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Walt Disney’s Early Cartoons

Walt Disney was an important cartoonist and filmmaker. His cartoons were different from what people had ever seen before. For one thing, Disney added sound to cartoons. Cartoons used to be completely silent, but Disney thought that they would be more interesting with sound. Disney’s first cartoon with sound came out in 1928. It was called Steamboat Willie, and it was about Mickey Mouse. Steamboat Willie had many sound effects. It incorporated sounds such as bells, laughter and animal noises. In one scene, Mickey Mouse whistled a tune. In another, Minnie Mouse exclaimed, ‘Yoo-hoo!’ People loved it, and Disney went on to make many other cartoons with sound.

Walt Disney also added colour to cartoons. Early cartoons were all in black and white. Disney wanted to change this. He knew that colour cartoons could be exciting and beautiful. Disney’s first colour cartoon, Flowers and Trees, came out in 1930. It was a funny story about two trees falling in love with each other.

Next, Disney took on a new idea. He decided it was time to make cartoons longer. Until then, cartoons had been very short. They usually lasted just a few minutes and played before a full-length film. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney’s first full-length cartoon film. It took Disney and his team over three years to make.

Walt Disney’s work and success inspired many other filmmakers. Thanks to Disney, other filmmakers started adding sound and colour to their cartoons as well. Cartoon films like the ones Disney first made continue to be popular today.