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In 1928, the young Hollywood filmmaker directed his efforts toward raising money for more cartoons starring a character he invented. Arriving in New York, he found that his backer was doing worse than refusing him money -- he was hiring away his staff and taking possession of his cartoon character. The filmmaker had to start over again. During the train ride home, he sat with a sketch pad. By the time he arrived, a new creation danced on his page. His wife said it would be a flop since Mortimer was too highbrow a name for an animated mouse. So Walt Disney gave in -- and changed it to Mickey.