Just as Cinderella's dream was set to end at midnight, so too was The Walt Disney Company's dream in 1947, when it faced a staggering debt of approximately $4 million following the financial failures of Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi. These setbacks were largely due to the impact of World War II and other contributing factors. However, it was the beloved princess Cinderella and her iconic glass slippers that saved Disney from an early end to its animation legacy.

As Cinderella celebrates its 75th anniversary of its wide release on March 4, we connected with several Disney insiders who remain inspired by this timeless rags-to-riches tale. This story not only parallels Walt Disney's own journey but also rekindled hope within the company and the world, which was still rebuilding and yearning for something to believe in.

To understand the significance of Cinderella, we must revisit Disney's fairy godmother moment in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film's unprecedented success—it was the highest-grossing film of all time until Gone with the Wind surpassed it two years later—enabled Disney to construct its Burbank studio, where the company remains headquartered today, and chart a course for more feature-length animated films.

Disney's subsequent release, Pinocchio in 1940, boasted a budget of $2.6 million, about a million more than Snow White, yet it lost around $1 million despite critical acclaim and winning two Academy Awards. This trend continued with Fantasia and Bambi, deepening the studio's financial woes. The primary reason for these failures was the outbreak of World War II, triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939.

"Disney's European markets vanished during the war, preventing films like Pinocchio and Bambi from being shown there," explained Eric Goldberg, co-director of Pocahontas and lead animator on Aladdin's Genie. "Consequently, Disney shifted focus to producing training and propaganda films for the U.S. military, and throughout the 1940s, the studio produced what were known as Package Films, such as Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. These were excellent, but lacked a cohesive narrative from start to finish."

Package Films were compilations of short cartoons assembled into feature-length films. Between Bambi (1942) and Cinderella (1950), Disney produced six such films, including Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, which were part of the U.S.'s Good Neighbor Policy to counter the spread of Nazism in South America. While these films managed to break even, and Fun and Fancy Free reduced the studio's debt from $4.2 million to $3 million in 1947, they hindered the studio's ability to produce full-length animated features.

Walt Disney's determination to return to feature films was evident in his 1956 statement, as noted in The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier: "I wanted to get back into the feature field. But it was a matter of investment and time. A good cartoon feature requires a lot of time and money. My brother [Disney CEO Roy O. Disney] and I had quite a disagreement... It was one of my big upsets... I said we’re going to either go forward, get back in business, or liquidate or sell out."

Facing the possibility of selling his shares and leaving the company, Walt and Roy instead chose to take a risk and invest everything in what would be the studio's first significant animated feature since Bambi. If this venture failed, it could have meant the end of Disney's animation studio.

"At this time, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella were all in development, but Cinderella was chosen first because it shared similarities with the successful Snow White. Beyond that, Walt believed this story could offer more than just entertainment," said Tori Cranner, Art Collections Manager at Walt Disney Animation Research Library. "Walt was adept at reflecting the times, and he understood that post-war America needed hope and joy. While Pinocchio is a beautiful film, it's not as joyful as Cinderella. The world needed the idea that we can rise from the ashes and experience something beautiful. Cinderella was the perfect choice for that moment."

Cinderella and Disney’s Rags to Riches Tale

Walt's connection to Cinderella dates back to 1922, when he produced a short version during his time at Laugh-O-Gram Studios, the precursor to Disney. This short, along with the feature film, drew inspiration from Charles Perrault's 1697 version of the tale, which may have originated between 7 BC and AD 23, as documented by the Greek geographer Strabo. It's a classic narrative of good versus evil, true love, and the realization of dreams, deeply resonating with Walt.

"Snow White was a kind and simple little girl who believed in wishing and waiting for her Prince Charming to come along," Walt Disney remarked in footage from Disney’s Cinderella: The Making of a Masterpiece. "On the other hand, Cinderella was more practical. She believed in dreams, but she also took action to make them happen. When Prince Charming didn't come to her, she went to the palace and found him."

Cinderella's resilience and determination despite her hardships mirrored Walt's own journey from humble beginnings through numerous failures and challenges, driven by an unwavering dream and work ethic.

This story remained with Walt, and he revisited it in 1933 as a Silly Symphony short. However, the project's scope expanded, leading to its transformation into a feature film by 1938. Despite delays due to the war and other factors, this extended development period allowed Cinderella to evolve into the beloved film it is today.

Disney's success with Cinderella stemmed from its ability to take timeless fairy tales and infuse them with Walt's unique touch, as Eric Goldberg explained: "Disney excelled at reimagining these centuries-old stories, infusing them with his taste, entertainment sense, heart, and passion. This made audiences care more about the characters and story than the original tales. These fairy tales were often grim and meant as cautionary tales, with villains meeting dire ends. Disney, however, made them universally appealing and enjoyable, modernizing them and ensuring their enduring relevance."

Disney achieved this with Cinderella through the addition of her animal friends, such as Jaq, Gus, and the birds, providing comic relief and allowing Cinderella to express her true feelings, thus deepening our connection to her character. The Fairy Godmother, reimagined as a more relatable, bumbling grandmother figure by animator Milt Kahl, added warmth and humor. This led to the iconic transformation scene, a moment cherished in Disney history and beyond, where Cinderella's unwavering belief in her dream transforms her life.

The animation of Cinderella's dress transformation, often cited as Walt's favorite, was crafted by Disney Legends Marc Davis and George Rowley. "Every single sparkle was hand-drawn and hand-painted on every frame, which is mind-blowing," said Cranner. "There's a subtle moment during the transformation where the magic holds for just a second before completing, which adds to its magic. It's like holding your breath before the magic unfolds."

Another Disney innovation was the breaking of one glass slipper at the film's end, enhancing Cinderella's character and emphasizing her agency. "Cinderella isn't a bland protagonist; she has personality and strength," Goldberg noted. "When the slipper breaks, she reveals the other one she's been holding onto, showcasing her control and cleverness."

Cinderella premiered in Boston on February 15, 1950, and had its wide release on March 4 of that year. It was an immediate success, earning $7 million on a $2.2 million budget, making it the sixth-highest grossing film of 1950 and earning three Academy Award nominations. "When Cinderella was released, critics praised it, heralding Walt Disney's return to form," Goldberg recalled. "It was a huge success because it brought back the narrative features that defined Disney, revitalizing the studio's spirit."

Following Cinderella, Disney continued to produce classics like Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, and The Jungle Book, all thanks to the success of Cinderella.

75 Years Later, Cinderella’s Magic Lives On

Seventy-five years later, Cinderella's influence remains strong within Disney and beyond. Her iconic castle graces Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, and her story inspires the opening sequences of many Disney films.

Her legacy also resonates in modern Disney classics, such as the dress transformation scene in Frozen. "When animating Elsa's transformation, we wanted to pay homage to Cinderella," said Becky Bresee, lead animator on Frozen 2 and Wish. "The sparkles and effects around Elsa's dress directly reference Cinderella, honoring her impact and the films that came before."

Cinderella's story owes much to the contributions of the Nine Old Men, who brought life to the characters, and Mary Blair, whose artwork gave the film its distinctive style. Eric Goldberg encapsulates the enduring message of Cinderella: "The big thing about Cinderella is hope. It gives people hope that perseverance and strength can lead to dreams coming true, no matter the era."