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.^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "The Walt Disney Company's ideological program shifted from conservatism in the 1930's-70's to liberal multiculturalism in the 1990's.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by
Walt Disney and
Ub Iwerks[1] and voiced by Walt Disney. The Walt Disney Company celebrates his birth as November 18, 1928 upon the release of
Steamboat Willie,
[2] although Mickey had already appeared six months earlier in
Plane Crazy (
Steamboat Willie being the first Mickey Mouse Cartoon with
sound).
.^ The animated main character has Western sensibilities and, although attractive and behaving admirably, does not evoke identification in most Chinese moviegoers.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ This study is a quantitative content analysis of characters appearing in the 19 most successful and most recent Disney animated movies.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ ""Now Mickey Mouse enters art's temple": Walt Disney at the intersection ofart and entertainment."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "This essay deals with two important comics, Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and George Herriman's Krazy Kat, and considers the social, cultural, psychological and symbolic significance of the main characters and their creators.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Creation and debut
One of the original Mickeys.
When Disney asked for a larger budget for his popular Oswald series, Mintz announced that Disney could keep doing the Oswald series, as long as he agreed to a budget cut and went on the payroll. Mintz owned Oswald and thought he had Disney over a barrel. Angrily, Disney refused the deal and returned to produce the final Oswald cartoons he contractually owed Mintz. Disney was dismayed at the betrayal by his staff, but determined to restart from scratch.
.^ UCB Main PN1999.W27 .S5 1982 UCB Moffitt PN1999.W27 .S5 1982 Sito, Tom "The great Disney Studio strike: the civil war of animation."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ UCB Main PN1998.A3 .D568 UCB Moffitt PN1998.A3 .D568 Thomas, Bob Walt Disney, the Art of the Animation; The Story of the Disney Studio contributin to a new art, by Bob Thomas.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Disney animated film)(Education Pages) New York Times v144 (Wed, July 12, 1995):A16(N), B6(L), col 1, 24 col in.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ O'Boyle, J.G. ""Be sure you're right, then go ahead": the early Disney westerns."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "There's Always Tomorrowland: Disney and the Hypercinematic Experience."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
In the spring of 1928, Disney asked Ub Iwerks to start drawing up new character ideas. Iwerks tried sketches of various animals, such as dogs and cats, but none of these appealed to Disney. A female cow and male horse were also rejected. They would later turn up as
Clarabelle Cow and
Horace Horsecollar. (A male frog, also rejected, would later show up in Iwerks own
Flip the Frog series.)
[1] .^ Portions of this script are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures and are used without permission, but I'm not making any bucks off it, so...- A Goofy Movie 31 January 2010 12:52 UTC www.fpx.de [Source type: General]
.^ Draws on studies of the Walt Disney Company that have used a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to challenge some of the myths that surround the company, its products, and its creator, Walt Disney.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
These inspired Ub Iwerks to create a new mouse character for Disney.
[1] .^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Allers was asked to return from projects outside Disney to attempt several alternate, more upbeat endings, but ultimately the executives let him restore the original ending true to Andersen's intent."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ However, Disney's stereotypical portrayal of blacks in the movie was a distortion of the original texts and the Uncle Remus character."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
[4][5] .^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ ""Now Mickey Mouse enters art's temple": Walt Disney at the intersection ofart and entertainment."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
[6] Said Disney:
- "We felt that the public, and especially the children, like animals that are cute and little. I think we are rather indebted to Charlie Chaplin for the idea. We wanted something appealing, and we thought of a tiny bit of a mouse that would have something of the wistfulness of Chaplin — a little fellow trying to do the best he could. .^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.
- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse."[7]
Plane Crazy
.^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Walt Disney co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Iwerks was also the main
animator for this short, and reportedly spent six weeks working on it.
.^ UCB Main PN1999.W27 .S5 1982 UCB Moffitt PN1999.W27 .S5 1982 Sito, Tom "The great Disney Studio strike: the civil war of animation."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ This study was designed to identify themes about couples and families portrayed in 26 Disney animated classics and recently released movies.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Focuses on Walt Disney's long cinematic career and his desire to control not only his audience but also every facet of his productions, and describes the work of the animators in his employ.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ UCB Main PN1998.A3 .D568 UCB Moffitt PN1998.A3 .D568 Thomas, Bob Walt Disney, the Art of the Animation; The Story of the Disney Studio contributin to a new art, by Bob Thomas.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ (Walt Disney movie) New York Times v136 (Thu, Aug 6, 1987):17(N), C1(L), col 1, 24 col in.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Walt Disney Productions movie 'Aladdin') (Editorial) New York Times v142 (Wed, July 14, 1993):A14(N), A18(L), col 1, 6 col in.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
This short would be the last they animated under this somewhat awkward situation.
