The Disney Film Archives (A Shifted Disney Canon)

[The British President]

So I have attempted many Disney timelines over the years.
It's very much become my un-climbable mountain.
What's Different this time is I am stripping everything back to the main thing Disney is known for
The Film's
This should help keep the brain focused and pushing forward.
So Join me as we Shuffle the Animated films and some live-action films.
I will be writing them out over the summer and likely posting one a day.
Thank you to @PGSBHurricane for the Idea and
Welcome on Into The Disney Film Archives

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[The British President]

Chapter One: Finding Nemo (1937)

(Rick Mooney: The Voice Of Nemo)

By The Early 1930s, Disney was becoming a well-known company, having recovered from the issues of the late 1920s. The success of the Mickey Mouse cartoons had reached worldwide, and the series of animated Silly Symphony shorts had further pushed innovation. Around the time the shorts reached new popularity, Walt Disney began considering switching the format. He wanted to produce a full-length feature instead, believing that shorts, while allowing the company to grow, were not enough to garner sufficient profit for further studio expansion. It is also now noted that Disney wanted to explore characters and develop bigger stories, something that shorts hindered.

There were a few possibilities that Disney looked into for the first animated film. This Included a hybrid live-action adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with Mary Pickford, which went nowhere as Paramount Pictures produced its own film version of Alice at the same time. Other film ideas included Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle and Victor Herbert's Babes in Toyland. In the spring of 1934, Annoyed by an inability to get an existing property to adapt, Disney finally decided on creating his own original tale to tell, which was to be written by Richard Creedon and Ted Sears. In Early June 1934, Disney announced the project to The New York Times, estimating that the film could be produced for a budget of $250,000.

The film that Disney and his studio settled on was Finding Nemo. The First Proper Animated Feature Film. The Film’s plot was simple yet allowed for character development. It followed a father named Marlin (voiced by Roy Atwell) in an unknown European location trying to protect his son (played by Rick Mooney), yet his overprotectiveness leads to the child being kidnapped by a gang of witches led by Dory (voiced by Lucille La Verne). In order to save his son, Marlin sets out on an adventure in which he teams up with a talking bear (voiced by Otis Harlan) and a bumbling bard (voiced by Pinto Colvig). By the end of the film, the adventurers rescue Nemo and defeat the witches. With Nemo Learning to understand his father and Marlin learning to not be so overprotective.

The Film slated the movie, calling it a sinking ship ready to happen, with some going so far as to say the film was nothing but Disney’s foley, which pushed the studio to increase efforts. Walt Disney worked closely on the film, and his brother Roy Disney dealt with the finances. Despite nearing debt as the film neared completion, it was finished and had its premiere on December 21, 1937, at the Carthay Circle Theatre. Six days later, Walt Disney appeared on the cover of Time magazine with Ub Iwerks. The film was a hit. Nemo Fever hit not only America but spread across the world. Altogether, the film hit $418 million at the box office, surpassing the budget and also allowing Finding Nemo to become the highest-grossing sound film at the time.

The Film’s Impact cannot be understated, as it kicked off Disney’s film animation department even as the looming Second World War would soon hurt the studio, finding that Nemo had put them on a strong footing. The film also spawned merchandise, which further helped the studio. Yet despite the love for the film, today it’s viewed as an above-average film. To some, they see the film as boring—a bunch of set pieces with little action. An above-average sequel would eventually follow. Yet despite its flaws, Finding Nemo was just the start for the Disney studio, as it was now proven that animated films could actually work. And as he played with his daughter, Disney was hit with the idea for his second animated feature.​

 

[The British President]

Chapter Two: Toy Story (1940)

(The Film's Title Song)
​

After the success of Finding Nemo. It was inevitable that another animated film would be made. The question was not if, but when, and what story would they tell after the success of finding Nemo? In September 1937, during the production of Finding Nemo, Walt was hit by the idea for the next picture. Well, playing with his daughter, he began to wonder what would happen if the toys were alive, and so the very early iteration of Toy Story was born. Disney soon arrived at the studio full of life, according to Ub Iwerks, and soon commissioned storyboard artists to write a story outline for a toy story. Toy Story was not planned to be the next film; however, it was originally planned to be The Rescuers, but a plot shift due to the Second World War saw Toy Story pushed to the front as the studio reworked The Rescuers.

Since Most of the team who worked on Finding Nemo was working on the sequels, Young and upcoming animator Milt Kahl was appointed to work on Toy Story alongside Ub Iwerks. The Film’s plot was set during the Great Depression, an idea that caused tension in the studio as some feared not enough time had passed for them to make the plot work, but eventually, the idea won out. The film followed a group of classic toys that live harmoniously on store shelves. Among them are Woody, a loyal cowboy doll (voiced by Cliff Edwards), and Buzz (voiced by Charles Judels), a fearless aviator action figure. When the store closes each night, these toys come to life and embark on incredible adventures together. Yet soon, new toys arrive and cause upheaval as a threat descends on the toy store. As the Great Depression casts a shadow over the town, the shop owner faces financial difficulties, and the toy store becomes a target for a heartless businessman who seeks to buy the shop and turn it into a factory. Determined to protect their home and the spirit of the toy store, the toys band together to outwit the businessman and his henchmen. They embark on a daring quest to find a long-lost treasure rumoured to be hidden somewhere in the town. The treasure could save the toy store and ensure their future together.

The script went through many changes before reaching its final version. At first, Woody was going to be revealed as a bad guy, but Disney quickly vetoed the idea. Despite this, Disney was so focused on The Rescuers that most of the film’s major choices instead fell to Ub Iwerks, who stood against the idea that Buzz should be dim-witted. The film was the first to have a dedicated song, written by Paul J. Smith and sung by Frank Sinatra, You've Got a Friend in Me, which would become a hit in its own right. During the production of the film, Disney’s character model department was formed by story artist Joe Grant and was to be responsible for building three-dimensional clay models of the characters in the film.

Toy Story had its premiere at the Centre Theatre in New York City on February 7, 1940. Much anticipation had grown around the film after the success of Finding Nemo. Some wondered if the studio could pull it off twice. To Much fanfare, Toy Story was released in theatres on February 23, 1940. Despite its initial success and high praise for the characters, the film was initially a Box office bomb. The Second World War was tearing through Europe, cutting off a major market for the film. The film would go on to be considered a cult classic, with many favouring Toy Story over Finding Nemo, yet the box office numbers disappointed the studio. It was not until a 1945 reissue that the film finally made a profit. Despite the lack of profit, the film earned the studio its first Academy Award. The Advent of World War II, however, could not be ignored; even as Walt’s gaze turned towards established stories, the Rescuers loomed on the horizon and soon the Second World War began to fully take effect on the studio.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Three
The Rescuers (1940)

(Early Concept Art)

World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939. Though at first, this would have little effect on the studios of Hollywood, as the threat of Nazi Germany consumed the continent, a vital market for films was shut off. Yet Many Studios, Disney included, still pushed on with the filmmaking. The true impact of the Second World War would not be felt in America until December 7, 1941. Before then, however, some studios had begun to make war films; nobody had yet made an animated war film. The Idea of an animated film had been considered impossible just a few years prior, but Disney and his studio were ready to push the envelope again and try something new.

