The Man Behind the Mouse

Whether you’re a fan of Disney or just history in general, it’s clear to see that Walt was an interesting figure who was both loved and despised. Decades after his initial success, let’s look back on his life and the legacy he created to really separate the good from the bad.

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1. A Bad Artist

Walt Disney is famously known for his artwork and animations, which were the cornerstone of his brand’s success. Mickey Mouse in particular would become the mascot of his world, but it turns out Walt needed animator Fred Moore to help him figure out how to draw that too. In fact, Disney struggled with drawing and was even fired from being a cartoonist in 1922.

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2. A Boys Club

Despite the talent of many female animators who showcased Walt their work in hopes of being hired, he kept his company a mainly boy’s club. Women were, in fact, hired, but only as color and ink girls. Turns out Walt preferred to hire only men for the position of animators.

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3. The Work of Others

A lot of Disney’s workers never really got the credit they deserved for their painstaking work. As the head of the company, Disney was big on signing his name onto the work of others and ensured all the focus was on the company rather than the individuals.

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4. Insensitive Art

Without getting too into it, it’s a well-known fact that many of Disney’s early works were racially insensitive. The company has apologized profoundly for this past behavior, but there’s no doubt that his company did major damage by propelling these stereotypes.

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5. An Iron Fist

A good boss is capable of having open discussions and approaching company matters with a democratic outlook. But not Disney! In fact, he was known to fire people over disagreements and even did this to a producer who worked with him for two decades over an argument on filming location.

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6. An Arrogant Individual

It’s pretty common for people with money and fame to let it all get to their head, and Disney was no different. He was an arrogant businessman who thought he was solely self-made and that he could get away with whatever he wanted at his company.

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7. Dress Code

Speaking of his micromanaging antics, Disney wasn’t only controlling of his employees, but also of his guests. For instance, it took 60 years for his ban on beards and goatees to be overturned. It turns out that in the ‘50s and ‘60s, this rule even applied to guests who tried to enter the park.

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8. A Capitalist at Heart

Like many U.S. businessmen, Disney was a capitalist through and through. That’s to say, he was greedy and concerned with the bottom line. He wasn’t afraid to serve as a national mouthpiece and use his movies to spread propaganda as long as it ensured a happy day.

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9. Labor Disputes

You might think working for the man himself would be a dream come true, but plenty of his employees disagreed. Due to a lack of pay and terribly long hours, in 1941 the workers went on strike. This wounded Disney’s ego, and he blamed communists for causing the strike. His ego also prevented him from negotiating with the strikers, and it’s only when his brother stepped in and sent him on a trip to Latin America was the strike able to be quietly resolved in his absence.

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10. Lack of Empathy

While Disney might not necessarily be a terrible person for his actions, it’s clear to see he lacked empathy. He wasn’t able to understand his workers' desire to earn more, especially after the success of Snow White. He wanted to obsessively control them and wanted them to be grateful for it without the pay.

Now that we have talked about the negatives of Disney and his legacy, here are 10 undeniable ways he changed the world.

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1. A Major Brand

Undoubtedly, Walt Disney was just one person, but what he left in his wake was one of the biggest brands in the world. A brand that now has major social impact and is synonymous with the happiest place in the world.

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2. A Legacy of Films

Walt laid the groundwork for the company’s film offerings and made animation history with his princess films. The company would continue to build on this, and now many of the stories Disney tells, from The Lion King to The Little Mermaid, are ingrained in the human narrative.

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3. An Innovator

Disney wasn’t all hands-off when it came to animating either. In fact, he invented new technology and worked diligently to push the boundary of what could be done. During the Great Depression, he led the creation of the first color cartoons, as well as the first animated feature-length film.

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4. A Positive Figure

For all the people who disliked Disney or had issues with him, there were also plenty of people who adored him. Some of his workers left glowing reviews, referring to him as a genius and a trusted friend. This just goes to show how varied a personality can be.

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5. Iconic Characters

But when you separate the artist from their works, it becomes clear that Disney has created individuals that would go on to be cultural icons. So many people are familiar with Mickey Mouse, with Donald Duck, and with Cinderella, and this generational impact is thanks to Disney.

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6. Theme Park Fever

Disney also innovated on theme parks, introducing Disneyland in 1955 and Disney World in 1971. These parks were unlike anything the world had seen before, as they were immersive and tied in everything from rides to food to characters.

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7. The American Identity

Americans regard Walt Disney with pride, as he stands for many key beliefs that are ingrained in their society. He showcases the extent of capitalism, is wildly ambitious, and was able to pursue and achieve the American dream.

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8. Educating Artists

Disney also invested in artistic education and supported and even helped to establish the California Institute for the Arts. Nowadays, many animators and artists turn to this institution to hone their crafts.

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9. A Workforce Pillar

Despite its initial work controversies, now many people aspire to work at Disney. It’s a reliable employer for animators and artists, who have limited opportunities anyway when they enter the workforce.

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10. A Cash Cow

David Bowie once famously said, “Mickey Mouse has turned out a cow,” referring to the sheer success and wealth accumulated by Disney and his characters. Now it’s a major company that supports the economy and is so ingrained in the daily life of millions of people.

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