Walter Disney

Walter Disney
Walter 'Walt' Disney, (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966), was an American animator, film producer, screenwriter, director, voice actor, international icon, and entertainer.

Disney, best known for his creation of Mickey Mouse, was credited for many other cartoon and animation characters before the mouse (e.g. Oswald, Alice's Wonderland).

Birth of a Mouse
After losing rights to Oswald, Disney developed a new character to 'replace' him. He based the character on a mouse he had as a pet while working in Kansas.undefinedUb Iwerks worked on sketches made by Disney so that it was easier to animate. However, Mickey's voice and personality was provided by Disney. In the words of an employee, "Ub designed Mickey's physical appearance, but Walt gave him his soul."undefined

undefinedBesides Oswald and Mickey, a similar mouse-character is seen in Alice Comedies which featured a mouse named "Ike the Mouse", and the first Flip the Frog cartoon (called Fiddlesticks) featured a Mickey Mouse-style mouse playing "fiddle". The initial films were animated by Iwerks.

The mouse was originally named "Mortimer", but later "Mickey Mouse" by Lillian Disney who thought that the name Mortimer did not fit. Mortimer later became the name of Mickey's rival for Minnie, who had a Brooklyn accent and was taller.

Awards
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Award

 * 1932
 * 1932

Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)
 * 1932
 * Honorary Award for: creation of Mickey Mouse.
 * Honorary Award for: creation of Mickey Mouse.
 * 1934
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Little Pigs (1933)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Little Pigs (1933)
 * 1935
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)
 * 1936
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Orphan Kittens (1935)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Orphan Kittens (1935)
 * 1937
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
 * 1938
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
 * 1939
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
 * 1939
 * Honorary Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) The citation read: "For 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', recognized as a significant screen 'innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a 'great new entertainment field" (the award was one statuette and seven miniature statuettes)
 * 1940
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling (1939)
 * 1940
 * Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling (1939)
 * 1941
 * Honorary Award for: Fantasia (1940), shared with: William E. Garity and J.N.A. Hawkins. The citation for the certificate of merit read: "For their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia’
 * 1942
 * 1943
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 * 1943
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 * 1943
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