lucky Rabbit were created. However, it was discovered that Charles Mintz had stolen the rights to Oswald and other Disney animators. In response to this, Mickey Mouse was created and put into 3 silent short films. But it wasn’t until the sound was put into films did they gain popularity. During the Great Depression, The Three Little Pigs became a theme for the country during that dark time.
From there, the studio increased in popularity and gained more and more money. It wasn’t until 1955 where Disneyland was finally opened with Ronald Reagan. After opening day, it became a sensation and the iconic “happiest place on Earth”.
Through all of his setbacks, Walt Disney managed to remain on top and create one of the greatest franchises the world has ever known. Because of him, we grew up with movies that made our childhood magical. And that’s the legacy of Walt Disney.
This was really interesting! I love Disney movies as much as the next 2000s kid, and I always heard little things about Walt but not from this early on in life. It's funny how Disney almost went bankrupt so many times throughout the 20th century, even in the late 1980s, although Aladdin and a slew of other films managed to save it. I can't imagine how ol' Walt would react knowing that today Disney owns Fox and some of the other biggest companies in the world!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why he went bankrupt is it because he was just starting that he wasn't making much profit yet?
ReplyDeleteWild that Disney went bankrupt when today it's such a massive industry that seems to own everything! It's also interesting how Walt was able to find a niche during the Great Depression and get money, animation is expensive and that's an incredible feat. But I'm glad he did it, because Disney movies are truly amazing.
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