The Walt Disney Company


 * "Disney" redirects here. For other uses, see Disney (disambiguation)

The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate. The Disney logo, based on Walt Disney's signature, is one of the world's most recognizable logos.

1937–1996


The first incarnation of the Walt Disney logo was introduced in 1937. After it was discontinued in some year, it was also used on the Disney's Wonderful World of Reading logo until 1996.

1948–1984


Another logo based on Walt Disney's handwriting was created in the mid-1940's. After it was discontinued in 1972, this logo would be used again on the Walt Disney Home Entertainment logo from 1978 to 1984.

1960–1980


In 1960, a later variant was based on Walt Disney's handwriting. The typeface is still used as the main logo, but it has since been revised in the mid-1960's. This logo was finally removed in 1979 or in 1980.

1971–2006, 2011–present (primary), 2006–2011 (secondary)


In 1971, the signature's typeface effectively became a bit smoother, which was created in the mid-1950's. This signature probably has the most recognizable and distinct letters; the “W” and the “D” that begin each word. The roundness has a single line down the center of the “D”, and the circle over the “i”, circles back toward the “D”. The "y", in fact, looks just like a lowercase phi (φ), imported from the Greek alphabet. None of these characteristics are present in Walt Disney’s real signature. The typeface is Walt Disney Script v4.1 or Waltograph. For many decades, this logo would have been served as The Walt Disney Company’s longest-running logotype with a lifespan of 47 years.

2006–2011 (primary), 2011–present (secondary)


In 2006, Disney began using a modified version of the 1971 logo (despite that fact that it is still in use today), and its lines became a bit thinner. This logo was previously used on the Walt Disney Pictures logo until 2011, and is currently used on several other Disney properties. Now the logo is only appears on Walt Disney Pictures's on-screen logo.

1986–2009


On February 6, 1986, Walt Disney Productions changed its name to The Walt Disney Company. Prior to 2009, the words "The" and "Company" were set in Times New Roman.

2009–2012


In 2009, the words' fonts were switched over to Whitney, a new font which was created by Hoefler & Co.

2012–present


In 2012, the company abandoned Whitney with a new font, called Benton Sans.