The plot of
Plane Crazy was fairly simple. Mickey is apparently trying to become an
aviator in emulation of
Charles Lindbergh. After building his own
aircraft, he proceeds to ask Minnie to join him for its first flight, during which he repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempts to kiss her, eventually resorting to force. Minnie then
parachutes out of the plane. While distracted by her, Mickey loses control of the plane. This becomes the beginning of an out-of-control flight that results in a series of humorous situations and eventually in the crash-landing of the aircraft.
Mickey as portrayed in
Plane Crazy was mischievous, amorous, and has often been described as a rogue. At the time of its first release, however,
Plane Crazy apparently failed to impress audiences, and to add insult to injury, Walt could not find a distributor. Though understandably disappointed, Walt went on to produce a second Mickey short:
The Gallopin' Gaucho.Early landmarks
The Gallopin' Gaucho, the first encounter with Black / Peg Leg Pete
.^ Walt Disney co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Focuses on Walt Disney's long cinematic career and his desire to control not only his audience but also every facet of his productions, and describes the work of the animators in his employ.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ The animated man : a life of Walt Disney Berkeley : University of California Press, c2007.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
The
gaucho of the title was Mickey himself. He is first seen riding on a
rhea, instead of a
horse as would be expected (or an
ostrich as is often reported). He soon encounters "Cantina Argentina", apparently serving as the local
bar and
restaurant. Mickey proceeds to enter the establishment and take a seat. He apparently just wants to relax with some
drinking and
tobacco smoking. Also present at the establishment are
Pegleg Pete (later renamed Black Pete, or just Pete), a wanted
outlaw and fellow customer for the time being, and Minnie Mouse, the barmaid and dancer of the establishment, at the time performing a
tango. Both customers soon begin to
flirt with Minnie and to rival one another. At some point Pete proceeds in
kidnapping Minnie and attempts to escape on his horse. Mickey gives chase on his rhea. He soon catches up to his rival and they proceed to fight with
swords. Mickey emerges the victor of this joust. The finale of the short has Mickey and Minnie riding the rhea into the distance.
In later interviews, Iwerks would comment that Mickey as featured in
The Gallopin' Gaucho was intended to be a
swashbuckler, an adventurer modeled after Fairbanks himself.
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Based on Mickey and Minnie acting as strangers to each other before the finale, it was presumably intended to feature their original acquaintance to each other as well. Modern audiences have commented that all three characters seem to be coming out of rough,
lower class backgrounds that little resemble their later versions. Consequently the short is arguably of some historical significance.
.^ Walt Disney Productions movie 'Aladdin') (Editorial) New York Times v142 (Wed, July 14, 1993):A14(N), A18(L), col 1, 6 col in.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Reportedly Mickey was at first thought to be much too similar to Oswald and this resulted in the apparent lack of interest in him.
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ ""Now Mickey Mouse enters art's temple": Walt Disney at the intersection ofart and entertainment."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Addition of sound to the series
.^ Walt Disney co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Walt Disney's 1942 animated film Bambi, based on Felix Salten's 1928 novel, has been influential in determining American attitudes toward wildlife and hunting.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' discuss working for Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Iwerks again served as the head animator, assisted by Johnny Cannon,
Les Clark, Wilfred Jackson and
Dick Lundy. This short was intended as a parody of
Buster Keaton's
Steamboat Bill Jr., first released on May 12 of the same year. Although it was the third Mickey cartoon produced, it was the first to find a distributor, and thus has been cited as Mickey's debut.
Willie featured changes to Mickey's appearance (in particular, simplifying his eyes to large dots) that established his look for later cartoons.
The cartoon was not the first cartoon to feature a soundtrack connected to the action.
Fleischer Studios, headed by brothers
Dave and
Max Fleischer, had already released a number of sound cartoons using the
DeForest system in the mid-1920s. However, these cartoons did not keep the sound synchronized throughout the film.
.^ Mouse tracks : the story of Walt Disney Records Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, 2006.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
This precise timing is apparent during the "Turkey in the Straw" sequence, when Mickey's actions exactly match the accompanying instruments. Animation historians have long debated who had served as the
composer for the film's original music. This role has been variously attributed to Wilfred Jackson,
Carl Stalling and Bert Lewis, but identification remains uncertain.
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ ""Now Mickey Mouse enters art's temple": Walt Disney at the intersection ofart and entertainment."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Walt Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' expresses two conflicting gendered voices which enact the masculine and feminine conceptions of power.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
The script had Mickey serving aboard Steamboat Willie under Captain Pete. At first he is seen piloting the steamboat while
whistling. Then Pete arrives to take over piloting and angrily throws him out of the boat's bridge. They soon have to stop for cargo to be transferred on board. Almost as soon as they leave, Minnie arrives. She was apparently supposed to be their only passenger but was late to board. Mickey manages to pick her up from the river shore. Minnie accidentally drops her
sheet music for the popular folk song "
Turkey in the Straw". A
goat which was among the animals transported on the steamboat proceeds to eat the sheet music. Consequently Mickey and Minnie use its tail to turn it into a
phonograph which is playing the tune. Through the rest of the short, Mickey uses various other animals as
musical instruments. Captain Pete is eventually disturbed by all this noise and places Mickey back to work. Mickey is reduced to peeling
potatoes for the rest of the trip. A
parrot attempts to make fun of him but is then thrown to the river by Mickey. This served as the final scene of this short.
