In 1923, Walt Disney opened up his first animation studio in Kansas City. Originally, it was called "Laugh-O-Gram Films." After just one year of production, the studio went bankrupt, forcing Walt to move his business to Los Angeles, California. Walt Disney was a visionary, always trying to think of the next step for his productions. In fact, his most iconic creation, Mickey Mouse, was simply an adaptation of another character he made when he was helping another early animator at Universal Pictures, Ub Iwerks. This character, Oswald Rabbit was created in 1927. Universal contained the rights to Oswald forcing Walt to produce an entirely new character for himself to use in his own studio. This Mickey Mouse was born in 1928. You can see the similarity, right?
Mickey's first appearance was in the short, Steamboat Willie released in 1928. Video below.
Walt Disney would continue making masterful features for the entire family to enjoy. Disney is notorious for adhering to the audience, capturing their attention in any way possible, "They embrace change. Constantly working to modify, create and expand the way that they bring 'magic' to its existing customers and potential customers." Walt Disney was able to foresee the future realizing that Disney Studios needed to create features directed for the whole family saying, "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway!" Disney's legacy is summed up in the three words that Walt stood for: "imagination, optimism, and creation."
Propagandist?
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The video, Food Will Win the War came out in 1942, in the heart of WWII. The United States was deep in the war, and almost everybody on the home front was contributing to the war efforts. This video produced by Walt Disney was broadcast all over America promoting agricultural production. The video encourages Americans to not waste their food, and to support the war effort. What is amazing to realize from this video is that the US Department of Agriculture turned to Walt Disney to broadcast a major video aimed at every single US citizen, not just children. The motives for animation consistently change with the situation at hand. In this case, it was the promotion of a blatant political issue to be dealt with. This video and article convey how nationalism boosted due to this video. This put Disney on the same level as Uncle Sam recruiting soldiers. Both symbols promote nationalism, while providing pride for oneself, leading them to do their duty as an American citizen.
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Another propaganda video created by Walt Disney would be Der Fueher's Face, a satirical film targeting Nazi Germany and the horrific treatment of citizens. The film's theme song was later used as an anthem for the American people ridiculing Nazi Germany. In the sheet music, each ‘Heil!’ is interjected by a “razz”. The Australian Oxford English Dictionary defines razz as “…tease, ridicule”, and refers to the term raspberry, “…a sound made with the lips expressing dislike, derision, or disapproval”. Although it is the song that is remembered, the fact that the Donald Duck is the face of it symbolizes that animation played a big part in the production of this video. Donald Duck, symbolizes America, portraying how an animated character being abused by Nazi Germany can wrench one’s stomach, portraying how animation is used as a tool for manipulation. Using the iconic Donald Duck, viewers are able to connect more emotionally with the video, showing that the general public follows the ways of our most iconic characters of the time. The video reflects pride, nationalism, and most of all, comfort, in the final seconds portraying Walt Disney's masterful animation skills.
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Walt Disney played a major role in the "Golden Age of Animation," from the late 20's to late 50's. Some of the most famous cartoons began in this time period. The height of animation would come to a end in the late 50's when animation took a turn for the worst entering the "Dark Age of Animation".
Although Walt Disney's impression on the world seems flawless today, there have been a few hiccups along the way. Continue to the "Controversial Cartoons" and "Strike of 1941" to find out more.
- McLaughlin, Dan. "The History of Animation." The History of Animation. N.p., 2001. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
- Frost, Amber. "‘Food Will Win the War’: Disney’s Most Surreal War Propaganda Cartoon, 1942." DangerousMinds. Dangerous Minds, 07 Oct. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
- Miller, Phyllis. "Interview about Music and Entertainment in WWII." Interview about Music and Entertainment in WWII (2005): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.
- "Ben George." In person interview. 18 Mar. 2015.
- Steamboat Willie. Dir. Walt Disney. Laugh-O-Gram Films, 1928.
- Food Will Win the War. Dir. Walt Disney. Disney, 1942.
- Der Fueher’s Face. Dir. Walt Disney. Disney, 1942