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WALT D ISNEY

5 DECEMBER 1901 - 15 DECEMBER 1966

BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS


Walt Disney Biographical Overview and Analysis

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BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW

Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 5, 1901. Whenever he was four years of age his folks, Elias
and Flora, moved the family to a ranch in Marceline, Missouri. Walt appreciated living on the ranch with his three more success
siblings (Herbert, Raymond, and Roy) and his more youthful sister (Ruth). It was in Marceline that Walt originally fostered an
affection for drawing and craftsmanship. Following four years in Marceline, the Disneys moved to Kansas City. Walt proceeded
to draw and took workmanship classes on the ends of the week. He even exchanged his drawings to the neighborhood
hairdresser with the expectation of complimentary hair styles. One summer Walt found a new line of work dealing with a train.
He strolled this way and that on the train selling tidbits and papers. Walt enjoyed his job on the train and would be fascinated
by trains for the rest of his life.

Walt's family relocated to the huge city of Chicago around the time he started high school. Walt drew for the school
newspaper while attending classes at the Chicago Art Institute. Walt determined at the age of sixteen that he wanted to fight in
World War I. He dropped out of school and joined the Red Cross since he was too young to join the army. He spent the
following year in France operating ambulances for the Red Cross.

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Walt Disney Biographical Overview and Analysis

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Walt aspired to create his own animated films. He founded Laugh-O-Gram, a comedy production firm. He enlisted the help
of some of his pals, notably Ubbe Iwerks. They made animated animations that were only a few minutes long. Despite the
popularity of the cartoons, the firm was not profitable, and Walt had to declare bankruptcy.

Disney, on the other hand, was not going to be deterred by a single setback.

In 1923, he relocated to Hollywood, California, and founded the Disney Brothers' Studio with his brother Roy. He enlisted
the help of Ubbe Iwerks and a handful of other animators once more. They created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a well-known
character. The company was a huge success. Universal Studios, on the other hand, acquired the Oswald trademark and hired
all of Disney's animators save Ub Iwerks. Walt had to start all over again.

Walt had to start all over again. This time, he came up with the name Mickey Mouse for a new character. He developed the
first sound-added animated picture. Steamboat Willie was the title of the film, which starred Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Steamboat Willie's voices were provided by Walt. The movie was a huge hit. Disney kept working, coming up with new
characters like Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. With the debut of the cartoon Silly Symphonies and the first colour animated
picture, Flowers & Trees, he achieved even more success.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves -

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Walt Disney Biographical Overview and Analysis

Disney chose to develop a full-length animated film named Snow White in 1932. People felt he was insane for attempting to
create such a long cartoon. The film was dubbed "Disney's folly" by critics. Disney, on the other hand, felt confident that the
picture would be a hit. The picture took five years to make and was finally released in 1937. The picture was a great box office
hit, and it was the most popular film of 1938.

Disney utilised the proceeds from Snow White to establish a film studio and make other animated films such as Pinocchio,
Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, among others. Disney's movie production slowed during World
War II as he worked on training and propaganda films for the US government. Disney began making live-action pictures after
the war, in addition to animated films. Treasure Island was his first major live-action picture. The new technology of television
was taking off in the 1950s. Disney also desired to be a part of television. Disney's Wonderful World of Color, the Davy Crockett
series, and the Mickey Mouse Club were among the first Disney television programmes.

Always coming up with new ideas, Disney had the idea to create a theme park with rides and entertainment based on his
movies. Disneyland opened in 1955. It cost $17 million to build.

Walt died of lung cancer in 1966

Learnings from Disney -

1) Always do what you love

2) Be serious about what you do

3) Be kind to others

4) Don't be content and settle with your first success

5) You might have to start all over again, and it's okay, you can still succeed

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Walt Disney Biographical Overview and Analysis

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