Walt Disney Pictures

Walt Disney Pictures started off as Walt Disney Productions on October 16, 1923. Since then, third-party distributor RKO Radio Pictures released Disney movies from 1936 to 1954, before Buena Vista Distribution Company was founded. The name "Walt Disney Productions" first appeared in the opening credits as of 1968, and then at the end of each film as of 1971. This is due to the fact that Walt Disney himself died in 1966.

## History

### Season 1 (1937-1942)

At the beginning of time, Walt Disney's films were distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The first five animated films were released in theaters as follows:

 Pinocchio
 Fantasia
 Dumbo
 Bambi

### Season 2 (1943-1950)

During World War II, a series of six package films were made by Walt Disney, in addition to re-releases of films from earlier years to raise revenue.

Also making their theatrical debuts during this era were hybrid live action/animation films Song of the South (1946) and So Dear to My Heart (1948). After World War II ended, Walt Disney continued production of animated films in 1948. His last one in this era was Cinderella (1950). When this film hit theaters, all of the package films were sent back to the Disney Vault for several decades.

### Season 3 (1951-1957)

During the third season of Walt Disney's films, Buena Vista Distribution was founded in 1953, and further production of Disney's films moved to there from RKO Radio Pictures.

For this season, Alice in Wonderland temporarily took Dumbo's place.

 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
 Peter Pan
 Pinocchio
 Lady and the Tramp
 Fantasia
 Cinderella
 Bambi

### Season 4 (1958-1966)

In 1960, the word "Film" was dropped from the company's first name, changing it to Buena Vista Distribution. Dumbo also returned for this season, after Alice in Wonderland moved to network television.

Mary Poppins' theatrical release on August 27, 1964 could be one reason why no animated films were re-released that year.

This was the last season of re-releases during Walt Disney's life, before he died on December 15, 1966.

### Season 5 (1967-1975)

For the fifth season of Walt Disney Pictures' animated films, Walt Disney Productions was established following Walt's death. Alice in Wonderland also returned to theaters in 1974.

### Season 6 (1975-1982)

The sixth and final season prior to the rebranding of Walt Disney Productions to Walt Disney Pictures, the following films were re-released:

During this era, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland were all released on VHS in 1981. Fantasia was also re-released in theaters twice for this generation, the second one in place of The Sword in the Stone, which was pushed back to 1983.

As of October 14, 1983, an in-credit closing text logo was used for films distributed by Walt Disney Pictures until after September 28, 2007. The text logo comprises of the words "Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution".

In 2004, KRS Logos claimed this logo as in use until 1981.

### Season 7 (1982-1988)

In 1983, Walt Disney Productions was renamed as Walt Disney Pictures. The first film to have the new company name's first logo is Return to Oz (June 21, 1985), which made its home video debut on June 25, 1986.

Dumbo, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and Robin Hood no longer played in theaters as of this generation due to getting VHS releases at that time.

The logo can also be found on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Flight of the Navigator (1986), Benji the Hunted (1987), and a few others. Within television networks, the logo premiered on ABC with The Journey of Natty Gann on October 4, 1987.

Animated films released during this era included:

### Season 8 (1989-1996)

Lady and the Tramp, The Aristocats, Cinderella, The Fox and the Hound and Bambi all did not return to theaters for this generation, all instead getting VHS releases.

A few films went through digital restoration prior to their final re-releases in theaters. The films released during this era include:

In 1990, the logo was modernized, and was first seen in The Prince and the Pauper on November 16 of that year. On VHS releases, it was first seen on DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp on March 15, 1991, when the second generation of Walt Disney Home Video began.

Since the early 1990s, the 1990 logo was commonly used on many films, such as 1991 prints of The Rescuers Down Under, 1992 prints of 101 Dalmatians, The Great Mouse Detective and Beauty and the Beast, 1993 prints of Aladdin, original 1995 prints of The Lion King, 1996 prints of Pocahontas, The Aristocats and Oliver & Company, 1997 prints of The Jungle Book, 1998 prints of The Little Mermaid, and lots more.

### Season 9 (1997-2006)

The last film to get a re-release in theaters within the old tradition was The Little Mermaid, on November 14, 1997; after that, Pixar released more of its feature-length films in place of re-releases of old films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Such examples include A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2, alongside the flagship company's animated films.

Some films with the regular logo appeared on television networks such as on TBS, ABC Family, and Hub Network.

A Pixar-ified version of the Walt Disney Pictures logo was exclusively seen on Pixar Animation Studios films, and was seen on every film from Toy Story to Ratatouille, although The Incredibles was the last film under this generation.

Starting in 2000, an alternate logo was spotted on some Disney movies, such as Dinosaur (2000), 102 Dalmatians (2000), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), and even the 2002 Special Edition re-release of The Lion King, which was later transferred to DVD in October 2003 after only playing in IMAX theaters.

When KRS Logos launched online in 2004, this logo was still current back then.

The last film to have the 1990 Walt Disney Pictures logo was The Fox and the Hound 2 on December 12, 2006, several months after the current Walt Disney Pictures logo shown below began.

### Seasons 10-12 (2005-2022)

The current era of Disney animation began in late 2005 with Chicken Little (2005), when it became the first film ever to be presented in Disney Digital 3D. However, it wasn't the first film to have the current Walt Disney Pictures logo. That title went to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, when it first played in theaters on July 7, 2006 (and released on DVD on December 5, 2006). This logo was done with CGI animation.

Pixar still used the 1995 Walt Disney Pictures logo on Cars and Ratatouille, before finally using the current logo on films starting with WALL-E.

This logo was in use throughout the entire era of Generation 4 of My Little Pony.

As of March 30, 2007, starting with Meet the Robinsons (on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on October 23, 2007), the Walt Disney Animation Studios logo is currently seen on all new prints of Walt Disney animated feature films.

In Seasons 11-12, the logo now just uses the word "Disney" on brand new Disney films in theaters today, and on newer prints of classic Disney movies, especially the Diamond Edition prints.