In 1923, the fledgling Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio (now The Walt Disney Company) released a groundbreaking series of short films known as the "Alice Comedies." The first film in this series, titled Alice's Wonderland, was actually completed just before Walt Disney moved from Kansas City to Hollywood, but it served as the "pilot" that secured his first distribution contract with Margaret J. Winkler in October 1923. These shorts were revolutionary for their time because they featured a live-action little girl (originally played by Virginia Davis) interacting with a fully animated world and cartoon characters. This was a reversal of the "Out of the Inkwell" style popular at the time, where cartoons entered the real world. While Mickey Mouse wouldn't arrive until 1928, the Alice Comedies were the foundation of the Disney empire, proving Walt's ability to blend technical innovation with storytelling. The success of this series allowed the studio to grow and eventually transition to the "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" series and later, the iconic Silly Symphonies.