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The first feature-length animated film in
history, "Snow White" is a testimony to Walt's
deep commitment to taking whatever existed and
making it better. When he first proposed
creating a cartoon that would run for more than
just a few minutes, critics and
nay-sayers abounded. "It'll blind the audience,"
said some. "Nobody will watch a cartoon that's
so long," said others. They dubbed it Disney's
Folly. But Walt persisted, risking the financial
future of his studio on the project. And of
course the success was complete. "Snow White"
premiered on December 21, 1937, and provided a
financial bonanza for the Disney organization.
It was originally budgeted for $250,000, wound
up costing $1.75 million, and brought in about
$4.2 million in its first release. Perhaps more
important, it proved that animation could be
used not just to amuse but to provoke a far
wider range of emotions. Viewers witnessing the
"death" scene of Snow White
were moved to tears.
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