Real Bambis, the Bechdel test for Frozen, and a gas mask: Ten facts about Disney's 100th anniversary. Bet you don't know them all?
Munich – From Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to Marvel, The Simpsons and Star Wars – Disney is one of the most influential corporations in the world. The media conglomerate celebrates its 100th birthday this year, as the company was founded on October 16, 1923. There are millions of big Disney fans around the world. We've rounded up ten facts worth knowing that will make you shine even among Disney lovers.
| Disney | |
|---|---|
| Date of foundation: | 16 October 1923 |
| Office: | Burbank, California (USA) |
| Turnover: | $74.8 billion (2020) |
Disney Fact #1: Walt Disney Wasn't a Good Illustrator
Walt Disney drew cartoons in his parents' garage as a teenager and then sold them. But actually, he was not a particularly draughtsman all his life, which he also said about himself. What he was able to do like no other was the step before drawing: Walt Disney provided the ideas, his team implemented them.
Disney Fact #2: Mickey Mouse Should Resemble Charlie Chaplin
Walt Disney and his company were on the verge of collapse in 1928. "In great desperation" he drew the first draft of the mouse on a train ride through the USA from New York to California, which would later become Mickey (in the meantime it was called "Mortimer"). He was inspired by Charlie Chaplin. Mickey is supposed to resemble him and convey his "melancholy". In the first tests, she failed in the audience - only through "Steamboat Willie" came the hoped-for success.
Mickey Mouse is said to be modeled after Charlie Chaplin. © UPI
Disney Fact #3: Mickey's First Voice
Company founder Walt Disney actually gave the character Mickey Mouse the voice himself. Later, sound effects specialist Jimmy MacDonald took over this part. The reason: As a heavy smoker, Walt Disney had strained his voice too much.
For many children, film producer Walt Disney helped shape their childhood. But the Walt Disney Company is a huge media conglomerate. © Dpa
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Disney Fact #4: Mickey's License Protection Expires
For the world's most famous mouse, license protection expires in 2024. If the company does not succeed in averting this, the figure should be freely used by everyone.
Disney Fact #5: Real Bambis
In order for them to be able to draw the fawn "Bambi" as detailed and lifelike as possible, Walt Disney demanded that real deer should live in the studio as a template during production. To do this, he sent an employee to the forests of Maine, who returned to Hollywood with two deer on the train. They stayed there for nine months. Incidentally, this practice was also used in the "Lion King".
Disney Fact #6: Record Oscar Winner
To this day, Walt Disney holds a record that no one has been able to break in all those years in Hollywood. No Spielberg, no Scorsese, no Brando – no one. Walt Disney has won 26 Oscars.
Disney Fact #7: Special Gas Mask for Kids
Walt Disney designed a gas mask for children during World War II. This one looked like Mickey Mouse.
Disney Fact #8: Special Instructions for the Disney Parks
There are very special statutes for all parks of the "Disney World" or "Disneyland" brand. Walt Disney is said to have attached great importance to the fact that every visitor can see a trash can at any point. Park employees are also never allowed to answer "I don't know" to questions. It is also forbidden to visit the parks dressed as a Disney character – because that would destroy the magic.
Only one Mickey Mouse, a Goofy and so on may be seen on the premises at any one time. The performers are also trained in signing autographs: special training ensures that every signature of every "Snow White" looks the same everywhere in the world. Also curious: The actors are forbidden to take babies in their arms. In addition, anyone who starts at Disney can appear as a character in costume in a park if they want to.
Mickey Mouse is probably the most famous creation from Disney. © Betrand Guay/AFP
Disney Fact #9: Toy Story 2 Almost Got Deleted
In 1999, an employee accidentally deleted the almost finished film "Toy Story 2". Just because a colleague worked in a home office, she had a copy on her computer. It was only through this fortunate circumstance that the film of the new story about the toy cowboy Woody and the astronaut action figure Buzz Lightyear could be saved.
Disney Fact #10: "Frozen" Passes the Bechdel Test
Anna and Elsa have achieved something that has not been achieved in any other Disney film: The hit film "Frozen" is the first Disney princess film to pass the so-called Bechdel test. This checks whether there are independent female characters – i.e. they also talk about something different from men. By the way, the titles of the new princess films such as "Frozen" (known in English as "Frozen"), but also "Tangled", the remake of the Rapunzel story, are kept more neutral. That's how they should appeal to boys, too.
Disney Bonus Fact: Walt Disney's Motto:
And as a bonus fact, Walt Disney's motto until shortly before his death: "We're just getting started."
Many Disney fans also subscribe to the Disney+ streaming service. Recently, there was a phishing email: Customers of the service are urged to be careful. Meanwhile, there was a spectacular mishap at Disneyland Anaheim in the USA, a dragon suddenly burst into flames. (cgsc)
