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Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney established the Disney Brothers Studio in Hollywood. Their first major project was the Alice Comedies, a series of shorts mixing live-action and animation. -
After losing the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks created Mickey Mouse. Steamboat Willie was one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound, making it revolutionary. -
Many doubted the film’s success, calling it “Disney’s Folly.” Snow White became a massive box-office hit, proving animated films could be profitable. It even won an honorary Academy Award -
Pinocchio was one of the most expensive films ever made at the time, featuring groundbreaking animation techniques. Fantasia introduced stereophonic sound and abstract animation, though it initially struggled at the box office. -
Disney was in deep financial trouble after WWII, but Cinderella became a blockbuster. The film’s success funded Disney’s next big ventures, including Disneyland. -
Walt Disney’s dream of a theme park where families could enjoy immersive storytelling became a reality. Despite construction delays, the park became a massive success and introduced Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and more. -
This film combined live-action with animation and featured legendary songs. It won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews. -
Walt Disney died of lung cancer at age 65. His death put the future of Walt Disney World and EPCOT in question. His brother, Roy O. Disney, took over to ensure Walt’s vision continued. -
After Walt’s death, Roy O. Disney completed the Florida project. The park opened with Magic Kingdom and became even bigger than Disneyland. -
The first Disney park outside the U.S. wasn’t even owned by Disney—it was licensed to the Oriental Land Company. It became wildly popular, proving that Disney’s appeal was truly global. -
Disney was struggling in the early 1980s, with flops and financial trouble. Eisner shifted focus to blockbuster animated films and theme park expansion. -
After years of weak animated films, The Little Mermaid brought Disney back. The movie’s music (by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman) won two Academy Awards. -
The film made over $1 billion worldwide, becoming Disney’s biggest animated hit. Its soundtrack, including "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," became legendary. -
Pixar and Disney collaborated on Toy Story, revolutionizing animation. It was the first movie ever made entirely with computer-generated imagery (CGI). -
With hits like Monsters, Inc., Pixar showed that CGI animation wasn’t a fluke. Disney soon realized that acquiring Pixar might be the best move for the future. -
Steve Jobs (CEO of Pixar) became a Disney board member after the acquisition. This deal brought films like Finding Nemo and The Incredibles under Disney’s control. -
Disney saw the potential of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The deal led to billion-dollar hits like The Avengers, Black Panther, and Avengers: Endgame. -
This acquisition gave Disney control of Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The Force Awakens (2015) became one of the highest-grossing films ever. -
Disney+ debuted with instant success, gaining over 10 million subscribers on Day 1. Shows like The Mandalorian and WandaVision made it a key streaming competitor. -
This massive deal brought The Simpsons, X-Men, Avatar, and more into Disney’s empire. It also expanded Disney’s influence in streaming and television.