Walt Disney: Was the Man Really Behind the Magic?

Was the Man Really Behind the Magic?
"Try to imagine a world without Walt Disney.   A world without his magic and whimsy" ("Walt" 1).   With Walt's optimism and persistence, he was able to help animation become what it is today.   He had the ability to "see the entire picture" while connecting the past to the future to make life more enjoyable ("Walt" 1 of 5).   “‘You won't find anyone who can really explain the magic of Walt,’ said Disney artist Peter Ellenshaw.   ‘People see him either in black or white, but he was an extraordinary mixture.   He was a common man who was endowed with a touch of magic’ “(qtd.   in Greene 6).
Disney once said his magic "was all started by a mouse" (qtd. in "Walt" 2 of 5).   Although his success created one of the biggest theme parks in the world, his start in animation was a long, bumpy road.   "His most popular character was stolen, his best animators had walked out, his studio was in debt and unstaffed.   Anyone else would have called it quits.   But Walt Disney had another idea – one just taking shape on his sketchpad" (Greene 1).   Mickey Mouse was a secret, and only a handful of people knew about the soon-to-be star.   Out of that handful of people, Ub Iwerks did most of the drawings.   So why has he never been recognized with the famous mouse?   Where is Ub's credit and should he receive credit?   Walt Disney was forced to start over early in his career where he created and was recognized for his most famous character, Mickey Mouse, but is credit given where credit is deserved?
Before solving this ongoing debate, especially with Disney scholars, we need to learn about the background of Walt Disney.   Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois to Elias and Flora Disney.   He had three older brothers: Roy, Ray, and Herbert, and a younger sister, Ruth.   When Walt turned four, the Disney family moved to a farm in Marceline, Missouri.   Marceline was "where the magic began" and "memories that stayed with him throughout his...