Yet the rescuers were not going to be Disney’s first animated war-based film; that honour was going to be bestowed upon the film they were going to release in 1941. Yet things quickly shifted. Disney began to enthral himself with the idea of a fairytale movie being made, and so that movie was shifted forward; the animated war movie was shelved for the time being. This would have an effect on the film, which saw a rapid change. At the start, the plot of the rescuers was to follow two mice who are members of the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organisation dedicated to helping abduction victims around the world. This was scrapped, and the film was soon reworked, which would see Toy Story release first instead. The worrying box office results of Toy Story lingered over the team working on the film.

The new Plot still focused on the Rescue Aid Society, which was tasked with rescuing a child from an unnamed island under German occupation. The writers chose to stay away from naming the island, and the word Nazi is only spoken once in the film. Judy Garland joined the voice cast for the first time, alongside Rick Mooney, who returned for his second role. Despite the team’s best efforts, the context behind the film and the fears of war lingering over it made the film much darker than the last two films before it. It was a fear many in the studio shared, but Walt insisted they push on.

Disney hoped the story they were telling plus the music by Deems Taylor as well as the polished animation would help the film at the box office. Others, like Ub Iwerks and Roy O. Disney, voiced their worry, but the film pushed on. The last two were soon proven right. The premiere of the film took place on November 13, 1940, once again in New York. At first, things seemed good, but the lack of overseas income and the reviews quickly soured the mood. The film was lambasted for being too dark for children but too boring for adults, and it was also attacked for being too long. The film was nothing short of a disaster for the studio. Recent evaluations of the film have also seen it labelled as racist, with Disney+ placing a content warning on the film. On a budget of over $2 million, the film earned barely enough to scrape by. Despite all this, the film was important for the studio. It taught them lessons they would take forward, and it taught Walt Disney to listen to his staff. The Future looked grim for the rescuers as the studio quickly moved on to their first fairytale, but with time, a sequel would come to pass.​

 

[The British President]

Chapter Four: Rapunzel (1941)

(Concept Art for Rapunzel herself)​

After the box office failure of Toy Story and the complete failure of the rescuers, Panic had settled in among the studio; World War II still raged with no end in sight, and some feared the studio could go under mounted. Yet Walt was not ready to admit defeat; he was humbler than before he and the studio turned to the film they were going to release in 1941. Work had begun on the project in 1937, shortly after the release of Finding Nemo. The film was delayed due to a focus on other projects but was pushed to the forefront in hopes of regaining the flagging box office returns. The hope among the people was that an adaptation of a fairytale could counteract the darkness of the rescuers.

At first, it was unknown which story was to be adapted. Options included Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, and Peter Pan. Peter Pan was agreed upon even though it was not a fairy tale, but after issues arose, it was pushed back into the latter half of 1941. Instead, the studio pulled Foreword, the other tale they had settled on. Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm. The Writers of Toy Story returned and set about crafting a solid story. That story follows Rapunzel (voiced by Mary Pickford), who was born with hair that possesses the power to heal and grant eternal youth. However, when she is just a baby, an evil sorceress named Dame Gothel (voiced by Adriana Caselotti) kidnaps her and locks her away in a hidden tower deep within the forest. Meanwhile, in the kingdom, a dashing young prince named Prince William (voiced by Harry Stockwell) discovers the legend of Rapunzel's magical hair. He becomes determined to find her and uncover the truth behind the rumours. Armed with his charm and bravery, he embarks on a quest to rescue the captive princess.

The Film holds a number of firsts for the studio. It was the first film Mary Blair worked on, the first princess film, and the first to use oil paint and gouache. The Budget was also much lower than the other films before it, and hope remained high that it would do well, though the studio knew that the devastation of the Second World War would still hamper the film. And hamper it did; the film barely made it even after its release on June 20th, 1941. On a budget of around $900,00, the film made around $1 million. It was not the box office hit the studio wanted, but it faired better at the box office, with praise being placed on the animation, the characters, and Disney’s first musical number sung by Rapunzel. Fortunes looked good for Disney, but soon two events would rock the studio and severely hurt Peter Pan. As for Rapunzel, the first Disney princess, Her film would go on to be considered culturally significant. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The Second Disney film to reach that status after Toy Story.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Five
Peter Pan (1941)

(Maude Adams: The Voice of Peter Pan)​

Peter Pan was a troubled production for the studio. Even from the very start, the studio struggled but pushed on. The very early idea for adapting J.M. Barrie's play came about in 1935, shortly after the release of Finding Nemo. Yet As Disney attempted to gain the rights in 1937, it was soon discovered that Paramount Pictures held the rights. Delaying the Disney film and pushing it back Eventually, the studio would secure the rights to Peter Pan in October 1938, and work soon began in earnest. Everything seemed to be going well; Mary Blair returned for a second time, and Bill Tytla, Norman Ferguson, and Fred Moore were set to work on the film, among other animators. The film was set for a 1940 release, with Rapunzel following.

The Plot was also relatively simple, written by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer. The film would start by telling Peter Pan's backstory before delving into Never Land, with Peter coming to Wendy's house to kidnap her as a mother for the Lost Boys. There was some worry among the studio that this was unnecessary and dark, but following meetings kept the plot in place. Maude Adams came briefly out of retirement to voice Peter Pan after previously portraying the character during a touring production of the play. Everything seemed to be going well for Peter Pan, and it looked set to reach its October release date. The film was nearing completion when disaster struck.

Production on the film was interrupted on May 29, 1941, when much of the Disney animation staff went on strike, including key animators such as Norman Ferguson and Ward Kimball. The strike reflected the staff’s desire to be paid better. Walt Disney responded to the five-week strike by going on vacation to Mexico, leaving his brother to deal with the issues. Blame has been placed on Walt Disney, and some suspect he left so he did not have to deal with the issues. Nevertheless, with Walt gone, the studio signed a contract with the Screen Cartoonists Guild that raised the workers’ wages. Roy O. Disney is credited today as the one who helped bring the strike to a peaceful conclusion. The strike lasted barely a month, but it was enough to delay the production of Peter Pan. It would miss its October release and instead aim for a December 4th, 1941 release.

