How Walt created Disney!

Disney films are full of magical storylines(сюжетная линия), heroic characters and happy endings. In reality, this positive attitude(отношение) helped to make the Disney Empire the worldwide(мировой) success(успех) it is today.

But how did it all start? 

Walt Disney was always passionate(страстный) about art. As a child, he often drew animals, and at school he entertained(развлекал) his friends by telling them stories and using the blackboard(школьная доска) to draw illustrations. By the time he was in high school, Disney had decided(решил) to become an artist(художник). He took night classes(вечерние уроки) at the Chicago Art Institute and was soon chosen to be the cartoonist(карикатурист) for the school newspaper. 

But art wasn’t Disney’s only passion. He was also extremely patriotic. In the school newspaper, he often drew cartoons supporting(поддерживая) America’s involvement(участие) in World War I. He left school at sixteen (before completing(завершение) his studies) to join(присоединиться) the army. However, he was rejected(отказали) because he was too young. At the time, he wasn’t sure what to do. He worked as an ambulance(полевой госпиталь) driver for a while, but eventually(в конце концов) decided to follow(следовать) his dream of becoming a cartoonist. 

The first company he created, Laugh-O-Grams, went bankrupt. But the young artist was positive about his abilities(способности) and moved to Hollywood to start again. He soon impressed(впечатлил) the cartoon industry with his creativity. This encouraged(вдохновило) him to draw new cartoons, which included(включали) his most famous creation, Mickey Mouse. Disney became very proud of this character and once said, “I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I’ve ever known.” 

Disney soon became a Hollywood celebrity(знаменитость). In 1932 he won a special Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse. He also created new characters such as Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. But he had a rival(соперник). Max Fleischer’s cartoon creations (including Betty Boop) were also very popular with audiences. However(однако), Walt Disney wasn’t worried about this. “I have been up against tough competition all my life,” he said, “I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.” 

Soon after, he started making cartoon films. His first motion picture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was an instant hit(мгновенный хит). But this was just the start. He made many more successful films including classics such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan. But Disney didn’t like the Hollywood celebrity lifestyle(стиль жизни). For him family was more important and he always found time to see his wife Lilly and their two daughters. “A man should never neglect(пренебрегать) his family for business,” he once said. 

These days, the Walt Disney Company is a huge empire with theme parks, TV networks and film production companies, but still with the little mouse as its mascot(талисман). Disney’s story is inspirational(вдохновляющая) for us all. As he once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage(мужество) to pursue(преследовать) them.”

@Albion_LS