How did Disney come into existence? 

Disney has been an important part of childhood for generations of kids across the globe. We have witnessed the magic that Disney creates through their movies and animation. Growing up, you might have had your favourites you could repeatedly watch for hours. You might be aware of all Disney movies and cartoons but what do you know about Walt Disney, the man behind the magic? What led him to make Mickey Mouse and the entire empire?   

Meet Mr. Walt Disney   
There are many ways to refer to Walt Disney: An entrepreneur, visionary, artist, or all of the above. People know him as the creator of Disney and the adorable Mickey Mouse. However, few people know that he was a high school dropout! Yes, he did not complete high school and created the biggest animation company of his time. The Walt Disney Company, formally known as Walt Disney Productions, was started by Walt Disney and his brother Roy Disney in the year 1923. Despite early failures, the company created some of the most memorable movies and cartoon characters. Disney created characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald duck, Goofy, and many more, which have become household names now.  

And a star was born! 
You might not know that Mickey Mouse was created as a replacement to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When Disney lost the rights to his cherished creation, Oswald, to Universal Pictures, he was lost. In desperate attempts to save his company, he modified Oswald the Lucky Rabbit into a mouse. The ears were shortened and more padding was added. In an unfortunate time, Disney created a character that would become an icon in the cartoon industry. 

Mickey Mouse and Friends 
Did you know Mickey Mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse? However, Mr. Disney’s wife urged him to change the name to Mickey and thank God she did! Initially, two silent cartoons were produced, Plane crazy and Gallopin' Gaoucho, in 1928. Steamboat Willie was the first Mickey cartoon released with sound. It became an immediate sensation amongst the masses. In fact, the Mickey Mouse series became such a hit that it propelled the company into a market leader. In the following years, Disney created the supporting cast for Mickey Mouse, such as Donald duck, Pluto the dog, and our goofball Goofy. In the early years, the voice of Mickey Mouse was Walt Disney himself!   

Today, Disney is a giant empire which includes subsidiary companies like Marvel Entertainment as well. So, it’s Disney behind all your favourite superhero movies too!