After the strike, work resumed on Peter Pan at a steady pace, even as tensions remained high. Frank Churchill and Oliver Wallace scored the film, while Ned Washington wrote the lyrics to the songs. It seemed like trouble was over for Peter Pan. The Film met its release date of December 4th, 1941, despite worries that it would miss it. It is speculated that pressure from Disney's distributor, RKO Radio Pictures, kept the film on a steady track after the first delay. The first reviews were somewhat favourable for the film, though some did take issue with the darkness of the plot. Peter Pan seemed to be on track to be another success for the studio.

Then on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japan Attacked Pearl Harbour. Japan announced declarations of war on the United States and the British Empire later that day. On December 11, Germany and Italy each declared war on the U.S., which responded with a declaration of war against Germany and Italy. The Second World War had come to America, and very suddenly fewer people flocked to the theatres, hurting the box office returns of Peter Pan. Yet despite the advent of World War II, Peter Pan was still the most financially successful Disney film of the 1940s. After its release, the film proved to be a financial miracle compared to other Disney films of the decade. Yet the spectre of war still loomed, and it would delay other films in favour of war films used for propaganda. World war II had made its arrival at the studios.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Six: Bolt (1942)

(Disney Artist, Mary Blair)
​

Peter Pan was only the start. World War II was about to affect the studio even more than before. In December 1941, after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour by the Empire of Japan, the United States Army began an occupation of Walt Disney Studios that would last for the next eight months. Not only that, but the studio began producing propaganda films for the U.S. government. With Men Fighting overseas, the animation staff began to shift, forcing the studio to rely more and more on female staff. Mary Blair, Retta Davidson, Retta Scott, Bianca Majolie, Sylvia Holland, and many more women took to helping create animation. And so began the aptly named trilogy of propaganda. Three films’ were centred around World War II; the apprehension of making war films that had hung over the studio since the rescues were replaced, and the studio soon got to work.

The films Disney was producing were shuffled around, and Bolt was the first one brought to the forefront. The Original movie idea was going to be an adventure film with the character seeking a mysterious artefact called the bolt. This plot structure was kept, but in order to fit in with the propaganda angle, the film was reworked to shift the film to include a propaganda angle and add the Japanese as the foes of the film. Busy with other Propaganda shorts, Walt Disney took a back seat with Bolt. Sam Edwards was cast as the main character, a member of the Navy shipwrecked and searching for the bolt. In order to stop the Japanese from getting the bolt first, he teams up with a local (voiced by Ann Gillis) and another survivor (voiced by Will Wright).

The Studio expected a lower box office return because of the war but still pushed ahead to create the best film they could, with many of the new staff learning how to do new things as they went along. Bolt was released to the public on August 21, 1942. Critics praised the film at the time, calling it a grand adventure. Some took issue with the shorter length of the film, though this was in part due to the fact the studio was working on two other films at the same time. Yet, as expected, due to being released during the Second World War, the film did not perform well. Altogether, the film earned around $250 million, which some viewed as good since the studio was cut off from European Markets. Yet time would not fair well on Bolt; today, the film is viewed as both sexist and racist. Due to being at war with Japan at the time and the film serving as propaganda. The Japanese characters are considered walking stereotypes.

Watching Bolt in 2023 is near impossible. The film was never released on DVD and only got one VHS release. Furthermore, it is not on Disney Plus, though the film has appeared on pirating sites. The film has earned some praise for being the beginning of equality of the sexes at the Disney studio, but Modern Disney sees it as a black stain on the studio. Out of the three propaganda films. Bolt is considered the worst.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Seven: Wreck-It Ralph (1942)

(Mel Blanc and Evelyn Venable: The Voices of Ralph and Penelope)
​

Well, it was true that Bolt was a success, its legacy did not last, and today it is virtually impossible to find. The second of the three propaganda films would fare much better and is considered the best of the three. The new staff were not yet truly fatigued from working on the film and the propaganda shorts and had also learned many lessons from working on them. The writers for Toy Story and Finding Nemo also returned well; Mary Blair took charge of the film alongside Ub Iwerks took as Walt was dealing with the birth of his son at the time. Despite throwing their all at the film, the studio knew WW2 would affect the box office, but they pushed on nevertheless.

The Team behind the film wanted to use the propaganda element but also wanted to tell a rich story with deep characters. They also did not want to go back to the Pacific theatre, so they once again shifted their focus to Europe and real-life places. They also wanted to make the film lighter than bolt without ignoring the times they were in, and so the plot for Wreck-It Ralph was formed. In the Film a secret agent named Ralph (voiced by Mel Blanc) with a skill for demolition who’s set on a task to infiltrate Paris and rescue a scientist named Penelope (voiced by Evelyn Venable) all while trying to avoid capture. Along the way, Ralph will team up with Sergeant Tom, a courageous soldier (voiced by Frankie Darro), and Felix, a charming French repairman (voiced by Paul Winchell). As the group faces challenges and dangers in their war-torn surroundings, they learn the true meaning of heroism and discover what being a hero truly means.

There were high hopes that the film would perform decently at the box office, even if they faced lower income due to the Second World War. Wreck-It Ralph was released on August 21, 1942, and to the relief of the studio, the film quickly found praise, with people praising the story and the animation. Well, the highest praise went to Ralph, who undergoes a transformation into a true hero. Some, however, could not shake the feeling that the film was pure propaganda, yet with time that criticism fell aside. Despite the Second World War, the film would quickly become Disney's third-highest-grossing film after Finding Nemo and Toy Story. By 2023, the film was considered a highlight of the silver age of Disney films. The studio had one more propaganda film left to produce and one more film left in the silver age. Though the golden age would soon come, not every film in that era was perfect. Wreck-It Ralph was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress In 2011.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Eight: Victory Through Air Power (1942)

(Walt Disney and Roald Dahl)​

Disney’s Eighth animated film was to be the last propaganda film and the final silver age film. Following This Film, a sequel would drop kick-starting the golden age but before that was Victory Through Air Power. Support for propaganda films was waning well money from propaganda shorts skyrocketed. Leading to Walt and Ub agreeing to shift the propaganda solely into shorts. They had high hopes however that Victory Through Air Power could be a good send-off for this type of film. The studio’s morale was higher after wreck it Ralph was received warmly. They hoped and believed they could pull it off once more.

Victory Through Air Power started life out with another title. The Gremlins. The gremlins were the name of the characters in a story written by Roald Dahl. The Gremlins was published in 1943 shortly before the film with the help of Walt Disney. It is the only product to keep the original name. The name was changed after much discussion in the studio, Victory Through Air Power was chosen as it fit the more Patriotic theme they wanted. Roald Dahl’s work on the film was important for Disney for two reasons. It created a strong friendship and also set Dahl up to one day write one of Disney’s most iconic movies. Despite the name change, the plot remained the same and focused on mischievous mythical creatures sabotaging British aircraft in revenge for the destruction of their forest home.

