Whether the constant coaxing of their chirping children forces their reluctant parents to join in the Disney Cartoon-watching- mania or whether trying to relive their carefree childhood years, parents themselves get drawn to these animated classics and in turn make their path-following children Disney-addicts will always remain a moot point. The iconic amusement park Disneyland apart, animated classics have been Walt Disney’s true enduring identity over all these years. In fact, the very name Disney conjures fun-filled visions of countless immortal cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Bambi, Simba and many more. Vibrantly colorful, delightfully nutty and true family- entertainers, Disney animated films have reached this high pedestal of the classic status through a long, eventful and historic journey.

Walt Disney: The man who started it all

Walt Disney’s fascination and fixation for making feel-good, fun-for- family- movies especially targeting the kids- might have originated out of the need to compensate for his own none-too-happy childhood. Born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois-Walt was one of the five children born to Elias Disney and Flora Disney. Soon after his birth, the family moved on to Marceline Missouri- a close-knit community country town, where Walt spent most of his childhood. Life was difficult with sparse money and a stern father. But his mother and elder brother Roy still encouraged him to pursue his artistic talents. Selling his drawings to neighbours, he made some money and even learnt art and photography in a Chicago High School.

After a one-year stint in France where he worked for Red Cross as an ambulance driver, a 17-year old Walt started a company Laugh-O-Grams and tried to make animated films but the experiment ended in bankruptcy. With just twenty dollars in his pocket, he set out for Hollywood. Big brother Roy again helped him out and the movie production house began its journey, setting up its first office in the backyard of a Hollywood real estate company.