Walt Disney

Abstract

Walt Disney (1901–1966) is one of history’s most dynamic examples of a man who dreamed the impossible and made it possible. He was both a business and creative entrepreneur who has had an everlasting impact on twentieth century animation, entertainment, and culture. There are a number of important biographies of Walt Disney the man which trace his journey to realize his dreams from his start in life as an American Midwestern farm boy, to a pioneering animation artist and filmmaker, to a founder of the global phenomena which commenced as a small two-man animation studio the Walt Disney Company, to become one of the most powerful international multimedia entertainment conglomerates in today’s world. Disney made his mark as an innovative storyteller in films such as Steamboat Willie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Fantasia. In all that he did he managed to break new ground and create new possibilities in the creation of fantasy worlds by bringing together new genres in screen-based storytelling, new technologies, and new visions for destination based entertainment via the concept of Disneyland. This entry draws upon key biographical work and articles written about Disney to collate insights into the driving force of his work as an artist and entrepreneur – the ability to dream big visions, to trust in himself and his abilities, to surround himself with like-minded people who would support his dreams, and to go into unchartered territories to create a world of entertainment drawn from the creative imagination of one man. When Disney died on December 15, 1966, he held the record for a film producer with the most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. This entry will deal with the work of the “Classic Walt” – roughly the work conceived by Walt Disney as the founding father of The Walt Disney Company from 1923 to 1966 and will draw extensively from the writing and words of Walt Disney the man himself as reported in archives used in key biographical work.