The Disney Renaissance

Walter Elias “Walt” Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Hermosa, Illinois. Walter along with his brother Roy, co-founded Walt Disney Productions, in 1923, which became one of the best-known motion-picture production companies in the world.

After decades of success, Disney Productions lost popularity. Walter and Roy’s death, 1966, left Donn Tatum, Card Walker, and Ron Miller in charge of production. When Don Bluth, a long-time animator, branched off taking 11 Disney animators along with him, production delayed. For the next 20 years Disney did not have a box office hit. The animation department was pushed to a side.

In 1988, Steven Spielberg, a long-time animator joined the Disney animation team. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, a live action/animation was created. This film was a success. It won three Academy Awards, bringing interest on animation back to Disney.

The Disney Renaissance was a successful era in which cartoon movies took a turn for the best.

The Little Mermaid was approached differently, it wasn’t a regular cartoon, nor a regular musical. It was written, composed, and produced as a Broadway Musical. Its development started in the 1930s. Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken both with Broadway background took over the project and turned it into what is known today. Ashman and Menken were involved in all Disney Renaissance Productions.

 

November 14, 1989, The Little Mermaid was released breaking the record of highest-grossing animated film.

 

 

It marked the start of the Disney Renaissance, following with all-time favorite animated movies, The Lion King, Mulan, The Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, and The Rescuers Down Under.

 

Mexicans in Mexico don’t celebrate “Cinco de Mayo”

If Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16, what is Cinco de Mayo?

In the early 1860s, Mexico was in large debt with European countries, one of them being France. France’s Emperor Napoleon III decided to invade Mexico and force repayment. The French outnumbered the Mexicans in a 2-1 ratio. Although the invasion violated the Unites States’ Monroe Doctrine, they couldn’t help. The Unites States was too busy taking care of its own Civil War.

As France succeeded and moved toward Mexico City, Mexico’s capital, on May 5th, 1862, they found defeat. At the city of Puebla, the unexpected happened. It was nearly impossible for Mexicans to win, but they won a battle in Puebla. Even though the French did reach Mexico City and took over the country, as expected, Mexicans see this battle as a massive victory.

When the Civil War was over in the U.S.A., the French were mandated to leave Mexico and obligated to return home.

Today, Mexico’s Independence Day is the only day celebrated in Mexico. Mexican-Americans and Americans are the ones that have turned Cinco de Mayo into a “Mexican holiday”. In Mexico only City of Puebla celebrated Cinco de Mayo.

Why is it so big of a deal in America?

 

Before the U.S reached its current size, much of its land was Mexican, where Cinco de Mayo was celebrated more than 100 years ago. And so, the tradition was carried along thru the years and the country. Today we celebrate Cinco de Mayo and embrace Mexican Heritage, all around the world.