Lucasfilm

• They created a new character: a mouse, with large ears.
• Walt Disney was an innovator in terms of space, colour and movement.
• Walt himself holds the record for most nominations (59) and Oscar wins (22 competitive awards, plus four honorary awards) for a single individual.

Steamboat Willie and technological wonders

• He created The Alice Comedies, a series of short films featuring a live-action child actress in a cartoon world.
• Steamboat Willie, released in 1928, was the world’s first fully synchronised sound cartoon.
• A simple story featuring Mickey as a steamboat captain trying to navigate the boat while dealing with various comical situations, Steamboat Willie was universally praised.

The golden age and feature films

• Those early films still dazzle today – think of the Sorcerers’ Apprentice scene in Fantasia (1940) or the Pink Elephants hallucinogenic number in Dumbo.
• And is there any scene, in any film, more heart-wrenching than the death of Bambi’s mother?
• But the golden age never really stopped.

Disneyland and diversification

• It set the standard for theme park design and showed the way forward for the company: diversification.
• After Disneyland came Walt Disney World in Florida in 1971, then versions of Disneyland in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Buyouts and a cultural behemoth

• These acquisitions solidified Disney’s position as the brand leader in the entertainment industry.
• The deal made some industry insiders uneasy: Disney had become a cultural behemoth, strangling competition, homogenising content and swallowing up entire franchises.

Not all plain sailing

• Its 1946 film Song of the South has long been criticised for its racist portrayal of African Americans and its romanticisation of the plantation era.
• Since 1986, Disney have tried to keep it out of circulation, although clips can be found online.
• Many old films streaming on Disney+ now feature a disclaimer telling viewers some scenes will include “negative depictions” and “mistreatment of people or cultures”.
• LGBTQ+ representation has become more visible since LeFou became Disney’s first openly gay character in its 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast.

• PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Palm Springs Air Museum (PSAM) is pleased to announce that Disney and LucasFilms' Artist Steve Anderson is now the Official Artist for the Palm Springs Air Museum.
• Mr. Anderson, who did all 11 Star Wars films, will create the official 2024 Honoree portraits for the Palm Springs Air Museum's February 10, 2024 Gala.
• Steve takes the helm from aviation artist Stan Stokes as the official artist for the Palm Springs Air Museum.
• Mr. Stokes has moved on to other creative endeavors, and the Palm Springs Air Museum wishes him well.

• Surf Air Mobility Inc. (“Surf Air Mobility” or “Surf Air”), a regional air travel company aiming to sustainably connect the world’s communities, today announced that David Anderman will join the company as their Chief Legal Officer.
• Mr. Anderman’s leadership will help Surf Air Mobility further its mission to advance the future of flight.
• Additionally, Surf Air announced that Bruce Hack will join its Board of Directors.
• Mr. Hack’s appointment will become effective upon Surf Air Mobility becoming a public company.

• HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CJ 4DPLEX, the world's leading producer of premium film formats and cinema technologies, is off to its strongest start in box office history.
• The event cinema releases account for 11% of the company's box office to date.
• For the LATAM, EMEA and domestic marketplace "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Avatar: The Way of Water" elevated the box office.
• In terms of percentage growth, the domestic box office had one of the most dramatic increases, with a 98% increase from 2022.