The Tale of Mickey Mouse: How a Little Mouse Brought Disney Millions and Taught Us to Never Give Up

The Birth of Mickey Mouse: A Symbol of Hope and Resilience

It’s hard to imagine that Mickey Mouse, the iconic symbol of global pop culture, was born out of desperation. Yet, this is the story of the legendary mouse that once again proves: crises in life should be seen as opportunities for new beginnings.

The Early Days: Walt Disney and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

In the 1920s, American producer and animator Walt Disney was already widely recognized for his animated characters, particularly Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The cartoons featuring this long-eared creature were a massive success. Seeking to increase his income, Disney approached Universal Pictures, the studio distributing Oswald, for additional investments. However, the meeting in Los Angeles left Disney in shock.

At the studio, Disney was shown a contract he had previously signed in haste. The agreement clearly stated that all rights to Oswald belonged to the studio, not the creator. Disney was offered a position at the studio, and most of his colleagues were lured away, but he refused. He believed in his potential and talent.

The Birth of a Legend: From Mortimer to Mickey

Disney didn’t waste time. On his return journey, aboard the train from Los Angeles, he made the first sketches of a new character. The prototype was a mouse. Disney wanted to create someone radically different from his previous characters.

Upon his return, Disney showed the sketches to his friend and colleague Ub Iwerks (who remained loyal to Disney and refused to join Universal Pictures). Together, they finalized the image of the amusing mouse, initially naming him Mortimer Mouse.

So, where did the name Mickey come from? Disney’s wife rejected the formal name for a cartoon character and suggested a softer one: Mickey.

The Debut and Initial Struggles

Mickey Mouse made his screen debut in May 1928. However, the reception was lukewarm. Despite the trendy theme (Mickey was paragliding, a popular activity at the time) and his romance with Minnie, the show was unremarkable.

Many would have considered this a failure, especially since Disney wanted to prove to the offending studio that he could succeed without Oswald. But Disney was not one to give up.

The Turning Point: Steamboat Willie

Undeterred, Disney decided to try a different approach. He created a new cartoon featuring a steamboat, with Mickey in the lead role. In November 1928,