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.