John P. Brackin - Freelance Writer - Articles

Walt Disney: Animation Pioneer

Cobblestone, January 2007. By John P. Brackin

Most people associate Walt Disney with the theme parks and television channel that bear his name. His greatest legacy, however, may well be his influence on cinema. In the early 20th century, Disney created groundbreaking cartoons that expanded the artistry and technology of films. And in 1937, he released a cartoon so revolutionary that, practically overnight, it established feature-length animation as a new genre of film.

Disney first learned about animation in Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked for an advertising firm in the 1920s. As an artist Disney was fascinated by the idea of moving pictures, and he soon began drawing cartoons in his studio in the family garage. This led to Disney's first company, Laugh-O-Gram Films, which produced cartoons based on classic fairy tales for release in theaters. The business did not last, but it set him on course for the future. In 1923, he moved to California to pursue his dream of making his mark in the movie industry.

Disney's animation progressed greatly when he went to work in Hollywood. In 1928, he created an early Mickey Mouse cartoon, Steamboat Willie, which had a musical soundtrack. At that point, cartoons were all silent, so this was a true revelation. In 1931, Disney produced the first cartoon in color, Flowers and Trees, and received the first Academy Award ever presented for a cartoon. His Disney Studios even pioneered new tools, like the multiplane camera, which allowed for realistic landscapes. For Disney, though, this was only the beginning.

In 1934, Disney announced that he was going to design the worlds first feature-length cartoon. But people were skeptical. After all, who would want to watch a cartoon for an hour? And who would be willing to pay to do so? Disney refused to give in, though, and in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered to great popular and critical acclaim. It was a landmark event, and as modern-day film reviewer Roger Ebert has written, "To one degree or another, every animated feature made since [Snow White] owes it something."

Disney died in 1966, but his influence -- in particular, attention to detail and cleverly drawn characters -- lives on in present-day animation. Would there be a Simba (The Lion King), for example, without a Bambi, or a Woody (Toy Story) without a Pinocchio? Even Disney techniques like storyboarding still are being used, while others only recently have been replaced by advance in computer technology. Walt Disney was a true pioneer, and without his early cartoon accomplishments, today's movies would be a much less magical place.