Disney Facts and Figures
4 June 2022
Disney is a multinational entertainment company with four main business units. The Parks, Experiences, and Products business includes all Disney theme parks, licensing of intellectual property, and the sale of branded merchandise through retail, wholesale, and online channels. The Studio Entertainment business unit focuses on motion picture production and distribution, including Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, and Blue Sky Studios. Other businesses include music production and distribution and live entertainment events.
Pinocchio
If you’ve never seen a Pinocchio film, it’s time to make a special trip to Disneyland! The 1940 animated film is a masterpiece of fantasy and art. The story was written by Carlo Collodi and is based on the 1883 Italian children’s novel. The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions, but was originally released by RKO Radio Pictures. A few years later, Disney registered Pinocchio as a feature film.
The movie’s musical score, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” is a beloved classic. The Disney Maker Studios have made a point to preserve the artistic legacy of this classic. These videos have become a part of Disney’s rich history, and Pinocchio at Disney is a perfect example. This live-action adaptation will be released on Disney Plus on Sept. 8. Stay tuned for more updates!
Fantasia
As the most famous animated feature ever created by a studio, Fantasia is no stranger to controversy. The original production had been an ambitious attempt to popularize classical music, but it was cut in two because of its lack of a storyline. The original project included a segment called The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but the film was expanded to a full anthology of short films. Though storyboarded, segments like Ride of the Valkyries, Swan of Tuonela, and Flight of the Bumblebee were never animated and were not included in subsequent releases of Fantasia-style films.
Fans of classical music may find the film’s use of orchestral music a jarring change from traditional animated feature films. However, the film’s use of musical compositions, coupled with artistically choreographed animation, made it a resounding success. And while the Academy couldn’t fit the film into one of its typical categories, it received two Honorary Oscars for Best Animated Feature.
Silly Symphonies
The original Silly Symphony cartoon series ran for ten years, winning seven Academy Awards as the best animated short. The show was so successful that Disney even used a multiplane camera to produce the cartoons. This series spawned numerous imitators, including Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies, which eventually became a major competitor to the Disney cartoons. The earliest cartoons were black-and-white, but by the 1980s, all Silly Symphony films were in 3-strip Technicolor.
The Silly Symphony cartoons were made between 1929 and 1939 and were produced at the Disney studio on Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. The series did not have any continuing characters, although three sequels were made after the first. However, the first cartoon of the Three Little Pigs eventually got Donald Duck’s start in a Silly Symphony. Disney’s Silly Symphony series is a fantastical look at the history of cartoons.
Walt Disney Gallery
The Walt Disney Gallery was a multi-room museum, with each room containing its own set of artwork based on a particular theme. For example, the Front Room served as an introduction to the exhibit, with its artwork being broad in nature, and focusing on more specific themes as visitors progressed through the gallery. The Gallery’s archival quality inks were made of latex and are designed to last. Unfortunately, Overstock does not offer product information or the ability to purchase individual prints.
Guests should make time to explore the gallery. While it’s located adjacent to the park entrance, it’s often hard to recognize it from the other attractions. The Gallery isn’t the first thing visitors think of when they enter the park, but it is a delightful place to spend some time. Visitors will find artwork related to the current exhibit and can buy souvenirs of the paintings. The Gallery is also home to an art-on-demand kiosk, which allows visitors to order a print of a particular image.
Disney+
Aside from classics like The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants, Disney+ also has original shows and movies from 20th Century Fox. High School Musical: The Series and Diary of a Future President are among the originals available on Disney+. Some of the newer movies will also be available in 2022, including the sequel to the award-winning The Mandalorian. Turning Red will be the latest Pixar feature film.
Besides the Rogue One prequel, the streaming service will offer two more live-action Star Wars series. Star Wars: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will feature Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk in their roles as rebel smugglers, while Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi will focus on the character of a young Jedi. The series will also feature the launchpad incubator program. There are also no time restrictions for downloading the titles.