Walt Disney: The Success of a Mouse
The animator used family background, serendipity, and desirable disadvantages to become a success.
By Lexy Andersen | Elementary Education Major
Walt Disney bathed in bitterness, inching along in his 1948 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Convertible Coupe as more than half of Disney Studios workers swarm him in giant clusters. Disney filed his way through more than half of his striking workers. Shouts and chants filled the streets of Burbank, California. Signs screamed, “Unfair!” and “It’s up to Walt to stop the halt!” That day, Walt Disney lost his family. Not Lillian, Diane, or Roy, his immediate family, but his work family. His own creation hated him. In 1941, more than 300 of Disney’s workers went on strike demanding better wages. The light inside Disney dimmed. This wonderful, idyllic, utopian place was in shambles (“American Experience:Walt Disney” 1:00–1:37).
Walt Disney illuminates energy, charisma, and enthusiasm and those qualities mirror his works on the screen. He is the man behind the infamous mouse, Mickey. He is the man behind the beloved films, Pinocchio and Dumbo, which lead to more than 30 Academy Awards. Disney’s brilliant cinematic innovations drastically changed the animation world and left a legacy that is alive and thriving still today (“Walt: The Man Behind the Myth” Netflix Documentary 36:30–36:56). In author, Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: Story of Success, he examines the factors that contribute to high levels of success. “Outliers are those who have been given opportunities — and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them (267). All of Disney’s success comes from the ideas and theories in Gladwell’s book. Walt Disney capitalized on Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers theories of family background, serendipity, and desirable disadvantages leading to his success in film and animation.
The oinks of pigs, moos of cows, and neighs of horses rang in Walt Disney’s ears as he sat on a lump of hay in the barn of his father’s farm in Marceline, Missouri. Pictures of the farm animals filled the pages of his sketchbook. This barn was Disney’s escape from his abusive father. His escape from the outside world. His escape to create magical fantasies.
Disney embraced the animals around the farm due to lack of companionship in his family. His sinister father, Elias, was an eager advocate for corporal punishment. Walt Disney was the youngest of his three brothers, and therefore suffered many “corrective” beatings from his father. Roy, one of Walt Disney’s brothers and future business partner, was much older than him and was very busy working on the farm, while his mother, Flora, was drained from countless chores and broken in spirit from her oppressive husband. Disney spent a substantial amount of time during his childhood alone. That’s the time he cultivated characters and designed new fantasies (“Walt: The Man Behind the Myth” 3:43–5:00).
Elias’ mistreatment of Disney surely had an affect on him in his adult life. Treating a child negatively, like Elias did to Walt, causes isolation and solitude. George Holden, a professor of psychology at Southern Methodist University, who has published five books on parenting and child development put it this way, “Hurting your child can also harm the parent-child relationship by infusing it with pain and negative emotions. Children who are spanked are also more likely to act aggressively toward others because they don’t know any other way to behave” (“Effects of Physical Discipline Linger for Adults” CNN).
In Outliers, Gladwell tells the story of Chris Langan, whose IQ of 195 is higher than Einstein’s and is considered to be the smartest man in America. But instead of achieving the success his intelligence might predict, Langan had no family support as a child. His father disappeared before he was born, and he was raised in poverty. His mother’s second husband was murdered, and her third husband committed suicide. His parental sources didn’t have the ability to help him. Unlike many other successful people, Langan “had to make his way alone, and no one — not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires, and not even geniuses — ever makes it alone” Gladwell writes (115).
Elias Disney’s lack of support in Walt Disney’s childhood impacted him throughout his animation career. Although, Elias’ support wasn’t existent, it sparked a business partnership between Walt and his older brother, Roy. Together, they birthed a business titled “Laugh O Grams Studios” where they created moving images that then jump started Disney’s animation career. A tremendous amount of good came out of Elias’ behavior, but, down the road, when Disney Studios was at its peak, studio workers began to notice Walt Disney’s persona. He inherited traits of his father that made him an intimidating and powerful man. Floyd Norman, one of Disney’s animators said, “Walt walked down the hallway, he would give a loud cough. It was a warning sign, so we would know that the boss was in the area” (American Experience: Walt Disney” Documentary 0:12–0:21). Employees were afraid of him due to his aggressive demeanor. Ultimately, Elias’ behavior and support, or lack thereof, began to integrate into Disney’s personality, whether he liked it or not.
