For ten years before the creation of Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney struggled with, failed, and eventually mastered the art and business of animation. Most biographies begin in 1928, when Steamboat Willie was released, making its reator an icon for generations.But Steamboat Willie was neither Disney's first cartoon nor, surprisingly, Mickey's first appearance. Prior to this, Walt Disney worked in a variety of venues and studios, refining what would become known as the Disney style. Walt Before Mickey is an enlightening and engaging volume that offers a critical biography of a man at a crucial juncture in his life, and traces the challenges he faced and the choices he made that would lead him to become a global figure.