The Story

Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, he loved to draw and tell stories, and he often entertained his friends and family with his imaginative creations. When he was just 16 years old, he dropped out of high school to join the Red Cross Ambulance Corps during World War I, but he was too young to be sent overseas.

After the war, Walt returned to the United States and started working as a commercial artist in Kansas City. He teamed up with a fellow artist, Ub Iwerks, and together they created a series of cartoons called Laugh-O-Grams. The cartoons were a hit, but Walt struggled to find a distributor, and the company eventually went bankrupt.

Undeterred, Walt moved to Hollywood in 1923 and started his own studio with his brother Roy. They named it Disney Brothers Studio and started producing a series of shorts called Alice Comedies, which featured a live-action girl named Alice who interacted with animated characters. The series was moderately successful, but Walt knew he needed to create a character that would capture people's hearts.

In 1928, Walt created Mickey Mouse, a little black-and-white mouse that became an instant sensation. Mickey's first cartoon, Steamboat Willie, was the first sound cartoon and featured Mickey whistling along to the tune of "Steamboat Bill". The cartoon was a huge hit and cemented Walt's reputation as a creative genius.

Despite his success, Walt faced many challenges along the way. He lost the rights to his first successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, to his distributor, but he refused to give up. He created a new character, Mortimer Mouse (which he later changed to Mickey), and he and his team worked tirelessly to create the first feature-length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The movie was a huge risk, both financially and creatively, but it paid off in a big way. It was a critical and commercial success, and it paved the way for future Disney classics like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Little Mermaid.

Walt Disney's creativity and determination made him one of the most successful and iconic figures in the entertainment industry. He created a magical world that inspired generations of children and adults alike, and his legacy continues to live on today through the Disney brand and theme parks.

Lessons from Walt

1. Get a good idea and stay with it. Do it, and work at it until it’s done right.

2. The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.

3. Leadership is inspiration, innovation, and focus.

Favorite Quote