Let’s admit it – we have grown up with Mickey Mouse and Belle and so many other Disney characters filling our lives with awe, wonder and pure joy. But we never take a moment out to think how these characters came alive to entertain us and teach us so many lessons that we carry with us till date. The immense hard work, creativity and collaboration of tons and tons of people have made Disney what it is today. Let’s take a look at the Disney characters and the people who Created Them.
List of Famous Disney Characters And The People Who Created Them:
Genie from Aladdin
Genie from Aladdin was created by Eric Goldberg. Goldberg is an American animator and film director who worked at both Disney and Warner Bros. He debuted with the film Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure and went on to animate for films like Aladdin and Pocahontas. As the animation director for Looney Tunes: Back in action and the voice behind Bugs Bunny and Tweety, he received accolades as well. He has also worked on Maui’s tattoos in Moana which became the rage!
Belle from Beauty and the Beast
The prolific Linda Woolverton is the woman behind the Beauty in Beauty and the Beast. In fact, she is the first woman to have written an animated feature for it. Apart from that, she’s an acclaimed novelist and screenwriter as well. She has also written the screenplay of Alice In Wonderland, Maleficent and co-written the screenplay of The Lion King. She has also written the novel of the Broadway Musical Lestat. Her works are known for their strong female leads and her wit, sense of humour and sensitivity is the icing on the cake.
Cinderella
The elegant, poised princess Cinderella is based on fairy tale written by French author Charles Perrault. Perrault’s version is one of the many versions of Cinderella all over the world from Greece to China and is a relatively recent one. However its popularity lies in the fact that he tweaked the original tale to add the motifs of the pumpkin, glass slippers and fairy-godmother to it. Walt Disney was the first to translate the fairy tale on screen in animation. Till date, it is one of the most popular animations ever.
Donald Duck
Donald Duck was Walt Disney’s original and one of his most memorable characters. He appeared first in Three Little Hens of 1934 but gradually gained popularity as Mickey Mouse’s foil. Walt Disney’s genius and vibrant imagination is evident in his conceptualization of the cast of Mickey Mouse, especially Donald Duck. With his comic mannerisms and distinctive personality, he’s stood the test of time and has become an evergreen cartoon character.
Maleficent
The wicked witch from Sleeping Beauty was created by the legendary Marc Davis. He was one of Disney’s Nine Old Men, the core team of nine that illustrated and animated Disney characters and brought them to life. He began his stint as an animator with Snow White and the Seven dwarfs and went on to make one of the most renowned villains of all time – Maleficent. His other well known muses are Cruela De Vil, Bambi and Tinker Bell. Obviously, he worked with a lot of female characters and designed them with intricacy and magnificence, leading to him being labelled as a “ladies’ man.”
Peter Pan
The sensitive, empathetic and kind Peter Pan was the marvelous creation of JM Barrie. The only Scottish man on our list, this novelist and playwright wet on to become a baron in 1913! Befter his death, he passed the rights of the character and franchise to a hospital for children, which continues to reap its benefits today. A truly great man, it’s easy to see that Peter Pan’s kindness and empathy is a reflection of his creator’s.
Pinocchio
This famous long nosed Disney character is accredited to Italian author Carlo Collodi. He worked as a journalist in Italian newspapers Il Lampione, Lo scaramuccia and Il Fanfulla. Plus, he also wrote several plays and novels in Italian, which reflected his social and political views. And he wrote ‘Le avventure di Pinocchio,’ or alternatively ‘Storia di un barattino’ in Italian for the weekly newspaper ‘Giornale per i bambini’. Walt Disney then adopted it in his famous animation Pinochhio and immortalied Collodi’s legacy.
Elsa from Frozen
Although one of the more recent Disney films, Frozen has garnered a widespread and ardent fan following. It is clear that Elsa, created by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, is an iconic character here to stay in people’s minds for a long time. Jennifer Lee is the Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studio since 2018. Most recognized for her work in Frozen, she won the Academy Award for it. In addition, she has also won a BAFTA award and an Annie award. Chris Buck was the director of the film. He has co-directed Disney films like Tarzan and supervised the direction of Pocahontas. He also has a BAFTA, an Academy and an Annie award to his name.
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