The creator of Mickey Mouse and benefactor of the California Institute of the Arts, Disneyland
and Walt Disney World, Walt Disney began his career as an advertising cartoonist.
In 1920, he created and marketed his first original animated cartoons and later
perfected a method for combining live action with animation which significantly altered the
medium. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 and made his screen debut in "Steamboat Willie,"
the world's first fully-synchronized sound cartoon.
In 1932, the film "Flowers and Trees" won Walt Disney the first of his 32 personal
Academy Awards. In 1937, he released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first
full-length animated musical feature, produced during the Depression at the then exorbitant
cost of $1,488,000. Among the other full-length animated classics that Disney produced are
"Pinocchio," "Fantasia," "Dumbo" and "Bambi."
Disney was concerned about improving the quality of life in America and personally
directed the design of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) which was
planned as a living showcase to the creativity of American industry. Disney said, "I don't
believe there is a challenge anywhere in the world that is more important to people everywhere
than finding the solution to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin? We're
convinced we must start with the public need. And the need is not just for curing the old ills of
old cities. We think the need is for starting from scratch on virgin land and building a
community that will become a prototype for the future."
Walt Disney is a legend of the 20th century. His imagination, optimism and self-made
success became the American tradition.
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, IL
EDUCATION: Academy of Fine Arts
AWARDS: Harvard University, Honorary Degree
Yale University, Honorary Degree
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Showman of the Year Award
32 Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Awards
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