In “The Story Behind…” series I take a look at the history of anything related to movies. One of them are the logos of the various studios, this time that of Walt Disney Pictures.
The man who lent his name to the company was a big fan of drawing as he grew up. He shortly worked at The Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio where he met Ubbe Iwerks and after their contract with the studio expired they decided to start their own company. It was called “Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists” in 1920. Since they couldn’t manage to run it succesfully Disney started working at the Kansas City Film Ad Company and was joined by Iwerks. He started experimenting with animation and made Laugh-o-grams. These were so succesfull that Disney was able to start a new company called “Laugh O Gram Studio”. Unfortunately this company went bankrupt and Disney decided to move to Hollywood in 1923 together with his brother Roy.
They started “Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio” and they succesfully sold a live action/cartoon named “Alice’s Wonderland”, which became very succesfull and more episodes were made. After the popularity dropped Disney developed the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons together with Iwerks who created the character. Unfortunately for Disney it was Universal Studios who owned the rights to the character and after most of his animators were hired away (except Iwerks) he had to come up with a new character, which was Mickey Mouse. The instant success of this first cartoon with synchronised sound meant he was able to create other shorts, which became the Silly Symphonies. His cartoons were distributed by various big studios including Columbia Pictures and United Artists. In 1934 he started production for the first feature length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which was released in 1937.
1937-1985
The text “Walt Disney presents” would appear, which later was changed into Walt Disney Pictures. The movie studio didn’t use a logo in its first 48 years.
1985-2006
This is the first appearance of the Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella castle which is iconic for the Disney themeparks. From top the bottom a white light slowly formed the castle after which the words “Walt Disney Pictures” would appear after which a line is drawn behind the castle.
Starting in 2000 live action movies from Disney featured a slight variation of the logo. It had a golden glow, but besides that is similar to the blue version.
1995-2007
When Disney struck a deal with Pixar an animated 3D version of the previous logo was made by Pixar. The camera zooms out of the castle while the flags are moving, “Walt Disney Pictures” is shown after which the star which draws the line behind the castle casts a shadow onto the castle.
2006-present
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOEw3P8PvFc]
This is also a CGI animation which starts in the clouds and slowly moves backward to reveal fireworks and the castle after which the same line appears as in the previous logo’s after which “Walt Disney Pictures” is shown.
Another great post Nostra!! I do love these ones, plus they make me feel really old!! Just saying
Thanks a lot Scott. These make you feel old? Sound like you are pushing close to 90 when you say that 😉
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Considering the recent events re Disney + Star Wars, your posting of this was quite serendipitous!!
Seems my crystal ball was working very well last week when I started writing this!
Nice job with this post on a cool topic. Like Rodney mentions in his comment, it’s funny that you released this right at the time that Disney just made the giant purchase of Lucasfilm. I’m a big theme-park fan, so this subject is definitely up my alley.
Yeah, it was a nice coincedence. I’m now hesitant to say which one I will do next time 😉
I love this series Nostra, and Walt Disney logo is one of my faves. I absolutely adore the 3D animation of the one you posted above w/ the fireworks. It brings back memories when I was there as a kid.
Thanks for your kind words Ruth, I like to do these as well, although they take some time to prepare 🙂 I have strong feeling for the Pixar one…
Great post. I loved the twist on the logo in the recent Frankenweenie.
Great post! This is my first introduction to your studio logos series, and I’m loving it. Gonna check the other ones out now.
Hadn’t done them in a long time and started with them again last week. Enjoy reading them 🙂
Nice post. Very interesting for this Disney fan 😉
Thanks Fernando!
I really like these articles highlighting logos and actors. Very interesting to all of us who love the details.
Thanks Erin, I’m trying to do more of them if time allows me to. Probably will have a new one next week 🙂
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I saw a site like this a few years ago that was pretty elaborate also. This is an interesting series. I’m going have to explore in depth. I just popped in from Fogs Link Bomb, I hope to make it back here again.
Thanks a lot for you visiting my humble blog! I still want to do some new logos but have not yet found the time yet to do them.
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Does anyone know what the emblem is on the highest flag of the animated Disney castle ? It’s difficult to make out.
I meant the newest CGI Disney Intro ie. Pirates of the Caribbean.
Unfortunately I don’t know…have not seen it.
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