Gus (voiced by David Niven; who was serving at the time) has his plane destroyed over the English Channel by a gremlin during the Battle of Britain, but is able to convince the gremlins as they parachute into the water that they should join forces against a common enemy, Hitler and the Nazis, rather than fight each other. It seemed that Victory thought Air Power should have been a hit if not at least well-liked. So, what happened to the film that made it flounder?

Some Military Personal were unhappy and boycotted the film which caused a few people to stay away. Many of them were upset by Dahl’s claims that this was his invention. The film also suffered from Fatigue in two ways. Firstly, people wanted entertainment, Walt who was fascinated with war could not fully see it but the appeal of this kind of movie just wore out. People were tired of war films. The second reason was much worse. The Animators pushed themselves harder than they should off to make the film, today we know it as crunch culture (which was banned by President Nader in 2002). They had a tight schedule to release the film in and so tired themselves out with some becoming ill because of the long working hours.

The film was released on July 13th 1943, the studio was expecting a hit but was dismayed when the animation was called sloppy and the characters mediocre compared to wreck it, Ralph. All in all, the film just missed breaking even causing the film to be labelled as a disaster. The tragedy of the film hurt Walt significantly who loved the film dearly. Disney had a nervous breakdown shortly after forcing him to take his family on holiday to Cuba this left Disney’s first sequel in the Hands of Ub Iwerks, Mary Blair and Milt Kahl. Despite its failure, the film has grown a cult following over the years.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Nine: Toy Story 2 (1945)

(Concept Art for Jessie)​

1945, the final year of the war In Europe, allied forces captured Berlin well over in the Pacific President Henry Wallace gave the go-ahead to drop the very first atom bombs on Japan. As the war came to an end, something was not only changing, but something was soon to begin. At the start, the studio stood hard against sequels led by Walt himself, and that rule stuck, but now it was to come undone. No more propaganda films were planned after victory through airpower, yet the plans for Toy Story 2 began all the way back in 1939. The road to production took at least a year as Walt had to be convinced to produce a sequel, but slow work began on Toy Story 2 in 1940. The Studio was ready to take a gamble on a sequel for the first time.

Toy Story 2 would see the same cast return, with Cliff Edwards returning as Woody alongside Charles Judels as Buzz. The other side characters include Micky Roony (Andy), Clarence Nash (Ham), and Aurora Miranda (Bo), among many others. New Cast Members also joined, with Sterling Holloway joining as the prospector and Luana Patten as Jessie. Despite this and the fact that the original team from Toy Story plus Milt Kahl’s involvement The development of Toy Story 2 would be troubled.

After one year of development, in 1941, the story for Toy Story 2 was scrapped and replaced. The new plot picked up where the first one had ended, with Woody, Buzz, and his fellow toys now belonging to a young boy named Andy. One day, while exploring the attic, Woody is accidentally separated from the rest of the toys and discovers a hidden chest filled with old toys from a bygone era. Among the forgotten treasures are Jessie and Bullseye. Woody is instantly captivated by the stories they share about their adventures. However, the joy of the reunion is short-lived when Woody learns that Jessie and Bullseye are destined to be sold to a collector at an antique store, the very store they had saved in the first film. Worried that they'll never know the joy of being played with by children again, Woody makes a daring decision to rescue his newfound friends and bring them back to Andy’s home.

With a new plot established, production continued throughout 1941 and early 1942, with a release set for 1944. Yet a small fire in the studio where Toy Story 2 was being made nearly saw all the footage lost. Luckily, the footage was saved, and Toy Story 2 went ahead, though, to some extent, Toy Story 2 was cursed to crash and burn. By now, Disney was away in Cuba, but he became unhappy with the pace of the work on the film and sent letters to the studio. The film went through further revisions as a 1945 release date was set by RKO Radio Pictures, which was unpleased with all the delays.

The film was finished in time for its 1945 release date; it was the last film released during the Second World War. Fears grew in the studio that the film would be the end of the studio, yet it was quite the opposite. The film’s premiere was held at the El Capitan Theatre, the first film after its renovation that ended in 1944. The results were a shock to the studio. Not only was Toy Story 2 as successful commercially as the first Toy Story film, but it soon surpassed it and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Reviewers judged the film as a sequel that surpassed the original in terms of quality. The film was a hit, and with the money Disney was able to invest in the studio, it would propel it headfirst into its new golden age. Toy Story 2 was not the end of the story for the film series, but as the Second World War came to a close, and Disney looked forward to a new era, Toy story 2 was the end of this chapter of Disney history.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Ten: Dinosaur (1946)

(Bobby Driscoll: A Common Voice Actor in Disney Films)​

Dinosaur was an Important Landmark in the history of Disney animated films. It was the first one released after the end of the Second World War, the second film in the studio’s golden age, and the first to be solely produced by the Dynamic Duo. You see, by 1946, Walt Disney found himself needing new challenges in creativity and turned his eyes towards other projects, such as live-action films, while also raising his four children. Roy Disney was no filmmaker and worked in the company’s growing finance department. This was to have little impact on the animated film, however, as along came Ub Iwerks and Mary Blair. Both had considered leaving Disney during the war years, but both remained. Now they struck up a strong friendship that would translate into film; that friendship got them nicknamed the dynamic duo. Between the Nine Old Men and the dynamic duo, Disney was ready for a new era.

When Dinosaur started production in 1943, the pace at first was slow because of other projects, but as men began to return from war and return to the studio to work alongside the female animators, the speed began to pick up. The clash between women and returning men would cause some issues, but the studio was adamant about not fully returning to the old ways. Because of this, Dinosaur would suffer in quality, but not enough to drop it below some of the films that had come before it.

The Story was written by Bill Peet. Peet had joined Disney in 1937 and worked first on Finding Nemo (1937) near the end of its production. Progressively, his involvement in the Disney studio's animated feature films increased to the point where he was tasked with writing the story for Dinosaur. It was to be his first written script, but it would not be the last, as soon Peet would find himself witting a few of Disney’s golden age hits. The plot follows a young brachiosaurus named Bracky (voiced by Bobby Driscoll) who dreams of exploring beyond the boundaries of his family's nesting ground. Adventure finds the young dino as a devastating natural disaster strikes, causing a massive migration of dinosaurs to safer lands. In the chaos, Bracky becomes separated from his family and finds himself alone in an unfamiliar and perilous world. Determined to reunite with loved ones, Bracky embarks on a thrilling adventure. Along the way, he befriends a crew of diverse and endearing dinosaurs who will join him in his quest to find his family.

