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The Golden Age (1937-1942) -

Disney animation burst onto the scene in 1937 with its first full-length feature film, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' The film was a huge commercial success and kick-started the era of Disney now known as the 'Golden Age.' Other films from this era include: 'Pinocchio,' 'Dumbo,' and 'Bambi.'

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'Pinocchio' (1940) -

Based on Carlo Collodi's children's novel, 'The Adventures of Pinocchio,' the second Disney film tells the story of the lovable puppet in his quest to become a real boy.

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'Dumbo' (1941) -

The fourth Disney film to be released, 'Dumbo' tells the story of an elephant made fun of for the size of his ears. A live-action adaptation of this film was released in March 2019.

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'Bambi' (1942) -

Based on the 1923 book 'Bambi, a Life in the Woods,' this beloved Disney film tells the story of a family of deer. It was nominated for three Academy Awards.

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The Wartime Era (1943-1949) -

Also known as the "Package Era," this was a period of lower budgets and smaller animator teams at Disney Studios. The films from this era tend to be less well-known and include: 'Song of the South' and 'So Dear to My Heart.'

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'So Dear to My Heart' (1948) -

Combining live-action and animation, this film premiered in Chicago, Illinois, in November 1948.

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'So Dear to My Heart' (1948) -

It tells the tale of a young boy who is intent on raising a black lamb that was abandoned by its mother.

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The Silver Age (1950-1967) -

During this period, Disney returned to many of the trends sparked during the Golden Age. Films released during this era include: 'Lady and the Tramp,' 'Cinderella,' 'Peter Pan,' and 'The Jungle Book.'

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'Cinderella' (1950) -

Based on the Charles Perrault fairy-tale by the same name, Disney's 'Cinderella' became the biggest commercial hit since 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'

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'Peter Pan' (1953) -

Telling a story based on a J.M. Barrie play, 'Peter Pan' was the final Disney film to be released through distributor RKO. Walt Disney founded his own distribution company later that year.

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'The Jungle Book' (1967) -

This beloved film was the last to be produced by Walt Disney. He died while it was in production.

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The Bronze Age (1970-1988) -

Following the death of Walt Disney in 1966, this period, also known as the 'Dark Age,' was a troubled one for Disney Studios. Produced without the guidance and expertise of the man himself, few of the films released during this era enjoyed commercial success. They include: 'The Aristocats,' 'Robin Hood,' 'The Great Mouse Detective,' and 'The Rescuers.'

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'Robin Hood' (1973) -

The 21st Disney film tells the story of Robin Hood and Little John as they rob from the rich to give to the poor. Critical reception was initially positive but slowly became mixed.

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'The Rescuers' (1977) -

The 23rd Disney film tells the story of the Rescue Aid Society, an international aid organization run by mice. Unusually for the period, 'The Rescuers' was a definite commercial success. 

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'The Great Mouse Detective' (1986) -

Another film starring mice as its protagonists, the 26th Disney feature was a mystery film. Again, the film was successful compared to others released during this period.

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The Renaissance Era (1989-1999) -

Combining the fairy-tale storytelling techniques used in the Golden and Silver Ages with the themes and techniques of the Bronze Age, this period saw the release of many of the best-known Disney films today, including 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Aladdin,' and 'Pocahontas.'

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'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) -

Based on the French fairy-tale of the same name, 'Beauty and the Beast' tells the story of a prince transformed into a monster.

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'Aladdin' (1992) -

The 31st Disney film follows the story of a street child who chances upon a magic lamp enclosing a genie.

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'Pocahontas' (1995) -

The 33rd Disney film was loosely based on the life of a Native American woman called Pocahontas. Reception of the film was mixed, with some praising the animation and others criticizing historical inaccuracies.

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The Post-Renaissance Era (2000-2009) -

Also known as the "Second Dark Age," this was a diverse period in which the studios experimented with different storytelling techniques. Films produced during this era include: 'The Tigger Movie,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Chicken Little,' and 'Ratatouille.'

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'Finding Nemo' (2003) -

This wildly successful story about a family of clownfish was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

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'Chicken Little' (2005) -

The 46th Disney film is about a lovable chicken and his conviction that a piece of the sky fell on his head. It was also very successful, grossing US$314 million worldwide.

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'Ratatouille' (2007) -

Another film produced by Pixar and released by Disney, 'Ratatouille' tells the tale of cinema's favorite rodent chef.

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The Revival Era (2010-present) -

Also known as the "Second Disney Renaissance," this is a period in which the studios returned to the fairy-tale storytelling of the Golden and Silver Ages, and the first Disney renaissance. Films include: 'The Princess and the Frog,' 'Frozen,' 'Big Hero 6,' and 'Zootopia.'

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'Frozen' (2013) -

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen,' box-office hit 'Frozen' tells the story of the fearless and modern Princess Elsa.

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'Big Hero 6' (2014) -

The 54th Disney film was roughly based on a superhero team created by Marvel Comics. It was so successful that a TV series continues the story for viewers on Disney Channel and Disney XD.

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'Zootopia' (2015) -

The 55th Disney film tells the story of police investigation conducted by a rabbit and fox duo. It became the 44th highest-grossing film of all time.

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Disney Castle -

Click here to discover the haunting story behind the castle that inspired Disney. 

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