When Walt Disney released 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937), it was mocked by industry insiders as 'Disney's Folly.' They believed no one would sit through a feature-length cartoon. Instead, it became a massive hit and revolutionized the industry. At the 11th Academy Awards in 1939, the Academy decided to honor the achievement with a unique honorary award. Shirley Temple presented Walt Disney with one full-sized Oscar statuette accompanied by seven miniature ones on a stepped base. This remains one of the most famous and visually distinct awards ever given by the Academy. Though 'Snow White' was ineligible for the 'Best Picture' category at the time because animated films weren't recognized as a separate category, this special award acknowledged that Disney had changed the face of cinema forever.