Where Dreams Began: KC IMAGINE and the Rebirth of Digital Media in KC
- Make48+Team
- Jul 9
- 7 min read
Kansas City, Missouri, a city renowned for its vibrant arts and culture scene, is rapidly solidifying its position as a booming hub for digital media. This flourishing industry isn't a happy accident; it's the result of dedicated cultivation by organizations like KC IMAGINE. KC IMAGINE is actively building a cohesive and dynamic ecosystem, uniting educators, industry leaders, and civic organizations to ensure Kansas City remains a powerhouse in the ever-evolving world of digital storytelling, thanks to Ron Green and Gary Sage.
KC IMAGINE: A Vision for the Digital Frontier
KC IMAGINE (www.kcimagine.org) was founded to unite and elevate Kansas City's vast, yet often fragmented, digital media industry. Their core mission is to promote collaboration and cultivate the next generation of digital media talent and innovators, thereby making a strategic investment in the region's economic prosperity.
The scale of Kansas City's digital media sector is often underestimated. As Ron, Executive Director of KC IMAGINE, notes, "There are 33,000 people in the city who work in digital media. We have digital media jobs. Most people don't realize how big this is. When you compare that to the bioscience industry, which gets a lot of attention with 35,000 workers, we're only 2,000 shy. We need to make people understand that this is a major workforce that deserves attention."
This perspective is strongly supported by data. A 2022 Missouri Department of Economic Development study revealed that nearly 50,000 workers in Kansas City are employed in digital storytelling-related industries, a remarkable 60% growth between 2011 and 2021. The momentum is undeniable, and KC IMAGINE, powered by dedicated volunteers and board members like Gary Sage (who spearheads fundraising for the Laugh-O-gram Studio) and Ron Green, is committed to accelerating this growth.
Kansas City boasts a rich history in animation, a heritage that extends to the very origins of iconic characters. While often associated with other studios, it's worth noting the foundational work done here. For instance, the individuals behind the early animated shorts that later evolved into what we know as Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies that featured characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, had roots in Kansas City.
This historical connection is exemplified by the Laugh-O-gram Studio. Ron recounts how the studio's early animators, with their groundbreaking skills, laid the foundation for future animation giants. Despite facing financial challenges, including a bankruptcy, the creative spirit that originated here ultimately led to significant contributions to the animation world. Walt Disney, the ultimate entrepreneur, eventually moved to California to join his brother Roy (a former bank teller at what is now the Central Library), where he pursued a career in film, a journey that profoundly shaped animation history.
After sitting down with Ron, we took a short drive to see the Laugh-O-gram Studio and the future of KC IMAGINE.
The Laugh-O-gram Studio: Where History Meets the Future
Adding a touch of magic to their already compelling narrative, KC IMAGINE’s future home will be in the renovated Laugh-O-gram Building at 1127 E. 31st Street. This isn't just any building; it's the very first commercial cartoon studio established by Walt Disney before his pivotal move to California in 1923.
It was within these walls that a legendary encounter took place: Walt Disney, during his early struggles, reportedly befriended a small mouse he named Mortimer.
This tiny companion would famously sit inside Walt's desk, eating crumbs from his hand. Before heading to Hollywood, Disney, fearing for his friend's safety from the restaurant cat below, released the mouse into a nearby field. Legend has it that this Kansas City mouse became the inspiration for the world-renowned character we all know and love: Mickey Mouse.
Imagine the inspiration that will undoubtedly flow within these historic walls as new generations of digital creators learn and innovate in the birthplace of a legend's early dreams. The building is currently being renovated, but we got a peek inside the future home that will inspire future innovators.
Ron and Gary recount fascinating details about Disney's early days in the building, including his financial struggles that led to him sleeping on tarps and showering at Union Station. Disney's animation journey began even earlier, in 1920, as after-work projects while he was a commercial artist. He, along with a few friends, created these early cartoons, persuading Frank Newman, Kansas City’s leading exhibitor, to feature short animated snippets in his weekly newsreels.
Before the Alice Comedies and Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney produced these one-minute shorts, known as the Newman Laugh-O-Grams, for the Newman cinema Chain in Kansas City. Disney made seven more Laugh-O-grams in Kansas City, which all survive, thanks to the remarkable detective work of animation collectors and historians working in collaboration with the Walt Disney Archives, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Library of Congress.
Remarkably, Disney and his original animators were self-taught, learning from just two library books on animation. This foundational group not only laid the groundwork for The Walt Disney Company but also for animators who would go on to create iconic cartoons for studios like MGM, Looney Tunes, and Merrie Melodies. As Ron notes, "They checked out two books from the library: 'Animals in Motion’, by Eadweard Muybridge, a photographic discussion of how animals move step-by-step, and 'Animated Cartoons’ by E.G. Lutz.
