The Beginning
Walt Disney Studios, despite the name, was not created solely by Walt Elias Disney. In fact, the company wasn't even originally named exclusively after him. In 1923, Walt and his older brother, Roy Disney, started the company under the name Disney Bros Studios in a small office occupied by Holly-Vermont Realty in Los Angeles, California. In 1923, the company's first productions were called the Alice Comedies and were distributed to M. J. Winkler of Universal Studios. These shorts were similar to Mary Poppins in that they incorporated live-action with animated cartoons.
After only four months, Disney Bros Studios had grown so popular, they needed to hire more animators and required a larger studio. Walt purchased a lot on Hyperion Avenue, and construction began on a new studio. In 1926, when the studio on Hyperion Avenue was finished, the company was renamed Walt Disney Studios. From 1923 through 1927, the brothers produced the Alice Comedies, with Walt always pushing technology and his company's finances to their limits. In 1927, Walt decided to create animation-only shorts. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, also distributed to Universal Studios, was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Oswald appeared in Trolley Troubles on September 5th, 1927. Several more shorts were released with the lovable rabbit; however, they were all distributed to Universal Studios. When the producer, Charles Mintz wanted to give Disney a 20% budget cut Walt quit, leaving Oswald behind. Disney began brainstorming new characters. Out of that came Mickey Mouse.
After only four months, Disney Bros Studios had grown so popular, they needed to hire more animators and required a larger studio. Walt purchased a lot on Hyperion Avenue, and construction began on a new studio. In 1926, when the studio on Hyperion Avenue was finished, the company was renamed Walt Disney Studios. From 1923 through 1927, the brothers produced the Alice Comedies, with Walt always pushing technology and his company's finances to their limits. In 1927, Walt decided to create animation-only shorts. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, also distributed to Universal Studios, was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Oswald appeared in Trolley Troubles on September 5th, 1927. Several more shorts were released with the lovable rabbit; however, they were all distributed to Universal Studios. When the producer, Charles Mintz wanted to give Disney a 20% budget cut Walt quit, leaving Oswald behind. Disney began brainstorming new characters. Out of that came Mickey Mouse.
Mickey Mouse and Friends
Many people don't know, Mickey Mouse was originally going to be called Mortimer Mouse. Lillian Disney, Walt's wife, objected to that name saying it was ugly, and suggested Mickey instead. Ub Iwerks, one of Walt's animators and co-creator of Mickey, made two Mickey Mouse cartoons. The Mickey Mouse cartoons were not as popular with producers, so Walt decided he make the Mickey Mouse cartoons with synchronized sound, a blossoming but temperamental technology. Steam Boat Willie had no trouble getting produced, and was released at the Colony Theater in New York on November 18th, 1928 with Walt doing the voices of both Mickey and Minnie. The other Mickey Mouse cartoons were released with synchronized sound shortly after. Two years later, Mickey was joined by Pluto, his lovable dog in "The Chain Gang." Goofy first appeared in "Mickey's Revue" in 1932, followed by the short-tempered duck, Donald, who was first seen in a Silly Symphonies cartoon entitled "The Wise Little Hen" in 1934. Daisy Duck didn't join the cast until 1937 in the short "Don Donald."
Fun-fact
Walt Disney was given a special oscar in 1932 for the creation of Mickey Mouse
Fun Fact
In Daisy's first appearance in "Don Donald", her name wasn't Daisy; it was Donna.