Walt Disney
Walt Disney (1901-66), US producer of cartoon films. Originally a commercial artist, Disney-made his first Mickey Mouse film in 1928 and went on to produce a series of animated shorts called ‘Silly Sym-phonies’. In the 1930s he created other famous animal characters, such as Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy, and produced the first film in full Technicolor (1932). His earlier feature-length films, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Fantasia (1940), and Bambi (1942), surpass many of his later productions, which were aimed almost exclusively at children. He also produced a number of live-action films, including Treasure Island (1950), and a series of wildlife films entitled ‘True-Life . Adventures’. During his life Disney was awarded a record 48 Oscars as well as over 900 honours and citations from all over the world. The Disney company continues to produce highly successful animated and live-action films, including Beauty and the Beast (1991),The Lion King (1994), and The Santa Claus (1995). The company also runs amusement parks populated with his best-known characters in California (`Disneyland’), Florida (‘Disney World’), and France (`Euro Disney’).
