“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.”
Walt Disney, Disneyland; October 27, 1954
Do you know that Walt Disney himself was Mickey Mouse’s voice in the the first Disney Cartoon with sound?
This is why on November 18, 1928 the Disney company celebrates Mickey’s birthday, even though he first appeared in a silent film, Plane Crazy, six months before.
Mickey Mouse replaced Oswald the Lucky Rabbit; a character Disney had created but was owned by Universal Pictures in a deal set up by Charles Mintz. The break came when he learnt that Charles had taken not only all his animators but also Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!, except for Walt’s friend Mr Ub Iwerks,
He and Ub Iwerks then created a Mickey Mouse silent cartoon Plane Crazy in just two weeks in April 1928!
They realised there was a need for sound, so in November 1928, they released Steamboat Willie with Disney providing Mickie’s voice.
The Disney company went on the become one of the world’s largest entertainment empires, and eventually bought back the rights to Oswald!
Isn’t History Fun!
10 questions to discuss:
- Beyond the initial inspiration, what factors contributed to Mickey Mouse’s enduring popularity compared to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?
- How did the introduction of sound impact Mickey Mouse’s character development and animation techniques?
- What were the key strategies and innovations that allowed the Disney company to grow into a global entertainment empire?
- Do you think Walt Disney’s personal vision and leadership style were crucial to the company’s success? Why or why why not?
- What ethical considerations surrounded the initial loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and its eventual reacquisition by Disney?
- How do you think Walt Disney’s original quote about Mickey Mouse reflects his broader vision and values regarding animation and entertainment?
- Can you identify any other iconic characters or creations that originated from similar challenges or setbacks faced by their creators?
- How has Mickey Mouse’s image and representation evolved over the years, and what cultural contexts might have influenced those changes?
- What are some of the criticisms or controversies surrounding the Disney company’s history and portrayal of certain characters or themes?
- In what ways is Mickey Mouse still relevant and influential in popular culture today, beyond nostalgia or childhood memories?
For more on this go to:
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Steamboat_Willie
https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/walt-disney-ub-iwerks-steamboat-willie-1928/
https://historydaily.org/steamboat-willie-facts-stories-trivia-mickey
© Tony Dalton