16 MAY 2024 · Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, to Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney. He was one of five children, with three brothers and one sister. Walt's father was a strict and often abusive man who struggled to provide for his family, moving them around frequently in search of work. In 1906, the family moved to a farm in Marceline, Missouri, where Walt spent some of the happiest years of his childhood. It was here that he developed a love for drawing and storytelling, often entertaining his sister Ruth with his creations. The family's time in Marceline was short-lived, however, as Elias fell ill and could no longer work the farm. They moved to Kansas City in 1911, where Walt and his brother Roy helped their father deliver newspapers. Walt's education was sporadic due to the family's frequent moves and financial struggles. He attended McKinley High School in Chicago, where he took night courses at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. It was during this time that he met Walter Pfeiffer, who introduced him to the world of vaudeville and motion pictures. In 1918, at the age of 16, Walt dropped out of high school to join the Red Cross Ambulance Corps during World War I. He was sent to France, where he spent a year driving ambulances and chauffeuring officers. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he moved back to Kansas City and began working as a commercial illustrator. Walt's fascination with animation began when he saw a screening of "Alice's Wonderland," a short film that combined live-action with animation. Inspired, he decided to open his own animation studio with his friend Ub Iwerks. They created a series of short films called "Laugh-O-Grams," which were moderately successful but ultimately failed to keep the studio afloat. In 1923, Walt filed for bankruptcy and moved to Hollywood with just $40 in his pocket. Once in Hollywood, Walt and his brother Roy opened the Disney Brothers Studio, which would later become the Walt Disney Company. They began producing a series of live-action/animated shorts called "Alice Comedies," which featured a young girl interacting with animated characters. The series was a success and ran for four years. In 1927, Walt created a new character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The series was distributed by Universal Studios and became very popular. However, when Walt asked for a raise, he discovered that Universal had secretly patented the Oswald character and hired away most of his animators. This experience taught Walt the importance of owning the rights to his creations. Undeterred, Walt and Ub Iwerks created a new character: Mickey Mouse. The first two Mickey Mouse films, "Plane Crazy" and "The Gallopin' Gaucho," were silent and failed to find distributors. The third film, "Steamboat Willie," was the first fully synchronized sound cartoon and was an instant success when it debuted in November 1928. The success of Mickey Mouse allowed Walt to expand his studio and create new characters, such as Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. He also began experimenting with color animation and released the first Technicolor cartoon, "Flowers and Trees," in 1932. The film won an Academy Award for Best Cartoon. In 1937, Walt released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first full-length animated feature film. Many in the film industry dubbed it "Disney's Folly," believing that audiences would not sit through a feature-length cartoon. Walt mortgaged his house to finance the film, which took three years and $1.5 million to complete. "Snow White" was a massive success, grossing over $8 million (equivalent to $142 million today) and winning critical acclaim. Following the success of "Snow White," Walt produced a string of iconic animated films, including "Pinocchio" (1940), "Fantasia" (1940), "Dumbo" (1941), and "Bambi" (1942). During World War II, the studio focused on producing propaganda films and training videos for the military, as well as short films featuring popular characters like Donald Duck. In the late 1940s, Walt began to diversify his business ventures. He opened a distribution company, Buena Vista Distribution, and started producing live-action films alongside his animated features. He also ventured into television with the launch of "The Mickey Mouse Club" in 1955 and "Walt Disney's Disneyland" (later known as "The Wonderful World of Disney") in 1954. One of Walt's most ambitious projects was the creation of Disneyland, a theme park that opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. The park was designed to be a place where families could come together and experience the magic of Disney storytelling in a tangible way. Despite a disastrous opening day plagued by overcrowding and technical difficulties, Disneyland quickly became a cultural phenomenon and a model for future theme parks worldwide. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Walt continued to innovate and push the boundaries of storytelling. He produced a number of successful live-action films, such as "Treasure Island" (1950), "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954), and "Mary Poppins" (1964). He also expanded his television presence with shows like "Zorro" (1957-1959) and "The Wonderful World of Color" (1961-1969). In 1964, Walt began secretly purchasing land in central Florida for what would become his most ambitious project yet: Walt Disney World. He envisioned a vast complex that would include not only a theme park but also hotels, golf courses, and even a model city called EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). Sadly, Walt would not live to see the completion of Walt Disney World. In November 1966, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, likely a result of his lifelong smoking habit. He underwent surgery to remove his left lung but died of circulatory collapse on December 15, 1966, at the age of 65. Walt's legacy, however, lived on through his brother Roy, who took over the company and oversaw the completion of Walt Disney World, which opened in 1971. Today, the Walt Disney Company is one of the largest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world, with a vast portfolio that includes film studios, television networks, theme parks, and consumer products. Walt Disney's impact on popular culture cannot be overstated. His innovations in animation and storytelling set the standard for the industry and continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and animators. His theme parks have become beloved destinations for families around the world, offering immersive experiences that bring Disney's magical storytelling to life. Beyond his creative achievements, Walt Disney was also known for his personal qualities of optimism, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He once famously said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." This philosophy guided him throughout his life and career, from his early struggles as a young animator to his later successes as a visionary entrepreneur. Walt's influence extended beyond the entertainment industry as well. He was a strong advocate for the power of education and believed that his films and theme parks could be used to inspire and educate children. He once said, "I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained." Despite his immense success, Walt remained humble and dedicated to his craft throughout his life. He was known for his hands-on approach to filmmaking and his attention to detail in every aspect of his projects. He surrounded himself with talented artists and collaborators, many of whom went on to become legendary figures in their own right. Today, Walt Disney's legacy continues to inspire and entertain people around the world. His films and characters have become an integral part of our cultural landscape, and his theme parks remain a cherished destination for families seeking to experience the magic of Disney storytelling. In recent years, the Walt Disney Company has continued to expand and evolve, acquiring major media properties like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, and launching its own streaming platform, Disney+. These developments have ensured that Disney remains a dominant force in the ent