Walt Disney Pictures
 | |
| Type | Division of Walt Disney Studios |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 1950 |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, United States |
| Products | Motion pictures |
| Parent |
The Walt Disney Studios (The Walt Disney Company) |
| Website | disneypictures.com |
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and division of The Walt Disney Studios, owned by The Walt Disney Company. The division is based at the Walt Disney Studios and is the main producer of live-action feature films within the The Walt Disney Studios unit. It took on its current name in 1983. Today, in conjunction with the other units of The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Pictures is classified as one of Hollywood's "Big Six" film studios.[1][2] Nearly all of Walt Disney Pictures' releases are distributed theatrically by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, through home media platforms via Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and through television syndication by Disney–ABC Domestic Television.
Background
The studio's predecessor (and the modern-day The Walt Disney Company's as a whole) was originally founded as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, by filmmaker Walt Disney and his business partner and brother, Roy, in 1923.
The creation of Mickey Mouse and subsequent short films and merchandise generated revenue for the studio which was renamed as The Walt Disney Studio at the Hyperion Studio in 1926. In 1929, it was renamed once again to Walt Disney Productions. The studio's streak of success continued in the 1930s, culminating with the 1937 release of the first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which became a huge financial success.[3] With the profits from Snow White, Walt relocated to a third studio in Burbank, California.[4]
The company divided motion picture productions within the studio as two units; one for animation and another for live-action. The latter division began producing live-action films in 1950 with the release of Treasure Island. By 1953, the company ended their agreements with such third-party distributors as RKO Radio Pictures and United Artists and formed their own distribution company; Buena Vista Distribution. In 1986, Walt Disney Productions was renamed The Walt Disney Company, while the live-action film studio was renamed Walt Disney Pictures in 1983 and the film animation studio initially Walt Disney Feature Animation, then eventually its current name Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Notable films
Some well-known Disney releases include the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tron, National Treasure, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Princess Diaries, and Alice in Wonderland.
Animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and Up were also released by Walt Disney Pictures.
Related units
Walt Disney Television
Disney's former television production division that produced television programs from 1983 to 2003.
See also
- Parent company, The Walt Disney Studios
- Touchstone Pictures
- Hollywood Pictures
References
- ↑ Schatz, Tom. "The Studio System and Conglomerate Hollywood". Blackwell Publishing. "Disney also exploited new technologies and delivery systems, creating synergies that were altogether unique among the studios, and that finally enabled the perpetual “mini-major” to ascend to major studio status."
- ↑ Finler (2003), The Hollywood Story pp. 324–25.
- ↑ Features | D23.com. D23.disney.go.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-29.
- ↑ Schroeder, Russel (1996). Walt Disney: His Life in Pictures. New York: Disney Press.
External links
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