The Walt Disney Company

Background
Originally established in 1923 by Walter Elias "Walt" Disney, "Walt Disney Productions" (renamed "The Walt Disney Company" in 1986) produced its first animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, the film was a hit and was followed up by more films including Pinocchio, Bambi and the experimental symphony film Fantasia. During the second world war, Disney's main focus shifted to production of military films and as such, production of animated features all but stopped. During this time, Disney put out "compilation films". That is, films consisting of a number of shorts put together, such as The Three Caballeros and Saludos Amigos. Around the same time, Disney began producing live-action films, with its first live action foray being the highly controversial animation hybrid Song of the South. an all-live action adaption of Treasure Island would follow by the end of the decade. By the end of the 1940s, Disney was also producing the True Life series of nature films.

In 1950, Disney returned to the animated films that made them successful with the release of Cinderella. This was followed in quick succession by Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Peter Pan (1953). The latter film would be the last Disney film to be distributed by RKO as in 1953, Disney established its own distribution arm, Buena Vista Distribution, named after the road on which the studio was situated.

When Walt Disney passed away in December 1966, his brother took over the studio and oversaw the release of films such as The Jungle Book, The Happiest Millionaire and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Roy died from a stroke in 1971, shortly after the opening of Walt Disney World. Walt's son in law Ron Miller began running the studio with the help of Walt and Roy's associates Card Walker and Donn Tatum. This era of leadership at Disney is widely associated with a series of ambitious live action flops such as The Black Hole and Tron, though most of these films have since gained a cult following. Despite Disney's live action struggles, the animation unit continued to have success with films such as Robin Hood. During his tenure, Miller established Touchstone Pictures and rebranded the feature film division as "Walt Disney Pictures", while Buena Vista was rebranded to "Buena Vista Pictures Distribution" with its opening card being dropped in favor of an in-credit text.

In 1986, the animation unit was split off, becoming Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Productions was renamed "The Walt Disney Company".

1st Logo (December 21, 1937-June 21, 1985)
1937-1968=

Nicknames: "Pre Walt Disney Castle", "In Credit Disney"

Logo: At the start of the film, we see the words "Walt Disney Presents" or "Walt Disney Productions Presents". At the end of the film, we see "The End, A Walt Disney Production" or "The End, Walt Disney Productions". While originally an in-credit text, on some films starting in 1948, "Walt Disney" is in the 1948 signature script (as seen later on The Wonderful World of Disney as well as the first Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo).

Variants:


 * On Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (the first film to use this logo), the text reads "A Walt Disney FEATURE Production". The end title has the RKO Radio Pictures logo in the background with the words "A WALT DISNEY FEATURE Production IN TECHNICOLOR". Until 2009, post-RKO reissue prints used the usual "The End, A Walt Disney Production" notice.
 * From 1982 to 1985, the studio's theatrical product under the Disney name (except for the two shorts released in 1983, Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, and Mickey's Christmas Carol) had simply "Walt Disney Productions" at the end of the credits. The text "the end" is omitted, as the practice of using these two words at the closing of films had pretty much ceased by now.
 * On Popeye and Dragonslayer, the text reads as "Paramount Pictures Corporation and Walt Disney Productions present", as both films were distributed in America by Paramount and internationally by Disney.
 * In some films, the movie's title is seen on the end title. Some examples include Make Mine Music, Fun & Fancy Free, Melody Time, and Treasure Island.
 * On Treasure Island and One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing, notices for filming locations are added.
 * Sometimes, only "The End" is seen. Some examples are The Three Caballeros and Make Mine Music.
 * Song of the South does not have the "A Walt Disney Production" text at the end title.
 * Even after Walt Disney's death in 1966, "A Walt Disney Production" continued to be used until 1970 (the last to use it was The Aristocats). Strangely, it was seen on One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing, Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (the last two of which were technically in production while Walt Disney was still alive, as he originally envisioned the first three featurettes as a feature-length film).
 * "The End" was absent on Dad, Can I Borrow the Car?.
 * The original German and Swedish prints of The Rescuers (as seen on VHS releases) lacks the "The End" text of the closing title card.
 * Some films, like The Reluctant Dragon, Dumbo and Saludos Amigos have the end title containing "Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.".
 * For The Jungle Book ' s 1997 restoration for the 30th Anniversary Edition, the closing text ("The End - A Walt Disney Production") is white instead of the original yellow, possibly due to a restoration coloring error.
 * In foreign countries, "presents" is replaced by that country's translation (such as "Presenta" on Italian and Spanish prints).

