Once upon a time, the Walt Disney Company was formed. However, the Disney empire as we know it did not form overnight.
The company went through several eras, each defined by a different movie lineup. From Disney’s Golden Age movies to the Disney Revival Era movies, each era had a unique impact on both the Disney Company and pop culture as a whole.
Starting with the formation of the Walt Disney Company in 1923 by Walt and Roy Disney, the company’s first silent cartoon shorts were released. However, it wasn’t until 1937-1942 that we saw the birth of the Disney Golden Age movies.
Animated feature films were created, and the Silly Symphonies was a series of short cartoons that made people laugh and sing. One of the most iconic Disney Golden Age movies is Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
This film was the first animated feature-length movie to be released and used a multiplane camera to create an illusion of three-dimensionality. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs was a huge success and set the tone for the rest of the Golden Age movies.
Another Golden Age movie, Pinocchio, was released in 1940 and won two Academy Awards for Best Soundtrack and Original Song categories. This movie is based on Carlo Collodi’s classic children’s book, and Pinocchio is a wooden puppet brought to life by a fairy.
He sets out to earn the right to become a real boy by proving he is brave, truthful, and unselfish. Pinocchio’s adventures are both exciting and thought-provoking, and the movie’s impact on pop culture cannot be underestimated.
In 1943-1949, the Disney Wartime Era movies were released and included Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. This era’s movies were heavily influenced by the political climate of World War II, and the films highlighted stories about the Americas and the importance of unity.
The Silver Age movies were released from 1950-1967 and included Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book. These movies were characterized by a sense of magic and whimsy, where animals could talk, and people could fly.
The movies were bright and colorful and appealed to audiences young and old. The Bronze Age movies were released from 1970-1988 and included The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver and Company.
This era saw Disney shift its focus to more animal-centric stories, with many of the movies featuring anthropomorphic characters. However, the movies did not have the same box office success as their predecessors.
Then, in 1989-1999, we saw the Disney Renaissance Era movies released. This era birthed some of Disney’s most iconic movies, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan.
These movies were characterized by their catchy soundtracks, epic love stories, and diverse representation. From 1999-2009, the Post-Renaissance Era movies were released.
This era saw a shift towards computer animation and included Fantasia 2000, Dinosaur, The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo and Stitch, The Treasure Planet, Brother Bear, Home on the Range, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt. These movies experimented with different storytelling techniques, but they did not have the same impact as the movies that came before them.
Finally, we have the Disney Revival Era movies that were released from 2009 to the present. This era includes The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, Frankenweenie, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen II, and Raya and the Last Dragon.
This era saw a return to the traditional Disney style storytelling, with an emphasis on catchy tunes and empowering messages for children. In conclusion, the Walt Disney Company has impacted pop culture in countless ways.
Each Disney era was characterized by different themes, storytelling techniques, and impacts on society. From Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio to Frozen and Raya and the Last Dragon, we can see that the Disney legacy is one that will continue to inspire and delight audiences for generations to come.
The Disney Silver Age movies were released from 1950 to 1967 and were characterized by large productions and innovation on a visual level. The era saw some of Disney’s most iconic movies, such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book.
Cinderella, released in 1950, was an animation masterpiece. The attention to detail was exact, with animators conducting an anatomical study to ensure the characters had realistic movements.
Located in the 1950’s, the animation had to be innovative and fresh. The story followed the classic fairytale of Cinderella, who finds true love with Prince Charming.
Released a year later in 1951, Alice in Wonderland came with a unique style. Still featuring drawn characters, the movie also had real actors involved in the final masterpiece.
The different styles of animation used in the film were impressive, and the attention to detail on the drawings was fantastic. Peter Pan was released in 1953, and it was the first movie to feature the involvement of all 9 original animators.
The movie was a huge success, and production started on the Walt Disney Animation Studios empire. Kids and adults alike fell in love with the story of Peter Pan, where imagination came to life right before their eyes.
Lady and the Tramp is a 1955 film that was produced in the CinemaScope anamorphic format. The beloved story focuses on the adventures of a high-society Cocker Spaniel when she meets a streetwise downtown dog.
