December 21, 1937: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is released.
Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length cel-animated feature film in history and a major landmark in animation history. Prior this film’s release, the Walt Disney Company had seen much success with its short films, which launched its character Mickey Mouse to popularity. In 1934 Disney began work on its most ambitious project yet - a feature length animated film. At the time of its production, Hollywood derisively referred to it as “Disney’s Folly” - the world’s first full color animated feature film cost $1.5 million to produce. But by the end of its run, the movie had grossed nearly $8 million internationally, making it the highest-grossing sound movie ever produced until Gone With the Wind. It also won its creator an Academy Honorary Award, which described the film as “a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field”. This award was presented to Walt Disney by Shirley Temple in the form of one full-sized statuette and seven miniatures.