FX/SFX: Usually none, but on 101 Dalmatians, the logo is animated, with the zoom-out of a dot, with big circles appearing all around the logo while the text is appearing, and a dot erasing the text with background translating to white continuing the opening titles to the film.

Music/Sounds: Usually the opening and closing themes of the movie.

Availability: Common. Still saved on classic Disney shorts and movies of the era, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dumbo, The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, Pete's Dragon, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Saludos Amigos, Fun and Fancy Free, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Make Mine Music, Melody Time, The Three Caballeros, Song of the South, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, So Dear to My Heart, The Reluctant Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, The Sword in the Stone, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty and Lady and the Tramp, among others. The only known film to not have this in-credit is Fantasia, aside from a copyright notice appearing on the title card of the film. The foreign versions are rare because they were only released in theatres, VHS, laserdisc and some DVD releases as they are usually replaced with the domestic English credits for current DVD/Blu-ray releases.

Editor's Note: Will evoke fond memories of Walt Disney and his classic films, and the days of old-fashioned opening credits and "THE END" notices. Many films have memorable visuals and music to go with the themes, usually in a positive way, though some films have dramatic fanfares that could be off-putting to younger viewers.

2nd Logo (50th Anniversary) (December 22, 1972-July 12, 1973)
XPlOdVvQ02g pdd3ngEWP3g Nickname: "50 Happy Years", "Smiling Mickey"

Logo: On a scarlet background with black, wavy, moving Moiré patterns, a blue version of Disney's 50th anniversary logo (a big "50" with Mickey Mouse ears on the "0" with the word "HAPPY" above it and "YEARS" below) appears and eventually changes the background into a blue background with images of Disney cartoon characters, outlined in green, facing the 50. The "50" logo zooms out followed by "HAPPY" zooming out above it and "YEARS" doing the same below. Tinker Bell appears, flies around, and waves her wand, changing the screen to black. The 1954 Buena Vista logo would follow.

FX/SFX: The several logo designs appearing, the zoom-in (revealing the background), Tinker Bell flying around, and the transition effect to the Buena Vista logo.

Music/Sounds: The first two bars of "When You Wish Upon a Star". An announcer (Dick Wesson) says "And now, a 50th-anniversary presentation from Walt Disney Productions!". On international releases, the announcer is absent, and the music is two full tones lower.

Availability: Extremely rare. Appeared before the 1954 Buena Vista logo on the studio's films (both original and reissues) in 1973 and also appeared briefly (twice) on The Wonderful World of Disney episode "50 Happy Years". Remains intact on Charley and the Angel. Its first known appearance was on Snowball Express, and its last known appearance was on A Disney Cartoon Jubilee.

Editor's Note: The first animated logo from the company, but not the first official one. This was only used during the company's 50th anniversary at the time. The company would not get an official animated logo until 1985 with the 5th logo.

3rd Logo (June 25, 1980)


Nicknames: "In Credit Disney II", "Disney Script"

Logo: Superimposed over the opening credits, we have "WALT DiSNEY" in the familiar corporate Disney logo font and in yellow. Right under is "PRODUCTIONS", also in yellow.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme.

Availability: Extinct. This was spotted on Mickey Mouse Disco, after the Buena Vista logo. The short was seen on television several times, which includes being in episodes of various Disney cartoon compilation shows, such as Mickey's Mouse Tracks, Donald's Quack Attack and The Ink and Paint Club. It has never been made available on home video, but it can be seen currently on 16mm copies of the short.

Editor's Note: Probably the first movie logo with the famed "DiSNEY" signature font, although it was already in use elsewhere since 1964.

4th Logo (1982)


Logo: On a twilight background, we see the "WALT DiSNEY" script in 3D and in red, with "PRODUCTIONS" below also in red. The background fades into a cloud time-lapse. Lightning sparks appear and accumulate before being absorbed by the Disney logo, which shines and 'melts' into a red ring.

FX/SFX: The cloud background, the lightning sparks and the logo melting into a ring.

Music/Sounds: A choir, followed by sounds of electricity.

Availability: Seen on a 1982 Walt Disney Home Video demonstration tape.

Editor's Note: TBA

5th Logo (1985)


Logo: On a red background, we see "WALT DiSNEY" in white, with "PRODUCTIONS" and "PRESENTS" below.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Can be seen on Walt Disney's Cartoon Classics: Cartoon Bonanza 2.

Editor's Note: None.

(1990s)
Logo: On a black screen, we see the copyright year in Roman numerals, with "serif WALT DiSNEY serif" below it. "serif" is seen below everything.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the ending theme.

Availability: Seen on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.

Editor's Note: None.