Dinosaur had star talent behind it, being the only Disney film to ever star Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby. Dinosaur was released on April 20th, 1946. And earned a bigger box office than most of the previous films, though the effects of the Second World War lingered over the world. Dino Land in Animal Kingdom is based on the movie, and some go as far as to say that Dinosaur left a lasting impact on Dinosaur films. The film left the studio in much higher spirits and allowed it to begin a new level of expansion that would herald the arrival of Disney Land In the 1950s.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Eleven: Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (1946)

(The Film's Title Song)​

Animation was Disney’s bread and butter; it’s what they did, and it’s what they were known for, but Walt wanted to change that. He wanted to expand, and 1946 seemed like the perfect time to do just that. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Studios faced financial difficulties due to a lack of foreign markets for animated films during wartime. They had some successes, like Wreck-It Ralph and Dinosaur, but others were disasters or not very profitable, and even the well-liked films struggled. Walt, Roy, and Ub mulled over what to do before settling on a live-action film to generate additional revenue, as this fell outside of their contract with RKO, it allowed them to lower costs. There was much debate over which story would be picked for Disney’s first film, but after much debate, the studio settled on Davy Crocket, which was to hopefully be a big adventure film even on a lower budget. Beginning in 1939, Disney began developing the first Davy Crocket film, which would gain the title King of the Wild Frontier.

Roy was worried about the film and its budget and became even more worried when Walt turned away from having the screenplay written by the studio animators and instead chose to seek professional writers. Unbeknownst to Roy and the others in the studio, Walt was about to open a can of worms. In a time when the Civil Rights movement had only just begun and only a few weeks after President Wallace Desegregated the federal government, Walt Disney hired African-American performer and writer Clarence Muse to write the script, causing outrage in the South. Accidentally, though, the boycotts in the South got Davy Crocket more attention, and soon King Vidor was onboard to direct the film.

With that, the casting began, something Disney worked closely with Muse and Vidor on. Disney’s growing popularity meant that, unlike the early animated films, bigger names could be cast in their first live-action production. That cast would include the likes of James Stewart as Davy Crocket, Basil Ruysdael as Andrew Jackson, and Veronica Lake as Polly Crocket. The Plot at first was not going to follow history, but after a few talks and a couple of rewrites, it was settled to follow Davy Crockett as he volunteers to fight with General Andrew Jackson and Major Tobias Norton in the Creek War. Disney was hoping the film could do well and put his all into it as he entrusted the animation projects with others. The Studio put less money into the production of the film compared to animated films, but this would allow them to push marketing in hopes the film would be a success.

The film premiered on November 12, 1946, with the premiere being moved to New York after the South continued to boycott the film. The film was a hit, and the money soon rolled in. It was no Dinosaur, but it was enough to be considered a success, with the film eventually earning around $68 million. By today’s standards, the film holds up, though some question its historical accuracy. The film is better known for what It would inspire and what it began. With the construction of Disney Land in the 1950s, the film would be used as a major inspiration for Frontier Land. Davy Crocket’s Runaway Rollercoaster, built-in 1972 in a Frontier Land expansion, was named after the film’s title hero.

Its inspiration for Disneyland, however, was not the only thing it did, as the film was Disney’s first true merchandising campaign. Well, nowadays we see the film as nothing more than a simple adventure flick. Back in 1946, post-war America settled into Davy Crockett mania. The Studio began to sell merchandise around the film, including the famous coonskin caps. Some historians today suggest that the success of both Dinosaur and Crocket would allow the studio to expand and explore new ideas. As the world went mad over merchandise, Disney himself began to formulate an idea that would soon forge a major component of Disney’s Media Empire. Crocket himself was not finished on the big screen, and one day he would make his return, for better or for worse.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Twelve: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1947)

(Concept Art for Snow White)
​

1947 was an important year for the Disney studio as it was the year the two-film method was established. The idea that the two-film method was set in stone very early on is a myth that has persisted but it was not till dinosaur that the idea began to take root. As stated earlier, by now there was the Dynamic Duo of Ub Iwerks and Mary Blair well on the other hand was The Nine Old Men. This helped as Walt delegate more and more tasks to those in the animation department as the studio's Interests expanded, and diversified their scope. The Dynamic Duo would eventually grow to encompass more people and today there are always two separate divisions working on the creation of an animation film. It was this new system that Walt would put to full use for his next feature film.

Walt Disney had not fully focused on an animation feature since Wreck it Ralph, he had only slightly partaken in the production of victory through airpower and after that disaster, he took a holiday in Cuba to recuperate. Now after finishing up work on Davy Crocket, he returned with an idea in mind. To Adapt, the 1812 Brother’s grim tale snow white. The film had been close to being the first Disney animated film but it had not come to pass. Now was the film’s time. Snow White and the seven dwarfs was an important film just like dinosaur before as the studio threw itself into the production.

Firstly, the film was the first to have almost all of the 9 old men work on it. Les Clark worked on the animation alongside Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, and Milt Kahl. Ward Kimball and Woolie Reitherman took on directing well Eric Larson, John Lounsbery and Frank Thomas worked on other aspects of the film. Secondly, the film was the Studio’s first full musical animated film, something it would become one day known FOR. Oliver Wallace and Eliot Daniel took on the job of composing the picture. Finally, the film was known for launching the carers of some iconic 1950s stars as Marilyn Monroe took on the role of Snow White with sixteen-year-old James Dean as prince charming, Judy Garland returned to the studio to play the evil queen.

The Film is most well known however for The Seven Dwarfs, as the team behind the film was insistent on making them all unique, this did delay the film from its 46 release date into 47. The dwarfs' names were chosen from a pool of about fifty potentials, picked by Disney’s children. The NameS that got pulled were Grumpy (voiced by Walt Disney), Bashful (voiced by Pinto Colvig), Lazy (voiced by Clarence Nash), Jumpy (voiced by Edgar Bergen), Happy (voiced by Billy Gilbert), Dopey (voiced by Billy Bletcher) and Gabby (voiced by Sterling Holloway). The effort to make the dwarfs individuals would later affect another Disney film.

