‘How Disney Built America’ on History
Category: Television and Streaming
As part of the History Channel’s series The Mega-Brands That Build America, the spotlight turns to Walt Disney. How Disney Built America looks at the genesis of the Disney company.
Episode One
Beginning with the birth of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney turned animated shorts from just fillers into actual entertainment. For Walt, the initial design was all about the ears. Sound familiar? Well, when the Oswald shorts became popular, Walt Disney’s business reached a climax. He could either stay with the studio or keep Oswald. Apparently, according to his contract, Disney did not own Oswald. So, what did this enterprising and talented man do? He came up with another character and the rest is history. Kind of…
Mickey Mouse was going to be called Mortimer Mouse, but thanks to Walt’s wife Lillian, a more fun-loving and personable name was decided on. Ub Iwerks, the lead animator, began drawing the iconic mouse who soon took off as a relatable animated character.
Then Walt decided to do something completely different for an animated animal. He made him talk, whistle, and added sound effects. But how he did this was a feat unto itself. His creative genius overtook the way The Jazz Singer was created, where the sound was on a different recording than the video. Walt came up with a way to add the correct sound to the video itself. And the rest is history. Kind of…
There was even more for the Disney brothers. Roy, the business man of the two, and Walt, the creative brother, soon had their own studio and were off and running.
Walt initially supplied the voice of Mickey. Walt and Mickey were almost inseparable, figuratively and literally. Their personas were linked forever. As the world changed, Mickey provided not only entertainment, but a positive outlook through the depression and hard times. Walt was insistent Mickey always remained a good guy. So to add some conflict, Donald Duck was born. Then gradually more and more of the characters we know today joined Mickey and the Disney family.
The Disney empire was started by a mouse, after a rabbit was jettisoned from Walt’s control. Oswald can still be found in various Disney locations, including Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. But it is Mickey who is the iconic character and his outline is recognized worldwide.
From the Mickey shorts came the first animated feature with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And the rest is history. Kind of…
Animated films are part of American cinema and the characters are embedded in American culture. And world wide culture for that matter. What Walt Disney did was give America entertainment, hope, enjoyment, and a lot of laughs and smiles, with a few tears here and there, all through animation. The Disney brand is synonymous with entertainment. And it’s all thanks to a mouse. Well, actually, it’s all thanks to the foresight, intelligence, and creativity of Walt Disney.
That’s what the first episode covers. There are six episodes in all. How Disney Built America premieres April 28, 2024 on the History Channel. The next episode, airing May 5, focuses on Walt’s determination to make a full-length animated feature. His genius turned animation into an art form and he invented the multi-plane camera and instituted animation training. Walt was the first to use storyboards, which are a must in today’s world of not only animated films but also live-action movies as well. The series concludes June 9.
The History channel is available on various services. The series is also available to stream the next day on The HISTORY Channel app, history.com, and across major TV providers’ VOD platforms. It will also be available to own on Amazon Prime Video or wherever you purchase your favorite series.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Image courtesy HISTORY