The Walt Pasqui7 Corporation

**The Walt Disney Company**, commonly known as **Disney**, is an American diversified multinational mass-media and entertainment conglomerate. The Disney logo, based on Walt Disney's signature, is one of the world's most recognizable logos. The company is a successor to the short-lived Laugh-O-Gram Studios.

## Walt Disney (first era)

### 1937–1996

The first incarnation of the Walt Disney logo was introduced in 1937. Despite ending normal usage in 1948, it was still used in some instances until the 1960s, and a variant was later used on the Disney's Wonderful World of Reading logo from 1973 to 1996.

### 1948–1984

Another logo based on Walt Disney's handwriting was created in 1948, though a similar version was previously used in the opening for *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* in 1937. This logo was still used in tandem with the next two, as it appeared on 70s-era iterations of The Wonderful World of Disney, as well as the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo from 1978-1984.

### 1956–present

In 1956, the signature's typeface became a bit smoother, marking the introduction of the studio's now-familiar iteration of its logo/wordmark. It first appeared on the 1956 Disneyland Guide; other early appearances included Disneyland's Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom Guide Map (1958), some Official Mickey Mouse Club and Disneyland Records album covers in 1959 and throughout the 1960s, and the marquee for Progressland at the New York World's Fair in April 1964. It eventually became the primary logo around the time of the opening of Walt Disney World in late 1971.

This signature probably has the most recognizable and distinct letters (the capital "W" and "D" in the name). The roundness has a single line down the center of the "D", and the circle over the "i", circles back toward the "D". None of these characteristics are present in Walt Disney's real signature. For many decades, this logo would be served as The Walt Disney Company’s longstanding logotype with a lifespan of over 65 years. In 2000, a computer font based off this logo was introduced, initially known as “Walt Disney Script,” but renamed Waltograph in 2004. This font had seen usage with Disneyland Paris.

Versions of this logo were also used before it became the official logo or even this logo itself being introduced, starting with a brochure of the iconic "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room" attraction in 1963, advertisement posters for the "General Electric Progress Land" attraction at the 1964-65 World's Fair, 1965 with the "Fantasy on Parade" event at Disneyland (on the large drum at the start of the parade), and a slightly different version at the end of the Disney animated classic *The Aristocats*.

### 1960–1980

In 1960, a later variant was based on Walt Disney's handwriting. The typeface would since become the foundation for the current logo. Despite ending normal usage in 1980, a slightly similar script was used at the beginning of *Saving Mr. Banks* in 2013.

## Walt Disney Productions

#### 1971–1986

Helvetica ("Productions")

Prior to 1986, the version of the logo using the company's full name was only used in corporate contexts, an early example being on documents printed in late 1971 discussing the company's plans for its then-upcoming 50th anniversary. This logo debuted around the time of the opening of Walt Disney World.

## Walt Disney (second era)

### 2006–present

In 2006, Disney began using a modified version of both the 1960 and the 1964 version of the logo, making the lines become a bit thinner. This logo was previously used on the Walt Disney Pictures logo until 2011, and is currently used on several other Disney properties, including Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

### 2007–present

In 2007, Disney began using a special drawing script font based on Walt Disney’s original signature. This logo is currently being used on Walt Disney Animation Studios as well as its on-screen variant.

## The Walt Disney Company

### 1986-present

#### 1986–2009

Times New Roman

February 6, 1986 (official)

On February 6, 1986, Walt Disney Productions was relaunched as present-day **The Walt Disney Company**. Prior to 2009, the words "The" and "Company" were set in Times New Roman (which was also used by many Disney and Buena Vista-branded properties at the time; Walt Disney World and Buena Vista Home Entertainment still uses Times New Roman in its logos today), with "Walt Disney" set in its signature font. This new name was revealed a month prior to relaunching with it.

#### 2009–2012

Whitney

#### 2012–present

Benton Sans