Wanda Bridgeforth, along with 19 other people, crammed into a six-bedroom house like a pack of sardines. No one could find steady work. Bridgeforth’s father had a degree in chemistry, and he could not get a job. Her mother sought out a job as a live-in domestic worker. The Bridgeforths lived in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It sparked a period of protests and hunger marches — and unionism spread like wildfire — but many people suffered quietly, ashamed of their poverty. No matter what their situation, the Great Depression changed those in the generation that survived it (“Survivors of the Great Depression Tell Their Stories” NPR Podcast).
In chapter five of Outliers, Louis and Regina Borgenicht experienced some of the same hardships Bridgeforth faced. They boarded a ship to America from Poland as Louis tried selling fish on the side of the street, but wasn’t getting the profits he hoped for. He then decided to become a pushcart peddler and the same issue arose. Finally, he dabbled in the manufacturing and clothing business, and him and his wife made 40 aprons in one night and sold all of them within a matter of hours the next day. The Borgenicht’s were living as immigrants during the Great Depression and making ends meet was tough, especially during a time of stagnation (139–142).
The serendipity of the Great Depression happened at the right place and the right time for Disney Studios. The Depression lasted from 1929–1939 and, during that time period and a few years after, Disney Studios released its five defining movies. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs debuted at the end of the Depression. This was the first Disney film to be produced in English, in technicolor, and made Disney Studios the most money. Then followed Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. These five films defined Disney Studios, some in a positive light and others in a negative one.
The Great Depression gripped America and as Disney Studios flourished, it provided an escape for Americans when they needed it most.
America in the 1930s, however, was not in prosperous state. Following the 1929 stock market crash, the economy gradually declining. Through 1932, Herbert Hoover was president and he did not believe the federal government should become directly involved in fixing the economy. In 1933, shortly after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected, “New Deal” programs sought to activate the economy and provide jobs. Still, there was a long road ahead. Unemployment by then had reached historic levels, as the nation’s financial system teetered on the edge of collapse. In the midst of this, the country looked for any signs of optimism, recovery, and prosperity. Some of that came from a surprising source — from Walt Disney’s animated creations. Mickey Mouse cartoons had become a hit, and new films of Mickey and his friends were being produced by Disney Studios at a rate of about one per month. But most importantly for the 1930s, the cartoons were proving to be a business catalyst (“The Great Depression” Khan Academy). The Great Depression gripped America and as Disney Studios flourished, it provided an escape for Americans when they needed it most.
Walt Disney jumps with joy as he wraps his arm around his older brother, Roy as they celebrate the opening of “Laugh-O-Grams,” Walt’s very first film studio. One-reel animated strips illuminated across the screens. This inaugural studio set the pattern for Disney’s entire animation career, until it went bankrupt. Roy handled the finances for the company, while Walt handled the business side. Until a group of creditors came along an threw the company into bankruptcy to seize the assets to pay the debt. Walt Disney felt crushed, as his very own animation company only lasted one year (“History” Thank You Disney Inc.).
Although Disney was heartbroken about his business failure, it wasn’t an anomaly in the business world. Neil Patel, an entrepreneur, cofounder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bars, KISSmetrics says, “Nine out of ten startups will fail. You have to be able to do something that 90% of businesses haven’t done yet” (“90% of Startups Fail: Here’s What You Need To Know about 10%” Forbes). The odds of Laugh O Grams Studios lasting were slim and that inspired Walt Disney to set off and join Roy in Los Angeles in the hopes of making a name for himself.
A few months after getting settled in California, Walt, Roy, and Ub Iwerks, an animator and cartoonist, formed Disney Bros. Studios. Disney then created a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. With his round, white face, big button nose and floppy black ears, the smiling Oswald was an instant hit.
In Outliers, Gladwell depicts the story of Joe Flom. Flom was a lawyer at one of the most successful law firms in the nation, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom but his path to get there wasn’t smooth sailing. Joe Flom was born to two extremely poor immigrant parents during the Great Depression. After graduating high school, he worked as an office boy in a law firm during the day, while attending City College of New York on a pre-law major at night. Flom was Jewish and during the 1940s and 1950s, Jews were highly discriminated against. Many Jewish lawyers were shut out of big Wall Street firms because of discriminatory hiring policies that catered to White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Because of this, many had to start firms on their own and take work other firms would not accept. Although this discrimination and racism may be seen as a disadvantage, it ended up giving Jewish lawyers an upper hand. This disadvantage gave Jewish lawyers vast experience in cases that top law firms wouldn’t even touch. The demand for these tough cases were high and the only ones with the experience were Jewish lawyers. This disadvantage was ultimately an advantage that made Jewish lawyers some of the most successful in the nation (116–119).
It was because of his failure that launched him on the path of success.
