DISNEY 100 Pt 1: Centenary Special / Alice's Wonderland (1923)

As Disney 100 week begins, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers pause regular class to present a miniseries exploring Disney’s centenary. First up: what actually is Disney 100, what does it mean, and what exactly are we marking 100 years of? We look into the history to talk contracts, self-mythology, and a century of cultural impact – and discuss the various ways that Disney is celebrating its own legacy this year. Then, we look back on the short that started it all – presenting a miniaturised version of our regular show format to discuss 1923’s Laugh-o-gram short Alice’s Wonderland (available on YouTube), and explore how it sowed the seeds of everything Disney would become. Roll out the Reception Committee! Next up: Disney 100 Part 2: Once Upon A Studio Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney. — Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Strange World. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.