The Plot Follows Snow White who charms every creature in the kingdom except one - her jealous stepmother, the Queen. When the Magic Mirror proclaims Snow White the fairest one of all, she must flee into the forest, where she befriends the lovable seven Dwarfs. But when the Queen tricks Snow White with a poisoned comb who falls into a deep sleep, only the magic of true love's kiss can awaken her. Elements of the original plot were kept but the ending was shifted in order not to have the film labelled as too dark.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on September 27th 1947 after a premiere in Los Angels. The film earned instant praise with most of that praise going toward the actors and animation. The music was also praised with some pondering why Disney had not made a musical sooner. The film was not without its critics however with some wondering why the studio chose to tell this tale as there was not enough plot to carry the film. Snow White is remembered fondly by many and was the launching point for actors that would come to dominate the coming decade. Walt himself is known to prefer snow white, and it’s evident that he chose snow white to base the first Disney Park castle and not Rapunzel. Still snow white would soon find itself overshadowed by a sequel, that was going to explore themes nobody ever expected Disney would. A sequel that would divide fans in the years to come.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Thirteen: Wreck-It Ralph and ‎The Awakened (1948)

(Winston Hibler and Ted Sears: The Writers of Wreck it Ralph II)
​

After the success of Toy Story 2, there was a new buzz in the studio and the feeling of looming doom was replaced by a new-found sense of hope. It was true that the world was entering a new stage. The 1948 election would see President Wallace sneak into re-election and, with that, would allow America to form its own National Health Service and seek a decisive blow in Korea against communism. Yet before all that, Disney had turned its eyes to another sequel. There were a few options. Some pondered a second chapter in the Rapunzel series well, while others looked at finding Nemo. Few expected them to choose to wreck-It Ralph, as the war was over, so they found themselves pleasantly surprised when the movie was announced to be in production.

Some were apprehensive about the film, but others were happy. To many, they could not see why the film would not be another success. Mel Blanc and Evelyn Venable both returned to voice the titular characters, with Paul Winchell and Frankie Darro also returning. Yet the people who wrote the first film were currently working on Snow White, so the studio turned instead to Winston Hibler and Ted Sears to write the film. The plot followed the characters after the Second World War who re-unite once more in order to set out on a mission to thwart the designs of a cult that seeks to bring back the dinosaurs to America. The Shift to America in the latter half of the film was made to show the differences between post-war Europe and America. the film also dabbled into the effects of PTSD and loss. Hopes for the film were high and at the time those hopes were not misguided.

The film was a commercial success at the time of its release. It did surpass the first one, but many point out this was due to different circumstances. It did fail to unseat toy story 2, however, though the studio wasn’t upset about that. At the time, reviews praised the film but raised questions about the darkness of the film and if it was at all necessary to tell a second part of the story. It was these questions that would impact the film’s legacy as time went by. A decision formed as some people saw the film as a good if not sometimes misguided attempt. Well, others rallied hard against the film as an unnecessary sequel. Little is known about Walt’s thoughts on the film, but Ub Iwerks was known to be unhappy with the sequel.

Today, the film is considered a mediocre entry in the studio’s golden era, even if the film has gained a lot of support. Wreck it Ralph was finished on the big screen though his story was not yet finished. Come 1961, he would get his own show in Disneyland. Well, in 1991, he debuted on television. Despite being a success, wreck it Ralph II was going to be overshadowed. Not only were films looming, they would hit it outside the park. Roald Dahl’s return was looming and so was the final in what is considered Disney’s best trilogy. Before that film, however, Disney was about to get creative with its next films. It was true Disney was about to start a winning streak with the next few animated films. The Peak of the golden era.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Fourteen: Bambi (1948)

(Bambi Concept Art)
​

Well, the Dynamic duo worked on the second wreck Ralph film. Walt himself needed a challenge. He wanted to do something different, something they had never done before. Inspiration often comes from the oddest of places and when Walt and his family visited a local zoo, he was struck by how enamoured his son was with the animals and thus an idea began to form. The studio already had the perfect book to adapt into a film as Disney had gained the rights to Bambi in 1937 after Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer failed to adapt the book into a live-action film. Some in the studio voiced their apprehension about having no human characters, but those worries only existed among a few people.

It is to be noted that the original novel was written for an adult audience. Disney was conflicted. He had got the idea of making an animal film for his children and knew many saw animated films only for children. After much discussion, it was decided not to change the novel. The studio was going to attempt to craft an animated film for adults in a bid to change the perception of films. It was a gamble, but being on more solid ground after the success of Dinosaur allowed them to take risks. writer and animator Mel Shaw was set on the task of adapting the book into a story.

The Film Continued Disney’s trend of well-known people taking part in the film, as after much discussion Laurel and Hardy were cast as a comic duo of a squirrel and a chipmunk. The decision was also made to keep the film in Europe after a debate on bringing the plot to America. In order to make sure the animals were realistic, the team visited the Los Angeles Zoo. Another more important thing that happened was Disney setting up a small zoo in the studio with animals such as rabbits, ducks, owls, and skunks. After filming was done, Disney kept the animals in this studio and visitors would begin to visit them. This, to some, was the very first iteration of what would one day become the Disney parks.

The Studio Released Bambi on November 29th 1948 and backlash soon followed. Parents rallied against the film for being too dark. With many taking aim at the scene where Bambi's mother dies after jumping over a log and getting shot by a man. Yet despite this, the film was still a hit and would go on to win an Oscar. The gamble of aiming the film at an older audience was a success, but families still voiced their outrage. Bambi would one day become an important foundation for Animal Kingdom, but for now, the film was about to have a larger impact. With the outcry still growing, in 1949 the heads of the major studios met. The death of the Hays Code had arrived as the studios agreed to formulate a film rating system in order to avoid angry parents and others who may complain about the content of the film. Bambi was a success, but it's now overshadowed by its part in the formation of the rating system which still stands strong today.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Fifteen: The Reluctant Dragon (1949)

(William Edward Phipps: The Voice of Billy)​

Some films are beloved, some are hated, and some become so bad they are good. Well, others are just okay. That was the case with the reluctant dragon. The film followed a young boy named Billy (voiced by William Edward Phipps), who discovers a hidden secret in his village. One day, while exploring the countryside, he stumbles upon a hidden cave that leads him to a realm inhabited by dragons, fairies, and other fantastical creatures. At the heart of this hidden world is a peaceful and kind-hearted dragon named Desmond (voiced by Robert Benchley). Desmond has no interest in terrorizing villages. Instead, he spends his days reading poetry, painting, and playing soothing melodies on his flute. When Billy discovers Desmond's true nature, he is overjoyed to have found a friend who shares his love for creativity and imagination. The existence of the dragon and his friends is threatened when news of a ferocious dragon spreads throughout the village. With Billy's determination and Desmond's peaceful nature, they must find a way to bridge the gap between the human world and the realm of magic. They embark on a mission to bring understanding and harmony between the villagers and the magical creatures they have come to know and love.

