Walt Disney

Sometimes it just takes one good idea to get started on the road to

fame, but the good idea often comes after many years of hard work

and many bumps along the road.

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Through his whole remarkable life, Walt Disney would always tell people, “It all started
with that Mouse.” He was talking about Mickey Mouse - Walt Disney’s most famous
creation and the one that led to what has been called the most successful entertainment
company in the world.
Walt Disney loved drawing as a boy, and was determined to be a cartoonist when he
grew up. But getting a job drawing cartoons for a newspaper or ad agency turned out to
be harder than he thought, and Disney struggled for many years.
While he was working at one agency, he became interested in the new methods of
animation. He started to experiment with cameras and drawings, and he was convinced
he could make a living as an animator.
After more years of hard work, Walt Disney finally hit it big. He and his crew came up
with a character called “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.” Oswald cartoons were a hit, and
Disney’s studio was finally making money. Then, the company that distributed his
cartoons pulled a fast one; it seemed they had the legal rights to Oswald and they forced
Walt Disney out.
So he had to start all over again. This time, Walt Disney came up with an even better idea

• a mouse he called “Mortimer.” His wife didn’t like that name, and suggested “Mickey”