How Walt Disney Built an Animation Empire
The story behind the Disney Company, the initial struggles and the massive success of Mickey.
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Walt Disney was born on 5 December 1901 in Chicago, US.
During high school, he became the cartoonist of the school newspaper, drawing patriotic pictures. He then forged his ID so he could enlist in the war. Got sent to France but arrived after the WW1 ended.
At 21 he started his first studio with another illustrator, Ub Iwerks, but they had to file for bankruptcy just one year later.
Shortly after the bankruptcy of the first studio, Walt co-founded Disney Brothers with his brother Ray. The first character invented by Walt & Ub was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
While on a business trip to New York, he discovered that Universal Pictures, the distributor, owned the Intellectual Property rights to Oswald. This has made his team of designers move to the distributor’s company. Only one person stayed behind — Iwerks.
On their train ride home to Hollywood they invented Mortimer Mouse. Walt’s wife, Lillian, suggested a name change to Mickey. Thus Mickey Mouse was born.
The success of that character led to the creation of many others such as Pluto, Dumbo and Mary Poppins.
Lessons from Walt Disney
A loss can be a blessing in disguise
Walt Disney's revelation that Universal Pictures held the rights to Oswald was a potential dream-crusher. Betrayed by his team who left for the competition, save for his loyal friend Ub Iwerks, Disney faced a crossroads.
He could have given up there. But instead he went to work and used that as a catalyst for one of the most beloved characters in animation history:
Mickey Mouse.
Dream big
Walt Disney was not content with the status quo; he constantly sought new ways to engage and astonish his audience.
Whether it was pioneering technicolor in animation or conceptualising Disneyland, a place unlike any other at the time, he was always on the forefront of innovation.
The lesson here is to never become complacent, but instead, continually push the boundaries of what is possible and embrace change as an opportunity for growth and new experiences.
Dream big.
Syper