Character of the Month

Some of the most loveable characters developed by Walt Disney are those cuddly bears who sing in the popular attraction “Country Bear Jamboree” at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland.  But the bears did not start out for that attraction in the beginning. At the time in the mid ‘60s Walt Was developing a...
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With Disney’s new movie, “Oz, The Great and Powerful” set to hit the silver screen, I cannot think of a better subject to talk about than the author of these iconic tales of the “Magical land of Oz” For many people who were weaned on the 1939   MGM classic “The Wizard of Oz” starring...
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On January 21st, 1961 the Walt Disney Company released its seventeenth animated feature, “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”. The story was taken from a 1956 book by English playwright and novelist Dodie Smith. As with many of the films taken from stories and fairy tales, the Disney version is slightly changed. Even the title...
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This famous story of a chicken who believes the sky is falling because of being hit on the head by an acorn is re-told by Disney’s 46th animated feature film entitled “Chicken Little” What makes this feature unique is that it is the first CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) film that Disney produced without Pixar....
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All great yarns have three basic ingredients…Storyline, Protagonist and Villain. The melding of these makes for a great read and the better developed, the better the tale. Walt Disney, perhaps one of history’s greatest storytellers knew this better than most. His stable of heroes and villains are legendary and combined with that remarkable Disney...
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Of all the characters, Artisans, and friends that Walt Disney had amassed over his long, successful career, none was more important than his own brother, Roy O. Disney. The bond these two men developed over their lifetimes helped shaped the Disney Empire and even their own personal lives. Roy Oliver Disney was the third...
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Stitch, whose real name is Genetic Experiment 626, is that ferocious, troublemaking alien that evil genius Dr. Jumba Jookiba created out of the genes of the galaxy’s strongest and most fearsome creatures. Dr. Jookiba is known for his evil genetic experiments and he created Experiment 626 to cause chaos and trouble across the galaxy....
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Bambi is the fifth animated cartoon feature Disney produced and was released to theaters on August 13th, 1942. This poignant tale of a young fawn coming of age is universally considered as one of Walt Disney’s most charming films. The feature was taken from the 1923 book “Bambi, A Life in the Woods” by...
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been 57 years since the debut of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club. On October 3rd, 1955 this children’s variety show ushered millions of kids into the world of Walt Disney, including myself. It was a staple on our TV and I’m not ashamed to say I was there...
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Walt Disney has left us with some of the world’s most beloved characters. We all know Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all, but next to Mickey, one of the most beloved and recognized is Tinker Bell. Tink, as she is sometimes called, has become the symbol of “Disney Magic” ever since her...
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For those not in the know, William “Sully” Sullivan began his tenure with Disney on July 27th, 1955. At the time he was employed by Northrop Aircraft Corporation, but after viewing the historic opening day ceremonies of Disneyland’s official opening on Sunday, July 17th, he was hooked. After applying for a job the following...
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For all Disney fans who love the classic attraction “It’s a small World” and many of the beautiful murals and artwork seen around the parks, you can thank gifted artist Mary Blair.  Mary was credited with introducing the Modern and the “Cartoon Modern” style art forms to Walt Disney and the studios. The Cartoon...
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We all love those Disney Souvenirs. No matter where you look, you’ll find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and every other character everywhere in the parks. In addition, there are treasures from Disney animated and live action movies and all items in between. Any article with the Disney moniker is fair game. And they are not...
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  Everyone knows Donald’s three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, and to a lesser extent, girlfriend Daisy’s nieces April, May and June (1st appearance in the Donald comic book story, “Flip Decision” 1953) and many know Minnie’s nieces (Although she has an inconsistent list of nieces, but it is definitely known she has two)...
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Everyone knows the Muppets. This group of fuzzy, goggle-eyed puppets has been delighting audiences worldwide since even before the debut of the Muppet show in 1976.  The Muppets were “born” when Jim and his future wife Jane Nebel created a five minute puppet show on a Washington TV station called “Sam and Friends” Famous...
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Walt Disney was noted for his many quotes; one famous line he quipped… “We allow no geniuses around our Studio.” Walt himself was one of the 20th century’s greatest; his many talents included voice actor, entertainer, film producer, director, animator and most important, visionary.  Many of the hundreds of talented artists, story men and...
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Although not a cartoon character, no one could mention any Disney character, especially Mickey Mouse without evoking the name of Ubbe Iwwerks. This life-long friend of Walt Disney’s, a brilliant animator and inventor was perhaps the most important person in the beginning of the fledging Walt Disney Studios with the exception of Walt’s brother...
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Despite the enormous success of the Mickey Mouse shorts, Walt Disney, who always seemed to know when to strike when the iron was hot realized that his famous Mouse was only just filler or an opening act for the main feature in the movies. He knew if his company was to stay a leader...
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Clarabelle Cow was another of the many barnyard animals that appeared in the early Mickey Mouse shorts that ended up as a regular supporting character during the golden age of the Mickey cartoons. A cow that looked remarkably like Clarabelle Cow appeared in one of Walt’s “Alice Comedies” called “Alice on the Farm”. This...
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Walt Disney had over his lifetime some of the best artistic talent this world had to offer under his studio roof. Artists, Animators, Songwriters, Story men and every other skill imaginable were at his disposal. The core of his army was what he laughingly called his “Nine Old Men” (A reference to the 1937...
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The Cheshire Cat is one of many iconic characters depicted in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that have become enmeshed in popular culture, appearing in various forms of media, from political cartoons to television. One of its distinguishing features is that from time to time it disappears, the last thing to be seen being its grin. Alice first encounters...
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Quick, can you name your favorite Disney Character? I know that without a doubt and hesitation, mine is Mickey Mouse. This original, classic character started it all, and put the Disney Studios on the map. Mickey was followed up by some of the worlds most beloved and iconic cartoon characters ever to come from...
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Walt Disney was perhaps the world’s greatest visionary and dreamer. He had the uncanny knack for knowing what the people would like and not. These qualities made him the world’s most successful businessman, showman and storyteller.  He knew the value of hiring the most talented craftsman and artisan’s money could buy. It was these...
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Over Walt Disney’s long and storied career, he has left the World more memorable characters, both cartoon and human that any other artist. Mickey Mouse, his most famous is what launched his company into stardom. But in addition to those lovable cartoon folks, there are also hundreds of artists and performers just as famous....
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Bert Walt Disney has given the world some of the most memorable characters, both animated and real life. From “Alice” from the Alice comedies, Peg Leg Pete, Horace Horse Collar and of course, Mickey Mouse to Captain Nemo, Zorro and many more, the list is almost endless. I decided to choose a “Live Action”...
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