| Year
|
Events
|
Feature film releases
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| 1923
|
- In Los Angeles, Walt Disney sells his short live-action cartoon reel titled "Alice's Wonderland", produced by Laugh-O-Gram.[1] Soon after, Walt and his brother Roy sign a contract to make 6 more such films, called Alice Comedies, which New York-based Margaret J. Winkler would distribute at $1,500 per reel. The brothers would thereby join Winkler as a production partner.[1][2]
- In order to produce the series, the two brothers officially establish Disney on October 16, 1923, originally as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, with both Walt and Roy as equal partners.[1][3][4] This studio is based in the back half of a real estate office on Kingswell Avenue in Hollywood.[4]
- The brothers then persuade both Virginia Davis (who played Alice) and their collaborator Ub Iwerks to join them in Hollywood.[1]
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| 1924
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| 1925
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| 1926
|
- Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio move into the new studio at 2719 Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles.[4]
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| 1927
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| 1928
|
- The studio loses the contract of the Oswald series.
- Several animators leave for Winkler Pictures where the series continues production.
- Walt Disney comes up with an idea for a new character to replace Oswald: Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's first cartoon star.[5]
- Walt wanted to call him Mortimer Mouse, but his wife suggested Mickey instead.
- Steamboat Willie is released at New York's Colony Theater on November 18, marking the first public appearance of Mickey Mouse, as well as being the first cartoon released with synchronized sound.[4]
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| 1929
|
- The first Silly Symphony cartoon titled The Skeleton Dance is released on August 22.[4]
- On December 16, The Walt Disney Studio is renamed to Walt Disney Productions, Ltd. Three other companies are also renamed to Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company.
- Mickey speaks for the first time in The Karnival Kid; his words were "Hot dog, hot dog."[6]
- Unhappy with how Mickey sounded, Walt Disney himself would provide the voice of Mickey until 1947.[5]
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| 1930
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| 1931
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| 1932
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| 1933
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| 1934
|
- Following the success of the Mickey Mouse shorts, Walt begins producing a feature-length film. Some would dub this project as “Disney’s Folly,” as it went 400% over budget and required more than 300 animators, artists, and assistants. (The resulting 1937 film would later be heralded as groundbreaking.)[1]
- Donald Duck makes his first appearance with the premiere of "The Wise Little Hen" on June 9.
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| 1935
|
- "The Band Concert" premieres on February 23, becoming the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color.
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| 1936
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| 1937
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| 1938
|
- On September 29, Walt Disney Productions, Ltd., along with Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company, are merged to form Walt Disney Productions.
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| 1939
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| 1940
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| 1941
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| 1942
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| 1943
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| 1944
|
- Short on money, the company re-releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, generating much-needed revenue and beginning a reissue pattern for their animated films.
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| 1945
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| 1946
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| 1947
|
- Walt Disney lends his voice to Mickey Mouse for the last time in the "Mickey and the Beanstalk" segment of Fun and Fancy Free. Disney claims he has become too busy to continue voicing Mickey.[5]
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| 1948
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| 1949
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| 1950
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