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Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company · Chicago, USA

Fired from a newspaper for 'lacking imagination'. Lost his first character to a contract trick. Rebuilt by hand, frame by frame, into the most reproduced cultural empire on Earth.

World-buildingFrame-by-frame perfectionHopeful realism

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Company

The Walt Disney Company

Journey

Moves that mattered.

1923
Arrived in Hollywood with $40 and a half-finished cartoon reel.
1928
Created Mickey Mouse after losing rights to Oswald the Rabbit.
1937
Bet everything on Snow White — the first full-length animated feature.
1955
Opened Disneyland — the first theme park designed as an immersive narrative world.

Struggles

Bankrupted in 1923. Lost Oswald and almost his staff. Snow White nearly broke the studio before it released.

Family

Married to Lillian Bounds. Two daughters, Diane and Sharon (adopted).

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The full story

Walt Disney, in 1 chapters.

Ch 01
The story
Fired from a newspaper for 'lacking imagination'. Lost his first character to a contract trick. Rebuilt by hand, frame by frame, into the most reproduced cultural empire on Earth.

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