100 years of Disney, 100 more years of the Mouse's monopoly: A timeline
Disney has officially completed 100 years of its existence. We trace the megacorporation’s steps towards becoming one of the biggest global entities in the entertainment industry.
Walt Disney’s humble animation company completed its centurion year yesterday and marked the occasion with a touching montage of its greatest moments. Have a look:
100 years ago, a tradition began with you. #Disney100 pic.twitter.com/NZjuDa8kEg
— Disney (@Disney) April 3, 2023
Here’s a brief history of events that trace Disney’s rise to success:
1923: Disney Brothers Studio founded
On this day in 1923, The Walt Disney Company was founded! Did you know Walt and Roy Disney originally named their venture "Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio"? pic.twitter.com/3pIytU043q
— Disney (@Disney) October 16, 2019
Walt Disney and Roy O Disney founded Disney Brothers Studio, initially focusing on producing animated shorts. Their first successful series was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, which they created for Universal Pictures. However, they lost the rights to Oswald and decided to create a new character, Mickey Mouse.
1928: Mickey Mouse is born
On this day in 1928, an entertainment icon was born. Happy 90th Anniversary to the one and only Mickey Mouse! pic.twitter.com/9hVzOU4krS
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) November 18, 2018
Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie, a short film that introduced synchronised sound to animation. The film was an instant hit and launched Mickey Mouse as an international icon.
1937: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is released
An original Poster for Walt Disney’s first feature-length Film
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) March 31, 2023
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) pic.twitter.com/fOIlhMm0mF
Disney released its first full-length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film was a critical and commercial success and marked a turning point in the animation industry.
1950: Disneyland opens
Today in 1955: Disneyland opens, welcoming over 161,000 visitors the first week. https://t.co/VyC8Mhq7lz pic.twitter.com/eGzeiPgCaa
— The New York Times Archives (@NYTArchives) July 17, 2017
Disneyland, the first Disney theme park, opened in Anaheim, California. The park was an instant hit and quickly became a popular tourist destination.
1966: Walt Disney dies
Boss: "We need a headline for the unexpected death of one of the most famous people that has ever lived."
— Defunctland (@Defunctland) January 20, 2022
Reporter: "Hmm let me think, um, Walt Disney Dies.... movie.... tv.... notable."
Boss: "Copy, print it." pic.twitter.com/v842B8KJdm
Walt Disney died of lung cancer at the age of 65. His death was a huge blow to the company, but his legacy continued to shape the company for decades to come.
1984: Disney Channel is launched
Disney Channel, a cable television network aimed at children and families, was launched. The network became an important part of the company's media empire.
1986: The Disney-ABC merger
Obvious intelligence front Capital Cities/ABC later dissolved in a "merger of equals" with The Walt Disney Company https://t.co/SPPvfrcpis pic.twitter.com/2mMWsnoA27
— 12 Ball (@BoltzmannBooty) June 26, 2022
Disney merged with ABC, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the United States. The merger gave Disney access to ABC's television properties and helped the company expand its media empire.
1991: Beauty and the Beast is released
Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The film was a critical and commercial success and marked the beginning of a new era of Disney animation.
1995: Disney buys Capital Cities/ABC Inc
July 31st - This Day in Stock Market History
— Begin To Invest (@BeginToInvest) July 31, 2019
1995 - $DIS Disney buys ABC/Capital Cities for $19 billion.
The purchase would end the run of CEO Tom Murphy, who from 1957 to 1995 led the company to produce 32% compound annual returns for shareholders!https://t.co/4eGmRU5y4x pic.twitter.com/t9yu7VvVoN
Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC Inc, which included several major television networks, including ABC and ESPN. The acquisition made Disney one of the largest media companies in the world.
1998: Disney's Animal Kingdom opens
Disney's Animal Kingdom, the fourth theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida, opened. The park was designed around the theme of conservation and featured a wide variety of animal exhibits and attractions.
2006: Disney buys Pixar
1986:
— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) April 26, 2021
Steve Jobs buys Pixar for $5 million.
2006:
Disney buys Pixar for $7.4 billion. pic.twitter.com/wYTBz9UEtu
Disney purchased Pixar Animation Studios, the animation studio responsible for hit films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. The acquisition brought Pixar's talented team of animators and storytellers under the Disney umbrella.
2009: Disney purchases Marvel
Disney bought Marvel in 2009, securing rights to Marvel Entertainment's plentiful realm of superheroes, including the first Marvel Cinematic Universe release - Iron Man.
2012: Lucasfilm is acquired
On this day in 2012: Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4 billion. pic.twitter.com/Y5Y2obEVdy
— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) October 30, 2021
Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the production company behind the Star Wars franchise. The acquisition gave Disney control over one of the most successful movie franchises in history.
2019: Disney+ launches
Disney launched Disney+, a streaming service that offers a wide range of Disney-owned content, including movies, television shows, and original content. The service has been a major success, with millions of subscribers around the world.
2021: Disney reorganises
Bob Iger presided over the acquisition of:
— Fandom (@getFANDOM) February 25, 2020
• Pixar - $7.4B (2006)
• Marvel - $4.24B (2009)
• Lucasfilm - $4.05B (2012)
• 21st Century Fox - $71B (2019)
Which was his smartest Disney purchase? pic.twitter.com/5t1YX6c7ve
Disney reorganised its media and entertainment operations into three separate divisions: Studios, General Entertainment, and Sports. The move was designed to help the company adapt to the changing media landscape and better compete in the streaming market.
Present Day
Disney's monopoly on the entertainment industry is a well-documented phenomenon that has far-reaching implications for both consumers and competitors. At its core, this monopoly is rooted in the company's unique ability to leverage its vast resources and brand recognition in order to dominate numerous segments of the entertainment industry, including film, television, theme parks, and merchandise.
This monopolising effect is strengthened by its control over a significant portion of the intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry. This includes ownership of many of the most popular characters and franchises, such as Star Wars and Marvel, as well as a growing portfolio of original content. This intellectual property gives Disney significant leverage in negotiations with other companies and further reinforces its position as a dominant force in the industry.
Critics of Disney's seeming monopoly argue that it limits competition, limits consumer choice, and undermines the quality and diversity of entertainment offerings. The company's overwhelming dominance of the industry makes it difficult for new entrants to gain a foothold and for smaller competitors to survive.
Additionally, the primary contention with Disney is its largely profit-oriented focus that stifles creative expression and results in a homogenisation of content, with a limited range of stories and perspectives being represented. The latest MCU releases stand testament to the same.
Regardless, it seems the Mouse and its money-grubbing endeavours are showing no signs of strain and a hundred more years of rodent-owned megacorporation seems more than likely.