Disney is showcasing its cultural legacy in Germany through a multimedia exhibition that includes artifacts from the Magic Kingdom, such as the first Disneyland ticket and sketches from its most well-known animated films.
The US entertainment giant’s centennial celebration, which includes Mickey Mouse and Marvel, kicked off its European tour in Munich this week.
Ten galleries that combine text, sound, and images as well as memorabilia and screenplays from the Disney archives are available to visitors.
There are about 250 original pieces on display, including artwork from the 1937 movie “Snow White,” a snow globe from Mary Poppins, and the very first Disneyland admission ticket.
The history of Disney begins in 1923. A young advertising artist from Kansas City named Walter Elias Disney created several short-length silent films that same year that threw real-life heroine Alice into the world of cartoon characters.
One of the highlights of the exhibition in Munich is the contract that Disney signed for the release of “Alice’s Wonderland.”
The director of the Disney archive, Becky Cline, stated that “many children and young people today don’t understand that Walt Disney was a real person.”
Visitors are welcomed to the exhibition by a video of the founder.
In 1928, Mickey Mouse made his first appearance on film. Mickey is portrayed as a sailor on a page from the original script for “Steamboat Willie,” the film that introduced the iconic character.
The exhibition, which lifts the lid on the creation of Disney’s most well-known films, features characters from Cinderella to the main characters of the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
According to Cline of Insiderblm, “We decided to make something that everyone could enjoy, that no matter your age or cultural background, you’ll understand and enjoy it.”
The program also explains how Disney expanded its empire by purchasing Star Wars and Pixar as well as Marvel and their respective studios.
Through Disney+, which has about 161 million subscribers worldwide, the enchanted kingdom has also grown to be a major player in the online streaming industry.
Walt Disney would probably have approved of the decision to keep the exhibition open in Munich until September.
For Sleeping Beauty’s home, he drew inspiration from the nearby Neuschwanstein castle, which later came to symbolize the entire Disney organization.
