Sunday, December 5, 2010

Happy Birthday: Walt Disney !


Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was a film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. He and his staff created some of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has been awarded four honorary Academy Awards and has won twenty-two competitive Academy Awards out of fifty-nine nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards.

I grew up thinking Mickey Mouse, was a very mischevious character, who was always willing to help out a friend.


Walt Disney Fun Facts:
Worked as a paperboy as a youth.

Briefly worked for Walter Lantz as an animator.

In the animated short Mickey's Rival (1936), a character named Mortimer Mouse was modeled after him.


Mickey and Minnie's first cartoon was the short, Plane Crazy,  released on May 15, 1928. The cartoon was co-directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Iwerks was also the main animator for this short, and spent six weeks working on it.  Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising also assisted Disney during those years. They had already signed their contracts with Charles Mintz, but he was still in the process of forming his new studio and so for the time being they were still employed by Disney. This short would be the last they animated under this somewhat awkward situation.


The cartoon is about Mickey  trying to become an aviator in emulation of Charles Lindbergh. After building his own aircraft, he asks Minnie to join him for its first flight that is a series of humorous situations. During the flight Mickey repeatedly tries to kiss Minnie. Minnie then parachutes out of the plane. While distracted by her, he loses control of the plane, eventually resulting in the crash-landing of the aircraft.



Mickey Mouse's birthday is November 18, 1928, the date when Steamboat Willie (1928) was released.


Donald Duck's birthday is June 9, 1934, the date when The Wise Little Hen (1934) was released.

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