We can say with confidence that Disney brought to life children's fantasies and fairy tales, which everyone read in childhood. Thanks to his animated films, beautiful palaces and wonderful countries full of love and happiness, and even the famous ending of any fairy tale "and lived happily ever after" was embodied on the screen or in the theme parks of Disney World. We offer 15 existing man-made and natural objects that inspired Disney to create their animated copies.
But not everyone knows what inspired Disney to create cartoon characters in real life. For example, many prototypes of palaces and landscapes Disney took from existing well-known man-made and natural objects. Did you know that Notre Dame Cathedral from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the famous eponymous cathedral in Paris, and the Cadilac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas is the prototype of the eponymous place from the Cars cartoon?
1. Castle from the cartoon "Sleeping Beauty", prototype Neuschweinstein castle, Germany
The castle from the cartoon "Sleeping Beauty", as well as from a theme park in California, was created like Neuschweinstein Castle in Fussen, Germany, located on a mountain in southwestern Bavaria. It was built by King Ludwig II as a haven and as a tribute to the composer Richard Wagner. The castle has survived two World Wars. When Disney traveled with his wife, Lillian, across Germany and saw the castle, he was amazed at its beauty and grandiose romantic atmosphere, in which Gothic architecture and magnificent landscapes intertwined. The castle has also been featured in many films besides Disney cartoons.
2. City from the cartoon "The Princess and the Frog", prototype New Orleans, Los Angeles
A picturesque and unique city from the cartoon "The Princess and the Frog" is New Orleans in the 1920s. Princess Tiana from the cartoon works as a waitress in this city. Both the beautiful architecture of the city and the streets themselves are embodied in an animated film, the directors paid special attention to the French Quarter. After the release of the cartoon, those who were dissatisfied with the fact that the princess was black appeared on the screen, and slavery and voodoo emanated from the cartoon.
3. Royal Palace in Tangled / Prince Eric's Castle in The Little Mermaid, prototype for Mont Saint-Michel Castle in France
The Royal Palace in the "Tangled Story" about Rapunzel became the screen embodiment of a small settlement near the fortress walls of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. An 8th-century island with an abbey, monastery and Roman-style towers on the northwest coast of France became the prototype for Prince Eric's castle from The Little Mermaid. The original fairytale island was used by the cartoon's designers to create an on-screen image of the castle and its surroundings.
4. Terrain from the cartoon "Lilo and Stitch", the prototype of Kauai County, Hawaii
The scenery of the cartoon "Lilo and Stitch" is based on the landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands, especially Kauai. Only a few films of the Walt Disney film studio in terms of the plot relate to the present, and in this cartoon in particular. Several small towns in Kauai County, especially Ganapepe, served as the backdrop for the cartoon. On the one hand, the cartoon shows the beauty of real-life places, and on the other hand, the economic problem of the region that really existed at that time, 2000, is exposed.
5. Palace of the Beasts from the cartoon "Beauty and the Beast", prototype Chambord Castle, Loire Valley, France
To create the scenery for the cartoon "Beauty and the Beast", the designers and artist were inspired by the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, France. Its construction began during the reign of King Francis I and was never completed. A stunning 14th century castle with dark rooms, conceived in a Renaissance style, has become an excellent subject for film adaptation. And the prototype of the provincial town in which Beauty lives was a charming village in the Alsace region of France, on the border with Germany.
6. Ramon's workshop from Cars, prototype U-Driop filling station in Shamrock, TX
U-Driop in Shamrock, Texas, a gas station and restaurant in a unique art deco style, was built in 1936 by J. C. Bury. They became the prototype of Ramon's workshop from the cartoon Cars. In addition, the city in which the events take place in the cartoon is located on Highway 66, which leads to Shamrock, and which John Lasseter was inspired by when he passed here with his wife and children.