If Laugh O Grams Studios hadn’t failed, Disney wouldn’t have moved to Los Angeles and created the biggest animation company in the world. It was because of his failure that launched him on the path of success. Failure of a company is most likely looked at as a disadvantage, but, in Disney’s case, the failure of Laugh O Grams Studios was a hidden advantage that gifted him many extraordinary opportunities.
Disney strolls into Disney Bros. Studios eager to work on a new character. He settles in wearing a collared button-down with a sweater over and his pencil begins to move. Strokes of his pencil line the body. Black ink fills in the curvature of the ears. Yellow paint pigments the oversized shoes. Walt Disney turned Oswald the Rabbit into a mouse. The debut of Mickey Mouse had arrived. (Walt: The Man Behind the Myth 12:43–13:05).
Gladwell describes success as “not a random act. It arises out of a predictable and powerful set of circumstances and opportunities” (155). Walt Disney was able to take full advantage of the opportunities he was given. His success sparked in the right place, at the right time and took advantage of his disadvantages. His willingness to persevere through a troublesome childhood shows true strength of character. Many loved Disney and many hated him, but one can’t argue with the successful impact he had on 20th century culture.
WORKS CITED
American Experience: Walt Disney. Directed by Sarah Colt, performance by Oliver Platt and Ron Miller. WGBH Educational Foundation, 2015. PBS, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/walt-disney/
Ellis, Neenah. “Survivors of the Great Depression Tell Their Stories.” National Public Radio. 27 November 2008. Transcript. Accessed 28 April 2019.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97468008
Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. New York. Back Bay Books, Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Print.
Grinberg, Emanuella. “Effects of Physical Discipline Linger for Adults.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Nov. 2011, www.cnn.com/2011/11/07/living/effects-of-physical-discipline/index.html.
“HISTORY.” Thank You Walt Disney, Inc.,
www. thankyouwaltdisney.org/history/.
Krasniewicz, Louise. Walt Disney: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Company, 2010. Print.
Patel, Neil. “90% Of Startups Fail: Here’s What You Need To Know About The 10%.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 16 Jan. 2015, www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2015/01/16/90-of-startups-will-fail-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-10/#1fc32edd6679.
“The Great Depression.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/rise-to-world-power/great-depression/a/the-great-depression.
Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. Directed by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, performance by Dick Van Dyke, Roy Disney, and Art Linkletter. Pantheon Pictures, 2001. Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/searchq=walt&jbv=70283202&jbp=2&jbr=0
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lexy Andersen, a freshman from Rochester, MN, seeks to have her own classroom someday to inspire the future. Andersen enjoys boat rides on Woman Lake, running along the Douglas Trail in Rochester, and watching her guilty pleasure, the Bachelor/ette.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
It’s okay to ask for help. It’s doesn’t show weakness, it’s actually shows strength.
Scott has a lot of books in his office. Half of them I doubt he’s even read. But, Scott’s office is a place to where criticism is offered out of a place of love and encouragement. Scott’s office is a place to converse about life.
My hands hold droplets of sweat. My knees tremble as I make my way to the front. My voice shakes as if I’m about to burst into tears. I am giving a speech. A quick speech in front of my peers. But, why does it have to be so nerve-racking? I can talk to my classmates perfectly fine outside of class, but once I’m put in a timed, high-pressure situation I tense up. I’ve learned to let it go. Be comfortable. Be awkward.
I made my mother cry on Mother’s Day from the card I wrote her. I used techniques from Eric Adler. Naming dogs engages the reader in a way that captures all five senses.
Writing activities in class helped me improve my writing skills and get to know my classmates on a deeper level, rather than the “Where are you from?” or “What’s your major?” trivial conversations.
The Success Paper felt like five mini books. I didn’t have to cram the night before. I got to show my personality through my hero’s success.
Group selfies captured a split second of the work that took way too long to finish.
Writing allowed me to pour my heart out on the paper. My fingers typed and wrote what my mouth couldn’t say. Writing has become an outlet.
Outliers examines qualities in order to be successful, and, as someone who strives for success, I want to apply Gladwell’s success traits to my own life. This book’s storytelling kept me intrigued and entertained, which is hard to do for a non-bookworm kind of girl.
Students of Scott Winter’s Inquiry Seminar class trickle in as the clock displays 1:50pm. Scott strolls in with his brown converse, a cup of coffee in hand, and either a ball cap or newsboy hat, depending on the day. Scott makes a witty comment and we get started. Writing activities, group discussions, and editing papers embody the past semester. Inquiry class is a place where raw and real emotion happened. It’s a place where many laughs were shared with people who are no longer strangers, but friends. Inquiry class is the place to be.
(Editor’s note: This paper was written as part of a GES160 Inquiry Seminar class at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN)