To the Studio, the reluctant dragon stood out as a film they were proud of. By now the animators had settled into a pattern, the worries of the Second War slowly fading away. Men worked alongside women, setting a new precedent for Hollywood and animation studios. The film was also a success at the box office, with critics calling the film a charming adventure. This is the reputation the film holds today. It’s a charming if not forgettable adventure film for families who need to waste some time. The question that persists today is, why did the film not do better? It had elements other films had, it had decent animation and a good voice cast. The answer to that question is to look at events that happened around the same time.

Before the reluctant dragon was Bambi, a film that caused uproar for its darker nature, a film that would go on to be the main catalyst for the foundation of the motion picture code. The film is remembered much more fondly today and is often picked as a highlight by some in this early golden age. 1949 was also a busy news year which overshadowed a few Hollywood films. President Wallace was sworn in as president for a full term, the Korean War continued and Walt Disney announced the creation of Disney Land. The film was missing from many major news reports which hurt it, but the film that came after would hurt it even more. 1950 would be the year Walt Disney sought revenge, a movie which would accidentally or on purpose shift Disney firmly onto the side of civil rights. As plans for Disneyland got drawn up and a film that was going to send shockwaves through Hollywood, the reluctant dragon was slowly forgotten. Today it has a dedicated, loyal fanbase, but nobody is ever going to call this film. The greatest of the golden era

 

[The British President]

Chapter Sixteen: So Dear to My Heart (1950)

(Voice of Romeo James Edwards alongside Ilene Woods, the voice of Juillet )
​

It’s true Walt was unhappy after the Southern boycott of Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, though many overstate his anger. Despite some overstating his anger, unbeknownst to those around him, Walt was seeking revenge. Nobody in the studio quite knew how far Walt was going to go with his plan to get revenge on the South, but they would soon learn. Well, the other team worked on the ending to a beloved trilogy. Walt and his team turned to what would become their first release of the 1950s. The film should have been a simple affair, as the studio once again turned to existing material for adaption. This time they turned their gaze specifically towards Shakespeare and, after a debate between Hamlet and Romo and Juliet, the studio landed on the latter. Walt found himself occupied with the construction of Disneyland and still took the time to work on the film.

Romeo and Juliet should have been a simple adaptation from the studio, by now they had found a rhythm, a way of doing things that worked. Yet some speculate they should have seen Walt’s grand plan coming after he helped Jerry Voorhis defeat Richard Nixon during California's 12th congressional district election in 1946. The first change was a small one. Romeo and Juliet was chosen not to be the film’s title, with the studio instead of the option to adopt the name so dear to my heart, and so production began and soon it became apparent what was going on.

Walt once again hired African-American performer and writer Clarence Muse to write the script, again causing outrage in the South, but this time it was just the start. The setting was shifted from Europe to the Southern State of Georgia. And to the horror and shock of some in the studio, Romeo’s family were made into African Americans. This information was kept secret as casting began. James Edwards was cast as Romeo alongside Ilene Woods as Juillet. Luis van Rooten joined as Friar Lawrence with Harry Belafonte as Mercutio, Verna Felton as The Nurse, Bobby Driscoll as Tybalt, James Dean as Benvolio, Hans Conried as Capulet, Heather Angel as Lady Capulet, Hattie McDaniel as Lady Montague and James Baskett as Montague.

Despite knowing what was likely going to happen, the studio pushed on, dedicated not to making a movie that would break boundaries but to make a movie that would make money and also meet the standards they had come to set themselves. Nevertheless, when the South found out about the film, uproar ensued to the point that a burning cross was left outside the home of James Edwards. Still, Walt and the nine old men pushed on with Walt overworking himself once more as he also pushed on with the construction of Disneyland. The South outright refused to show the film and began to remove other Disney movies from circulation.

Yet once again, the outrage had a different effect when the film was released on March 4, 1950. African Americans turned out in droves to see the film, as did Northerners who opposed Southern segregation. Not only that, but the European market was slowly starting to open, allowing the film to fully make use of overseas cinemas again. The film was Disney's greatest box office success since Dinosaur and, despite some complaints about the animation, the film was reviewed quite well. Yet this is nothing compared to the impact the film had.

The film, despite being an animation, was the first to show an interracial kiss on the big screen and the first interracial couple on the big screen. It was a monumental moment for the growing civil rights movement though Walt insisted he never did it for them. Despite this, today the film is highly viewed as a standout film in the studio’s golden era. It was also the beginning of the end, as this was the second to last movie that all 9 old men would work on. Yet abuzz was around the studio, Disneyland was about to open its doors for the very first time.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Seventeen: Westward Ho the Wagons (1950)

(The Film's Title Card)​

Not every film can have a lasting impact, nor be the greatest. They can still be enjoyed and be well-liked, however. That was the case for Disney’s second live-action film, Westward of the Wagons. The second live-action film was made without Walt’s involvement due to his commitment to building Disneyland. Unsure of what to do, the team behind the film turned once again to the books in order to find something to adapt. Speculation arises that they did this in order to try to replicate the success of Davy Crocket, unsure of how to move forward. In the end, after much searching, the team (which consisted of producer Bill Walsh and director William Beaudine) settled on adapting Children of the Covered Wagon: A Story of the Old Oregon Trail. They chose to change the name to Westward Ho the Wagons.

The story is set in 1844 and follows seven-year-old orphaned Jerry (played by Tommy Kirk) who is out on the prairie. He has left his home to travel on a covered wagon train captained by his uncle Jim Stephen (played by Patrick Troughton). Also along are his Aunt Beth (played by Gertrude Astor), his eleven-year-old cousin Jim (played by George Disney) and many others. They are all heading over the Oregon Trail toward the Willamette Valley of Oregon. However, with hostile Indians all around, quicksand in the river fords, sudden storms, the threat of buffalo stampedes, and alkali deserts, will they make it?

The film today is classed as one of the forgotten Disney live-action films. Well, animation had its golden age. The live-action films never pushed boundaries, but, never the less still, did well enough to felicitate more being made. Attempts to copy the feel of Davy Crocket failed in part due to the fact the film just didn't have iconic characters like Crocket or Jackson. Despite being the debut of Walt’s Son, one critic summed up the film the best. Walt Disney's latest western adventure contains neither the excitement, the good humour nor the high spirits of his Davy Crockett film.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Eighteen: Disneyland (1951)

(Walt Disney on Opening Day, 1951)
​

Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1951, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company as the company underwent expansion into other media. It was the only park built when Disney was still under contract with RKO Pictures. Disney had initially envisioned building a tourist attraction near to the studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit, but the hostility of Burbank city officials toward the studio project and the size saw that idea quickly canned. The Stanford Research Institute was hired after this announcement to perform a study to find an area for Disneyland. This happened in 1949. They selected a 160-acre site near Anaheim. Disney formed WED Enterprises in order to pick internal and outside talent to help build Disney land. Harriet Burns became the right hand to Walt and would go on to become the first head imaginer. Construction began in 1940 and the park was unveiled during a special televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17, 1951. The Resort has 3 hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Resort Hotel. Disneyland today is vital for the local economy as the park supports around 74,700 jobs, including about 20,000 direct Disney employees and 3,800 third-party employees.

