Founded in 1923 by Walt Disney, it started out as a modest and unpromising studio for animated shorts. Today it is the second largest telecommunications business in the world. And Disney movies are the favorite of the public in all latitudes.
Mickey Mouse's house has stood out for its "Animated Classics”. But film production encompasses other genres, some not so commercial, such as documentary film.
With the acquisition in recent years by Marvel and Lucas Films, when talking about Disney films, we must now include titles such as The Avengers, Iron Man o Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Disney animated classics
True to its origins, the heirs of the great Walt Disney continued for a long time the tradition of producing great animated films. Although technological advances have almost completely displaced traditional animation, motion drawings remain one of the highlights of the Los Angeles-based company.
The "Disney Animated Classics" are many. Here are some of the highlights.
Blancanieves y los siete enanitos (1937)
The first feature film released by the studio would change the history of cinema forever. His production was surrounded by skepticism. In Hollywood, many saw Walt Disney as a hardened dreamer, but without much of a future in the industry.
Frozen the ice kingdom (2013)
With computer animation fully installed, Disney did not hesitate to adapt to the new times, without giving up the classic spirit.
Es highest grossing animated film ever, with more than 1.276 million raised worldwide.
Rumors about a possible sequel They are insistent, although for the moment no one in the company has spoken out confirming or ruling out this possibility.
The Lion King (1994)
Emblem film of the period known as The Disney Renaissance, which began in 1989 with The Little Mermaid and whose closing point marks it Tarzan in 1999.
In addition to sweeping the box office worldwide, it received the almost unanimous approval of the specialized critics.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
At the time of its premiere, it was a resounding box office failure that almost dragged the company into bankruptcy. The critics of the time did not support it either, classifying it as a slow and boring experience.
Over the years, it has become a cult work. Some say that it is the best animated film of the study.
Beauty and the beast (1991)
First animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Scripted by Linda Woolverton, a specialist in adopting classic stories to the big screen, it became a long-standing role model in animated films.
Other animated Disney movies that deserve mention are: Fantasía (1940) Dumbo (1941), The Cinderella (1950) Alice in Wonderland (1951) Aladdin (1992) Tangled (2010) and Zootrópolis (2016)
Disney movies in the Pixar era
Founded by Steve Jobs during the period he was laid off from Apple, Pixar changed the way audiovisual animation is worked. Since 1995, with very few exceptions, the stories of this Disney affiliate have been enthusiastically received by both the public and critics.
Toy Story (1995)
The film directed by John Lasseter is an important point in the history of cinema, at the same level of Blancanieves y los siete enanitos.
Beardless Andrew Staton (Finding Nemo) and Joss Whedon (The Avengers) co-wrote this original story, which tells the adventures of the cowboy Woody and his space friend Buzz Lightyear.
Up (2009)
Directed by Peter Docter, is one of the highest points in terms of graphics design of all Disney films. It is also the first Pixar production to be shown in 3D.
Second animated film in history to compete in the Best Picture category at the Oscars.
I (2015)
Another film directed by Peter Docter. It presents one of the most original cinematic stories of the last decade: a journey through the human mind, through emotions, fears, memories and values.
For the BBC, it is one of the 100 best films of the XNUMXst century
Other films produced by Pixar Animation Studios that deserve mention are: Monsters, Inc. (2001) Finding Nemo (2003) The Incredibles (2004) and Wall-E (2008)
Remakes of “Animated Classics” in real action
Disney movies, like most movies made in Hollywood, have been accused on several occasions for their lack of original arguments.
Shamelessly, the studio leaders found in the “live action” remakes of old animated classics, a new niche from which to get a lot of money.
101 Dalmatians: More alive than ever! (1996), was the first successful experiment. Although it would be from 2010, with the premiere of the version of Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton, that this practice would become habitual.
Other titles within this stream include Maleficent (2014) and Beauty and the beast (2017)
Marvel and Lucas Films: the new crown jewels
That Disney has acquired the legendary Marvel comics house changed the rules of the game within the superhero universes. Now Iron Man or Captain America dispute the popularity of Superman and Batman, while the films of this new subgenre do not stop making money.
Moreover, the acquisition of Lucas Films by the conglomerate, allowed not only the restart of The Wars. Apparently the stories around the force will never end.
Other films under the Disney label
Mary Poppins (1965)
The most popular nanny in Hollywood came to the cinema with Robert Stevenson, starring Julie Andrews.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Based on the Disneyland ride, the theme parks owned by the Disney empire. It is one of the company's most popular film franchises. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Johnny Depp, the film has been continued in four more installments.
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick, based on characters created by Tim Burton. Another film that turned out a public failure at the time of its premiere, but turned into a cult film over the years.
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