This building, truly the "cradle of Hollywood animation," will proudly house KC IMAGINE's various programs, continuing a legacy of creativity and innovation in Kansas City.
KC IMAGINE operates on multiple fronts to achieve its comprehensive goals:
Curriculum Alignment: Collaborating with colleges to refine their programs and better meet the evolving talent requirements of digital businesses.
Career Readiness: Establishing programs that empower high school students to explore diverse occupations within digital media.
National and Community Awareness: Building recognition for Kansas City's thriving digital media industry.
Entrepreneurial Growth: Fostering innovation and new ventures within the digital media sector, potentially utilizing a co-working space within the renovated Laugh-O-gram building.
Best Practices: Providing forums and continuing education to promote excellence in digital media business and technology.
Gary, a key individual involved in the renovation, shared a setback, noting, "About three years ago, we experienced a significant delay when a vehicle caused roughly $96,000 worth of damage. It took us nine months to settle with our insurance company, pushing back our timeline by almost a year." Despite this, the original entrance will be maintained, with an ADA-accessible ramp added. The building's interior will feature meeting spaces and extensive historical displays on animators and Walt Disney.
Paving the Way: Cultivating Kansas City's Digital Media Talent
Looking ahead, KC IMAGINE is diligently preparing for its highly anticipated 2025 Career Conference, specifically designed for high school students enrolled in digital media academy programs such as CAPS, Summit Tech Academies, and PREP-KC. Partnering with KC Digital Drive, this biennial conference will provide invaluable insights and information about careers in digital media, ensuring students can participate during either their junior or senior year.
The success of the 2023 KC Digital Media Academy Career Summit sets a high bar. Students enthusiastically praised the breakout sessions led by Kansas City-area professionals, gaining invaluable perspectives from a wide range of digital media disciplines. The 2025 conference promises to build on this success, with 220 students expected, eight different presenters across three rounds of breakout sessions, and a career and college fair featuring 15 colleges and programs, including the Hollywood Animation Academy.
Another one of KC IMAGINE’s most engaging initiatives is the "Digital Scene KC" series. These free, informal gatherings offer a unique "behind the scenes" look at the industry. Hosted in intriguing locations – from UMKC's AR/VR labs to Trinity Animation's offices – these events provide a relaxed atmosphere for professionals and educators to network and share insights. Gary Sage highlights the informal networking and learning opportunities as a key strength, while Ron Green adds that these events, spanning three years, foster connections across various digital media disciplines.
Beyond conferences, KC IMAGINE is deeply involved in hands-on learning. Ron Green details their K-12 Stop-Motion Animation Curriculum, consisting of twenty 50-minute lessons. They also offer dynamic summer workshops, including an "Urban TEC" program that teaches technology skills through claymation.
Ron emphasizes that these workshops are not just about one subject matter, but about teaching essential pre-production to post-production skills: story development, scriptwriting, character creation, recording, and video editing. Students work collaboratively in story teams, fostering teamwork and allowing individuals to discover their niche, whether it's audio editing or voice-over work.
A Community-Driven Endeavor and Strategic Partnerships
Making these ambitious initiatives a reality requires a strong community effort. Gary Sage and Ron Green, both retired, dedicate their time to this cause, serving on various boards and advisory councils. They are seeking enthusiastic volunteers, generous donors, and passionate speakers to contribute to the success of their programs, especially for the upcoming career conference.
The ongoing renovation of the Laugh-O-gram building, a $7.2 million project, is currently at the halfway mark with $3.6 million raised. A significant boost is expected from a philanthropist through the Greater Kansas Community Foundation, who is willing to match donations up to $450,000.
KC IMAGINE’s commitment to innovation extends to its strategic partnerships. As a community partner with Make48, an organization focused on invention and product development, KC IMAGINE is further strengthening the region's creative ecosystem. This collaboration creates unique opportunities for students and aspiring professionals to explore the intersection of digital media and tangible creation, fostering an understanding of the innovative process. The synergy between digital storytelling and hands-on invention provides invaluable learning experiences and broadens the horizons for future creators.
Kansas City truly was the cradle of Hollywood Animation. Walt’s friends and colleagues would go on to have successful careers as well. Fellow animators would have parts in creating some of the most iconic animated characters of all time, including the Looney Toons, the Pink Panther, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry, and many more. These illustrators left an undeniable mark on a beloved industry.
Through strategic collaboration, engaging events, and a steadfast commitment to nurturing talent from its historic roots in the Laugh-O-gram building, KC IMAGINE is not just building a digital media industry; it's cultivating a vibrant culture of creativity and innovation in Kansas City.
The Laugh-O-gram Studio serves as a powerful reminder of this storied past and a glimpse into the exciting future that KC IMAGINE is working to build for Kansas City's digital landscape. To learn more or get involved, visit www.kcimagine.org.
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