Disneyland Park consists of nine themed lands and a number of concealed backstage areas. The park opened with Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, and has since added New Orleans Square in 1966, Time Traveler's Alley in 1972, and Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Wild West Junction in 2019.

Main Street, U.S.A: Main Street, U.S.A. is patterned after a typical Midwest town of the early 20th century, and took a lot of inspiration from Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline in Missouri. The street has a train station, town square, movie theatre, city hall, firehouse, shops, arcades, a double-decker bus, a horse-drawn streetcar and a barber shop. Main Street is also home to the Disney Art Gallery, the firework watch pavilion and the Opera House, which showcases Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. At the far end of Main Street, U.S.A. is Snow White Castle and the Central Plaza, which is a portal to most of the themed lands.

Adventureland: Disneyland's Adventureland is based on Walt's famous award-winning nature documentaries on Africa and Asia. However, the plan to have real animals was swapped for mechanical animals. The Land is home to the Jungle Cruise, which is partly based on Disney's award-winning nature documentaries. It is also home to the Swiss Family Treehouse, a version of Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Indiana Jones and the Lost Expedition rollercoaster.

Frontierland: Frontierland is based on the first Davy Crocket film. The land contains few attractions, instead focusing on open expanses of wilderness which guests travel through by stagecoach, pack mules, Conestoga wagon, and walking trails. Crocket’s Runaway Rollercoaster was built in 1972 in a Frontier Land expansion alongside Geyser Mountain and two new shows: Country Bear Jamboree and Woody's Roundup.

Fantasyland: Fantasyland is styled in a medieval European fairground fashion. Fantasyland features the Snow-White Castle at its main entrance and a central courtyard dominated by King Arthur Carrousel. Attractions include Journey into Toy Story, Wreck-It Ralph Train Ride, Gremlin Flyers, It's a Small World, The Enchanted Snow Palace, Bambi’s Scary Adventures, Peter Pan's Flight, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Duck Bumps, Cinderella’s Enchanted Carriage Ride and Lilian’s Garden.

Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished out of all the original themed lands. Walt won out and the idea of making it some kind of a corporate showcase was scrapped. Tomorrowland has undergone major renovations, once in 1985, again in 2000 and more recently in 2015. Arthur Disney, the Grandson of Walt Disney, has stated the company has a mission to keep tomorrow's land relevant and fresh. Attractions include Astro Orbiter, Carousel of Progress, Space Explorers Academy, Mission to Mars, Space Mountain and Galactic Star Cruiser.

New Orleans Square: New Orleans Square is based on 19th-century New Orleans. The land is exclusive to Disneyland. It was the first major expansion to be made at Disneyland. It is the smallest of the areas but includes key attractions such as The Haunted Mansion, The Museum of the Weird, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pirates Arcade Museum and the Disney Gallery.

Time Traveler's Alley: Time Traveler's Alley is Disney’s attempt at an immersive themed land at Disneyland that allows guests to journey through different eras in history and experience the thrill of time travel. It was built next to Tomorrowland. The Land is themed to be reminiscent of a European market square from various historical periods which includes Cobbled streets. The Land was given a makeover in 2007. Attractions include Chrono Coaster, Era Adventures: Time Odyssey, Temporal Treasures, Time Troupe Performances, Chronicle Cinema and Chronicle Plaza.

Mickey's Toontown: Mickey's Toontown is inspired by Mouseton from the Disney comics published by D.C Comics. The land is the hometown of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, and others. There are several attractions which include the houses of the characters, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Mickey's PhilharMagic Concert, Jolly Trolley, Fireworks Factory and Chip 'n Dale's Acorn Crawl.

Wild West Junction: Wild West Junction is the most recent addition to the park, opening in 2019. The Land invites visitors to step into a bygone era and is themed to recreate the ambience of a frontier town in its heyday. Visitors are surrounded by weathered wooden buildings and dusty streets. Attractions include Prospector's Gold Rush Coaster, Frontier Fort Adventure, Saddle Up Saloon Spectacular, Stagecoach Expedition, Wild West Wonders and Wild West Train Heist.

 

[The British President]

Chapter Nineteen: Toy Story 3 (1951)

(Concept Drawing for Matilda and her henchman)
​

In history, there are very few film trilogies which have a strong start, middle and end. Some would say, including Back to the Future and The Lord of The Rings hit the mark and so does Star Wars, yet none of them was the first to do it. That trilogy would be a toy story, a series which began with Disney’s second-ever animated film. Now 11 years on from Toy Story One, the crew gathered again. The original cast returned alongside the crew with the understanding this was to be the final chapter in the film's story, yet this film would be different for one very simple reason. Walt turned to an old friend to help write the script, wanting his input on the plot, as Walt was far too busy with other projects. So, Roald Dahl joined the project. Dahl would also go on to adapt the plot of the first two films into books.

Toy Story 3 (also known as Toy Story: Timeless Bonds in some markets) follows the toys as they enter the 1950s. As Andy prepares to leave for boot camp, they find themselves once again at a crossroads. In this new era, Woody and the gang navigate the shifting dynamics of their toy community. The rise of new forms of entertainment forces toys to face the uncertainty of their place in children's lives. Andy decides to donate his toys to Sunnyside Elementary School, while Woody and Buzz grapple with their own sense of purpose and belonging. It is here they find what seems to be an idyllic environment under the rule of a charismatic, yet strict, doll named Matilda (voiced by Heather Angel).

The toys soon uncover the darker side of Sunnyside, as Matilda's leadership has become more authoritarian and oppressive. Woody, Buzz, and their new friends must rally the toys from different eras to escape the control of Matilda and restore a sense of unity among the toys. The climactic adventure leads the toys through daring escape plans and heartwarming reunions, and as they navigate the challenges of an ever-changing world. In a poignant conclusion, Woody, Buzz, and their friends return to Andy's home, embracing their unique places in his heart and the memories they've created together.

The film upon release was praised for being a heartwarming tribute to the enduring power of friendship and moving on. Dhal was praised for the story. The animation was reported as being the crispest yet. The film would quickly steal the title of the highest-growing animated film, a title it would keep for decades to come. Disney was most happy with the film, reportedly calling it his favourite in a speech from Florida. Yet the film was more than just an ending to the trilogy. It was the final picture released by RKO Pictures. This may not seem like a big thing, but it was a sign that Disney was growing, confidence expanding. The Disney Media Empire was starting to lay its roots.