How long did Walt disneys careers last before animation?

Before venturing into animation, Walt Disney's career included work as a commercial artist and a cartoonist. He co-founded a commercial art studio called Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists in 1920. Shortly after, he began creating short films, leading to the establishment of his first animation studio, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, in 1921. This transition set the stage for his later success in animation, particularly with the creation of Mickey Mouse in 1928.