The name Disney is synonymous with cartoons, fairy tales, movies, symphonies and themed parks. The creator behind this eponymous name is Walter Elias Disney who was born on December 5, 1901. More than a few of his creations — including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy — are recognisable global icons. On his 115th birth anniversary, we highlight some of Disney’s greatest works
Since 1937, Walt Disney Studios’ animated movies has been working on creating brilliant artistry, masterful storytelling and groundbreaking technology. These are some of the best works:
Beauty & the Beast, 1991
The characters are remarkably memorable — there’s the heartbreaking frailty of Belle’s father, the suave Lumiere, and the lovable Cogsworth. Belle, meanwhile, has interests beyond men. The music is equally mesmerising
The Lion King, 1994
The Lion King presents an original story (albeit one inspired by the Biblical tales of Moses and Joseph, as well as Hamlet and Macbeth) and perfectly balances the serious and comic tones. The Lion King could be the most enduring film in Disney’s catalogue
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, 1937
It is the world's first full-length animated feature and the first in the Disney animated stable. It is also the first one in English, the first one in technicolour, and the first one to be made in the US
Cinderella, 1950
Cinderella is one of the first movies to push the “Prince Charming Exists” agenda. Based on the classic fairy tale, it’s hard not to feel a sense of excitement when Cinderella’s rags are turned into her dream gown after all the abuse she’s dealt with. It gives hope that good people will ultimately be rewarded
Alice in Wonderland, 1951
With its psychedelic elements, the movie lights up some of the darkest scenes in the Disney universe. While we see Alice’s imagination unfold, it goes from being fun and whimsical to sinister. That tension, childhood, can be both wonderful and frightening. It all works out in the end. This makes the classic commendable
Special Mentions
- Pinocchio, 1940
- Aladdin, 1992
- The Little Mermaid, 1989
- Bambi, 1942
- Peter Pan, 1953
Journey Past Steamboat Willie
Walt Disney dropped out of high school at 16 in the hope of joining the US Army but was rejected for being underage. He took to producing animated war propaganda films and training videos for the US military. Disney also helped the US State Department improve relations with South America by making a 1941 goodwill tour, and later aided NASA by developing documentaries about the space programme
Disney's first animation studio was Laugh-O-Gram, where he began telling modernised fairy tales based on Aesop's Fables, before the studio went bankrupt
Created in 1928, Mickey Mouse is virtually synonymous with Walt Disney. Disney himself did the mouse’s voice over till 1947, before it was turned over to English voice actor Jimmy MacDonald
Originally referred to as Mortimer Mouse, the name was changed to Mickey which was thought to be a more marketable name. Mortimer later became Mickey’s rival, vying for Minnie Mouse’s affection
But before Mickey, there was Oswald. Walt’s first big hit was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but he sold the character to Universal in 1927. Mickey was created as a replacement for Oswald
Between 1932 and 1969, Disney won 22 Academy Awards and was nominated 59 times. Included among this trove of Oscars are three awards created specifically for him — one for creating Mickey Mouse, another recognising his contribution to music in animation, and a specially made prize honouring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that featured a traditional statuette, and seven miniature versions alongside it
Movies that Never Made the Cut
Louis the Bear
Disney was going to release an animated movie featuring the voice talent of Louis Prima, who voiced King Louie in The Jungle Book (1967). It would have been called Louis the Bear centred on a bear escaping from a zoo with the help of two mice. Unfortunately, Walt Disney died and Prima was diagnosed with a brain tumour
The Prince and the Pig
The movie would have been about a boy and his pet pig on a journey to steal the moon. It was supposed to release in 2003, but Disney scrapped the project due to a lack of interest from the general movie-going public
Chanticleer
Based on Cyrano de Bergerac (play, 1897), but with barnyard chickens and roosters. It was scrapped as it clashed with Don Bluth’s Rock-A-Doodle in 1991
Friends in Need
The hallmark of Disney movies is a great bond between the characters. Here are the iconic duos of all time:
Timon & Pumba
The meerkat and the wild hog in The Lion King become guides for Simba as he struggles to cope with his father’s death. They provided one of the musical's favourite songs, Hakuna Matata which is arguably the best motto for life
Baloo & Mowgli
This good-natured bear saw the man-cub as his own son in The Jungle Book (1967), with Mowgli returning the affection by viewing Baloo as his father. Coupled with this is both are inextricably associated with the infectious Bare Necessities
Dumbo & Timothy
Throughout Dumbo, Timothy acts as the much needed protector in Dumbo’s life. His goal is to help the saddened elephant succeed in life and above all, help him rescue his mother. With this determination, the duo accomplish their goal and establish a unique friendship between a baby elephant and a mouse
The Best Baddies
Disney’s crowning achievement may just be the exceptional catalogue of villains built up over the last six decades. Here are some of the
Baddest ones:
Scar: He is without doubt one of the ‘best’ villains in the history of animation. His tone when dealing with young Simba is the most perfectly executed form of pompous sarcasm and his greedy, manipulative and jealous nature just oozes evil
Jafar: The antagonist in Aladdin was cold, calculating, and charismatic. Equal parts psychopath, sadist and narcissist, Jafar’s villainous faults are rooted in an unquenchable thirst for power and a willingness to cut corners and sacrifice others in order to obtain it
Shere Khan: The Jungle Book villain is known as a man-eater, who is similar to Hannibal Lecter in that he is especially articulate and polite in dealing with his victims. His cold, calculating methodology verged on sociopathic symptoms
Classic Music
Disney films aced it when it came to music. From romantic ballads to Broadway-esque numbers, the music was always definitive
When You Wish Upon a Star, Pinocchio
The theme song from the 1940 film has become an iconic anthem for the Walt Disney Company. It is used in the opening logo sequence of all Disney films, becoming truly a mission statement for Disney: Dreams are for everyone, no matter who you are
Circle of Life, Lion King
Composed by Elton John, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song along with two other numbers from the movie, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Hakuna Matata. The award finally went to the former
A Whole New World, Aladdin
Voiced by Disney favourites Lea Salonga and Brad Kane, it has become a modern classic, capturing the excitement and wonder of new love. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1993