7. Elsa's Ice Palace from the cartoon "Frozen", prototype Hotel de Glace, Canada
The Hotel de Glace, known as the Ice Hotel, was opened in 2001. He became the prototype for Elsa's ice palace from the cartoon "Frozen". The hotel is made entirely of ice and is open from January to March every year. The hotel's interior is also included in the film. The prototype of the fairy land of Elsa, Arendel is the region of Trøndelag, Norway. Arendel has everything Trøndelag has: sleeping mountains, quiet villages, fjords, Nidaros Cathedral and the royal residence in Stiftsgården, and even clothing and lifestyle.
8. House of the Seven Dwarfs from the cartoon "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", a prototype of houses in the suburbs of Los Angeles
Who said simplicity doesn't inspire? Simple but postcard-perfect, the houses in Los Feliz, a suburb of Los Angeles, served as the prototype for the house of the Seven Dwarfs. But there is a misconception that the cottages are built like copies of the house of the seven dwarfs from the cartoon "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." In fact, architect Ben Sherwood designed and built the houses in 1931, and the cartoon came out in 1937. While working on the cartoon, the animators lived right in these houses.
9. Queen's castle from the cartoon "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and Cinderella's castle, the prototype of the castle of Segovia, Spain
The queen's castle from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella's castle, Disney's Florida theme park, and Disney's Tokyo amusement park are all inspired by Alcazar in Segovia, a stone fortification in the ancient city of Spain. The castle itself resembles the bow of a ship that has risen to the top of a cliff at the confluence of two rivers.
10. Simba Country in The Lion King, prototype Serengeti National Park, Tanzania and Kenya
Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, which stretches to southwestern Kenya and is called "Masai Maara", became the prototype of the land of the king of beasts, a lion named Simba. These places are famous for their large population of lions, different types of plants and animals - there is everything to inspire cartoonists. According to rumors, the prototype of "Pride Rock" was the Kenyan national park "Hell's Gate National Park", this is not the case, because the animators drew inspiration from different parts of Tanzania and Kenya.
11. Dunbrosh Castle from the cartoon "Brave", the prototype of Dunnotar Castle in Scotland
To create the royal Dunbrosh castle in Brave, the cartoonists drew inspiration from the Stonehaven region of Scotland, where castles from the 15th to 16th centuries are located. In addition, Scotland captivated the creators of the cartoon so much with its beauty that all the decorations, especially those associated with the adventures of the horsewoman Merida, are based on local landscapes and landscapes.
12. Pacha village from the cartoon "The Adventures of the Emperor", the prototype of the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru
The animators were inspired by the city of Machu Picchu to create the scenery for the Inca empire in the cartoon "The Emperor's Adventures", and the prototype of the mountain village of Pacha was the Inca settlements of the 15th century, located on the tops of the mountains, which once served the mysterious Inca people. The authors of the cartoon borrowed even their own names and titles from the Incas, changing some letters: Picchu became Pacha, and Cusco - Kusco.
13. Paradise Falls from the cartoon "Up", prototype Angel Falls in Canaima National Park, Venezuela
The on-screen Paradise Falls in South America, where Karl travels, was created based on the breathtaking beauty of the area around Angel Falls. Canaima National Park has everything that was required for a cartoon - tall, unusually shaped rocky mountains and a waterfall. The local population considers this area sacred. Angel Falls is not only the tallest waterfall in the world, but also the most beautiful miraculous creation.
14. Atlantis from the cartoon "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", the prototype of the Angkor Temple in Cambodia
When creating the cartoon, the animators were looking for an ancient building with an unusual Asian architecture and found it in Cambodia. This is a 12th century Angkor temple. The artists combined the styles and forms of different buildings of the Maya tribes, the peoples of India and Cambodia and came up with a unique Atlantis - an ancient highly developed civilization that still haunts researchers.
15. The Sultan's Palace from the cartoon "Aladdin", the prototype of the Taj Mahal, India
In the cartoon palace, the residence of the Sultan of Agrabah and Princess Jasmine, the features and forms of one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, are guessed. Emperor Shah Jahan built a mausoleum and a secluded place in memory of his beloved wife, Mamtaz Mahal. It is located in Agra and was built in the 17th century entirely of pink and white marble. This beauty inspired the authors of the cartoon to create a palace with white walls and golden towers, surrounded by beautiful gardens.