Trouble in the 'Magic Kingdom': Governance Problems at Disney

Disney was first set up by Walt and his brother Roy. O. Disney (the father of the present Roy Disney) in 1923, as a small studio. The studio was moderately successful, making and selling short animated films and commercials. In 1927, during a train journey from New York to Los Angeles (where the studio was based), Walt created the character of Mickey Mouse. In November 1927, the Disney studio made "Steamboat Willie", the first Mickey Mouse animated film.

It was also the first animated film synchronized to sound. The movie was very successful and Mickey Mouse soon became the world's most loved cartoon character. Over the years, the Disney studio grew and started making several other animated films apart from Mickey Mouse cartoons. In the late-1920s, Disney animators started working on an animation series called "Silly Symphonies".