Did you know these strange and surprising facts about Disney?
Many generations have grown up with Disney. But do we know everything about the most famous and important animation factory in the world? There are still secrets and curiosities you may not yet know about...
The first name idea for Disney's most famous mouse was not to call him Mickey, but Mortimer. The reason? That was the name of a mouse that good old Walt had as a child. However, his wife Lillian who recommended he change it... and Mickey Mouse was born
Did you know that the person who voiced Mickey Mouse from his origins until 1946 was none other than his own ideologist, Walt Disney himself, and he made his debut in 'Steamboat Willie'. From 1946 he was replaced by Jim MacDonald due to a problem caused by his fondness for cigarettes.
Some people may not know that we owe the multiplane camera to Walt Disney. He created it in 1936 to obtain more depth of field in his films and the first time he used it was in the 1937 animated film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.
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Adding in an odd fact here... did you know in the theme parks that the company has in different countries around the world, the actors who play its best-known characters are forbidden to say no or point fingers?
It is also forbidden to sell chewing gum in theme park stores. The reason? To prevent people from throwing them on the ground or sticking them onto the attractions. What is allowed, however, is to bring them from home. Obviously, throwing them away in the bin afterwards.
'The Jungle Book', which was released in 1967, was the last film the Walt Disney worked on before he died in 1966.
It is common for Disney to make references between its films and there will be those who have already noticed, for example, that Goofy, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse appear in one of the scenes of 'The Little Mermaid'.
In fact, Mickey can be found camouflaged in practically all Disney movies. An example? In these bubbles from 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.
The shortest Disney film is 'Saludos Amigos', at 42 minutes. This is followed by Dumbo' (1941), which is 1 hour and 4 minutes long.
The main street of the Disney Parks is inspired by the neighborhood where Walt Disney himself grew up. More specifically, Main Street USA is inspired by the main street in the town of Marceline, Missouri, where Walt Disney and his family grew up.
Disney animation directors Ron Clements and John Muske thought about Robbin Williams from the beginning for this role and wrote the script knowing it could not be anyone else.
Walt Disney had an adoration for the unique and eccentric Catalan artist Salvador Dalí. An admiration that was mutual. In fact, they worked together between 1945 and 1946 on the sketches and script of what would become a joint short film entitled 'Destiny'. Due to the economic hardships caused by World War II, Walt Disney decided to abandon this project, which was later unearthed by his nephew, Roy E. Disney, and was finally released in 2003.
Between 1932 and 1935, Walt Disney had exclusive access to the patent for color filming of animated films.
Although the successful 'Pirates of the Caribbean' saga was released in 2003, the attraction with the same name had been operating since 1973 at Magic Kingdom, one of Walt Disney World's parks.
Due to World War II, 'Pinocchio' and 'Bambi' were real box-office flops. Although, now, they have become great classics of the Disney brand.
'Cinderella', a 1950 film based on a Charles Perrault fairy tale, saved Disney from bankruptcy after the economic difficulties caused by World War II. The Walt Disney Company was $4 million in debt and, although the film cost $3 million, over the years it grossed $85 million, making it one of its biggest hits.
'Cinderella' was the first animated film in which pre-images had been shot with real actors so that the cartoonists could better capture the movements.
Not many people know that Disney parks are riddled with secret tunnels that were allegedly devised so that actors can disguise themselves with the security of not being seen. They exist also so that they can move with greater agility throughout the park without having to pass through areas where their character does not fit or is crowded with visitors.
One of the first job opportunities for actor Steve Martin was thanks to Disney, but not as we might imagine since his job was selling guidebooks at Disneyland.
'Newt' is a Pixar film that never saw the light of day. This story about salamanders was scheduled for release in 2011. Subsequently, it was postponed to 2012 and, finally, it was put in a drawer because of its similarity to another film from another animation studio.
'Mary Poppins' is Disney's most Oscar-winning film. Of the 13 for which it was nominated, it won 5 (Best Actress, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Original Song and Best Visual Effects).
It is rather ironic. Although Mickey, Disney's most recognizable character, is a mouse, Disney parks have a significant number of stray cats that have taken up residence there. The reason they have been allowed to stay is that they help control pests (including mice).
'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) has been the only animated film nominated for Best Picture. This was in 1992 and then the specific category of Best Animated Film was created. 'Beauty and the Beast' did win the Oscar for Best Animated Short at the 1992 Oscars. The film also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
The vultures in 'The Jungle Book' are inspired by The Beatles. In fact, they were scheduled to voice them themselves but were unable to do so due to scheduling problems.
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