Walt Disney built a media and entertainment company that stands as one of the most powerful on the planet, won more Academy Awards than anybody in history, created a cinematic art form, and invented a new kind of American vacation destination. Disney's work counts adoring fans on every continent and critics who decried its smooth façade of sentimentality and stubborn optimism, its feel-good re-write of American history. Part one of this two-part series focuses on Disney's early career, Hollywood success, and his battle with maintaining a growing company.

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Walt Disney --(3:22) -- Early Years -- (2:37) -- Animation Industry -- (2:33) -- Family Business -- (3:17) -- Value of Ideas -- (2:13) -- Family Partnership -- (3:16) -- Disney Brothers' Studio -- (3:01) -- Oswald the Lucky Rabbit -- (3:08) -- Disney the Driver -- (2:25) -- Memories of Marceline -- (2:53) -- Birth of a Mouse -- (3:15) -- Sound-Synchronization -- (4:00) -- Mickey Mouse Merchandise -- (3:42) -- Success and Mental Fatigue -- (3:46) -- Artistic Cartoons -- (4:26) -- Disney Studio Community -- (3:21) -- Snow White Proposition -- (3:04) -- Animator as Performer -- (4:13) -- Snow White's Approaching Deadline -- (3:34) -- Premiere of Snow White -- (4:07) -- Motion Picture History -- (4:16) -- A True American Original -- (3:58) -- Honorable Mention -- (2:34) -- Coming of Age Animations -- (2:27) -- High Standards of Art -- (4:35) -- Building a Dream Studio -- (3:07) -- Personality Animation -- (5:19) -- Big Business -- (2:05) -- Ambition and Criticism -- (3:01) -- Financial Losses -- (4:14) -- Unions Emerge -- (2:33) -- Screen Cartoonist's Guild -- (3:51) -- Disney Employees Picket -- (2:28) -- Credits: Walt Disney: Part 1 -- (2:29).