They come from opposite sides of town, but love conquers all in the end. Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959.
The color palette used in the movie was revolutionary, and the visual appeal of the movie was unparalleled at the time. The emotional dramatic purpose was a true fan-favorite among moviegoers, and the aesthetic of the movie was similar to a painting.
In 1961, One Hundred and One Dalmatians was released, utilizing new technology, namely, the Xerox process. The process allowed for the copying of multiple images of the characters, creating a unique style that proved a hit with audiences.
The storyline revolved around a group of dalmatian puppies and their parents and the villainous Cruella de Vil, who aimed to make a coat out of their fur. The Sword in the Stone, released in 1963, was the last movie before Walt Disney’s death and saw box office success.
The movie featured stunning animation, including a battle scene that was considered groundbreaking at the time. Finally, The Jungle Book was released in 1967, after Walt Disney’s death.
The movie faced several complications, such as the rejection of animation designs, but still ended up being a great success. The movie tells the story of a young boy named Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the jungle and follows his adventures with his animal friends trying to avoid the evil tiger, Shere Khan.
In conclusion, the Disney Silver Age movies were characterized by their large productions and innovation in visual techniques. These movies have stood the test of time and have remained fan-favorites throughout the decades.
The attention to detail and the use of new technology created unique and unforgettable films that have become ingrained in pop culture. The Disney Bronze Age movies were released from 1970 to 1988 and were characterized by plot experimentation and avoidance of classic tales.
This era gave us some of Disney’s most unique and unforgettable movies such as The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver and Company. Released in 1970, The Aristocats was a musical comedy that followed the adventures of a family of aristocratic cats.
The plot revolved around a rescue operation with a hilarious twist that viewers loved. The movie was praised for its voice acting and catchy soundtrack.
Robin Hood, released in 1973, was a movie loved for its portrayal of characters fighting against escalating taxes by the Sheriff of Nottingham. The most generous citizens of Nottingham were in danger, and it was up to Robin Hood to save them.
The movie’s soundtrack was unique and timeless, and children have been singing along to it for generations. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, released in 1977, was a movie that gathered various short films into one film.
The movie gained praise for its unique storytelling and was widely considered a masterpiece. The movie was centered around the loveable Winnie the Pooh character, and kids and adults alike fell in love with the lovable bear and his friends.
The Rescuers, released in 1977, featured the Rescue Aid Society, a group that was tasked with saving orphans from tragic events. This adventure was different from other Disney movies, and the audience loved it.
The movie was praised for its voice acting and catchy songs sung throughout the movie. The Fox and the Hound, released in 1981, was Disney’s most expensive movie at the time, and it was the best without Walt Disney’s participation.
The movie follows the storyline of a fox and a dog who become friends but must ultimately part ways, showing the challenges of friendship over time. The movie’s soundtrack was unique and fit seamlessly with the animation.
The Black Cauldron, released in 1985, was based on a series of books and was planned to be the first in the series of films, but it was a huge failure. The movie sought to be different from other Disney movies, but it was not successful.
The animation style was new and unique, which made the movie stand out, but it did not resonate well with audiences. The Great Mouse Detective, released in 1986, followed the adventures of a young detective mouse as he tries to foil the plot of his arch-nemesis, Professor Rattigan.
The movie was a box office success, and it was produced by Amblin and Who Framed Roger Rabbit’s production team. The movie’s voice acting was fantastic, and audiences loved the protagonist.
Finally, Oliver and Company, released in 1988, was a free adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and set in the 80s. The movie was unique and featured great music, answering the demand for more non-classical tunes.
The movie’s story revolved around a young kitten, Oliver, and his friends as they navigate life in the city. The Disney Renaissance Era movies were released from 1989 to 1999 and were characterized by the adaptation of classic fairy tales and a return of songs and simple plot structures.
This era gave us some of Disney’s most creative and innovative movies such as The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. The Little Mermaid, released in 1989, was an enormous success and helped to establish Alan Menkens as a mainstream composer.
The movie’s themes of love and acceptance resonated with audiences, and the