What is the Walt Disney Company?
The Walt Disney Company is a famous provider and producer of entertainment and information services. This large media company is one of the most recognised and beloved brands across the globe. The Walt Disney enterprise specialises in media networks, parks and resorts, consumer products, studio entertainment and interactive media. It generates some of the best creative content using new and innovative technologies.
What is the history behind the company?
Founded in October 1923, the Walt Disney Company is named after its founder – Walt Disney. An animator who began his career at the Kansas Film Ad Company in 1920, Walt was an early entrepreneur. In 1922, he founded Laugh-O-gram films with his friend Ub Iwerks, before going on to establish the future world-famous Disney Company the following year.
Although the company wasn’t an immediate success, with Disney filing for bankruptcy, the company’s first film – Alice in Cartoonland, a live-action cartoon crossover – proved a hit.
From 1923 to 1927, the expanding Disney Company worked on more ‘Alice’ films, before branching out into a series of fully-animated originals in 1927. Some of these early animations feature Disney’s most beloved characters including Mickey Mouse (first featured in 1928 in Plane Crazy).
Disney continued with these animated films and in 1934, took the risky move to create a full-length animated cartoon film – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – finished in 1937. Once again, the revolution proved a success and since this time, the Walt Disney Company has gone on to produce numerous animated and live-action titles, including Bambi, Cinderella, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mary Poppins.
Whilst film and animation make up the majority of Disney’s fame, the company has expanded its repertoire into other ventures, such as media networks, experiences, cruises and its renowned theme parks.
Acquisitions
Since the 1990s, the Disney Company has acquired a number of different companies and created some very lucrative partnerships. The most famous of these include:
- 21stCentury Fox – December 2017
- Lucas Film Ltd – October 2012
- Marvel Entertainment – August 2009
- Pixar Animation Studios – January 2006
- ABC – August 1995
What are the Walt Disney brands?
Media Networks:
- Disney channel
- ABC
- Freeform
- ESPN
Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products:
- Disneyland Resort
- Walt Disney World
- Shanghai Disney Resort
- Disneyland Paris
- Tokyo Disney Resort
- Hong Kong Disneyland
- Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Vacation Club
- Aulani – Disney Resort and Spa
- Adventures by Disney
- Walt Disney Imagineering
- Disney Publishing Worldwide
- Disney Store
Studio Entertainment:
- The Walt Disney Studios
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Pixar Animation Studios
- Disney Music Group
- Disney Theatrical Group
- Disneytoon Studios
- Marvel Studios
- Disneynature
- Lucas Film Ltd
Direct-To-Consumer and International:
- Bamtech Media
- Disney Digital Network
The company divides its business operations across the following regions:
- Asia Pacific
- Japan
- Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Latin America
Who are the major shareholders of the Walt Disney Company?
The shareholders of Disney include members of the board of directors and company management, the top 5 names include:
- Robert Iger – the Chairman of Disney and current CEO
- Christine McCarthy – one of the company’s Disney Senior Executive Vice Presidents and CFO
- Alan Braverman – one of the company’s Disney Senior Executive Vice Presidents and General Counsel and Secretary
- Alwyn B Lewis – a member of Disney’s Board of Directors
- Robert W Matschullat – a member of Disney’s Board of Directors
Where is the Walt Disney Company traded?
The Walt Disney Company is a component of the DJIA, S&P 100 and S&P 500. Its shares are traded on the NYSE under the ticker DIS. To keep on top of the Disney Walt share price and get the latest DIS chart info, stay tuned to updates from Capital.com.
