L’incroyable histoire de Disney, des débuts à l’empire

The incredible story of Disney, from its beginnings to an empire

935 words | Reading time: 5 minutes

Behind the scenesWalt DisneyMickey Mouse

The studio's most famous character was born from the loss of a rabbit. On October 16, 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, carried by the Alice Comedies and then by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, whose rights slipped out of their hands. Walt then created Mickey Mouse with Ub Iwerks, launched in 1928 by Steamboat Willie, one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound. Then came Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Disneyland in 1955, and the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009) and Lucasfilm (2012).

Summary

Introduction: The Incredible Story of Disney

Portrait de Walt Disney en 1946
Walt Disney in 1946. Photo: Boy Scouts of America, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

From two brothers in a small Hollywood studio to a global entertainment empire: the story of Disney is one of the most fascinating of the 20th century.

📘 For the Pixar chapter, also read about the Disney-Pixar merger.

1923: The Studio is Born

On October 16, 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood. Their first successes were the Alice Comedies, followed by the character of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

🔑 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is one of the very first characters born in the Disney brothers' studio; the Cars ones you can keep right on your key ring with our Cars keychains.

A little girl filmed in live action faces a big cartoon character demanding a jigsaw puzzle, amid scattered pieces.
The Alice Comedies, the first hits of the Disney brothers' studio, dropped a real little girl into a fully drawn world (Alice Solves the Puzzle, 1925). Photo: Walt Disney, Public domain.

1928: The Arrival of Mickey Mouse

After losing the rights to Oswald, Walt created his most famous character with Ub Iwerks: Mickey Mouse. With Steamboat Willie (1928), one of the first animated films with synchronized sound and the first to achieve widespread success, Mickey became a star.

Mickey and Minnie, drawn in black and white, face each other in front of the kitchen door of a steamboat.
Mickey and Minnie in Steamboat Willie (1928), the synchronized-sound cartoon that turned the mouse into a star. Photo: Walt Disney / Ub Iwerks, Public domain.

1937: Snow White, the First Feature Film

In 1937, Disney took a wild gamble: producing an animated feature film. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, nicknamed "Disney's Folly," triumphed and ushered in the era of great classics.

🍿 Stretching a cartoon across a whole feature film was a risky bet: Snow White won it the nickname "Disney's Folly". For the full screening on your own couch, pull one of our Cars blankets over your knees.

Walt Disney, seated behind a desk, presents seven dwarf figurines lined up in front of him.
Walt Disney introduces the seven dwarfs in the 1937 trailer: his first animated feature, nicknamed “Disney's Folly”, was a risky bet. Unknown author, public domain.

From Disneyland to a Global Empire

This was followed by parks (Disneyland opened in 1955), television, and then strategic acquisitions: Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012). Disney became the world's leading entertainment group. See also Steve Jobs' role.

Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle, with pink and blue turrets, in front of a crowd of visitors.
Sleeping Beauty Castle, the heart of Disneyland: the park opened in California in 1955, the cornerstone of an empire that would go global. Photo: CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0.

🧢 Sleeping Beauty Castle has watched over Disneyland, in California, since 1955: for your own day at the park, our Cars caps beat a sunburn.

Anecdotes

  • the studio was born on October 16, 1923
  • Steamboat Willie (1928) launched Mickey Mouse
  • Snow White (1937) was the studio's first animated feature film
  • Disneyland opened its doors in 1955
Black and white photo: children run across a drawbridge toward the castle of an amusement park.
17 July 1955: the first visitors rush toward the castle on Disneyland's opening day in Anaheim. Unknown author, public domain.

Summary Table

Element Detail
Foundation October 16, 1923, Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio
Founders Walt and Roy Disney
Iconic Character Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willie, 1928)
1st Feature Film Snow White (1937)
1st Park Disneyland (1955)
Key Acquisitions Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012)

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

  • When was Disney founded?
    On October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney.
  • What was Disney's first feature film?
    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937.
  • When did Mickey Mouse first appear?
    In 1928, with the short film Steamboat Willie.
  • When did Disneyland open?
    In 1955, in California.
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