Audiences at the time of
Steamboat Willie's release were reportedly impressed by the use of sound for comedic purposes.
Sound films or "talkies" were still considered innovative.
.^ To date, no research has examined images of couples and families in a wide sampling of Disney feature-length animated films.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Images of couples and families in Disney feature-length animated films."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Immigration is discussed as a subtext in the Disney movie 'The Lion King' (1994), revealing societal anxiety over immigration of Latinos/as to the United States.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ Walt Disney : the triumph of the American imagination New York : Knopf, 2006.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ (Walt Disney Pictures depicts Native Americans in a sensitive manner in its in its new children's film).- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Native American girl, and about her involvement with Captain John Smith, bear very little resemblance to the story presented in Walt Disney Co.'s new...- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ Cartoons produced by commercial Hollywood studios in the mid-20th century are a case study of gender construction in American society.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Second, the volume of entertainment produced by the Disney Studios "resists interpretive synthesis."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ [Expanded Academic Index] Lacroix, Celeste "Images of Animated Others: The Orientalization of Disney's Cartoon Heroines From The Little Mermaid to The Hunchback of Notre Dame."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
As a result Mickey would soon become the most prominent animated character of the time.
.^ "Analyzes the distortion of the principles of surrealism for the American audience of the 1930's and considers the work of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali in this context."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Walt Disney : the triumph of the American imagination New York : Knopf, 2006.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
A fourth Mickey short,
The Barn Dance, was also put into production; however, Mickey does not actually speak until
The Karnival Kid in 1929 when his first spoken words were "Hot dogs, Hot dogs!" After
Steamboat Willie was released, Mickey became a close competitor to
Felix the Cat, and his popularity would grow as he was continuously featured in sound cartoons. By 1929, Felix would lose popularity among theater audiences, and Pat Sullivan decided to produce all future Felix cartoons in sound as a result.
[8] Unfortunately, audiences did not respond well to Felix's transition to sound and by 1930, Felix had faded from the screen
[9]Addition of color
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Produced under the shadow of the Cold War and the launching of the first nuclear submarine - named the Nautilus after Captain Nemo's famous boat - the Disney film of Leagues shows viewers a Nemo grown far less heroic.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Original Trademark
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ One of the more popular forms of children's media is the Disney animated feature-length movie.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Montana 48: (1) 2-17 Spring 1998 Stephenson, Tracy "My Silence Speaks Volumes: Mickey Mouse and the Ideology of an Icon."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Walter E. Disney filed the original application on May 21, 1928 to the
USPTO and indicated that the trademark was used for, "motion pictures reproduced in copies for sale."
[10] The application further stipulates that the trademark was in continuous use on or about May 1, 1928 and was, "applied or affixed to the goods by photographing the trade-mark upon motion-pictures films."
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ ""Now Mickey Mouse enters art's temple": Walt Disney at the intersection ofart and entertainment."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Mickey Mouse as an icon and as a symbol of Walt Disney Co.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
of Burbank, California.
Roles and design
Mickey as a suitor
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ Walt Disney and Europe: European influences on the animated feature films of Walt Disney / Bloomington: Indiana University Press, c1999.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Walt Disney's 1942 animated film Bambi, based on Felix Salten's 1928 novel, has been influential in determining American attitudes toward wildlife and hunting.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Focuses on Walt Disney's long cinematic career and his desire to control not only his audience but also every facet of his productions, and describes the work of the animators in his employ.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
This short is notable for featuring Mickey turned down by Minnie in favor of Pete. It is also an unusual appearance of the Pete character; previously depicted as a menacing
villain, he is portrayed here as a well-mannered gentleman. In addition, Mickey was not depicted as a
hero but as a rather ineffective young suitor. In his sadness and crying over his failure, Mickey appears unusually emotional and vulnerable. It has been commented, however, that this only serves to add to the audience's empathy for the character.
First gloved appearance
"Ever wonder why we always wear these white gloves?" - Various characters (with minor variations)
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
This short introduced Mickey's
gloves. Mickey can be seen wearing them in most of his subsequent appearances. Supposedly one reason for adding the white gloves was to allow audiences to distinguish the characters' hands when they appeared against their bodies, as both were black (Mickey did not appear in color until
The Band Concert in 1935). The three black lines on the backs of the gloves represent darts in the gloves' fabric extending from between the digits of the hand, typical of
kid glove design of the era.
Depiction as a regular mouse
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
It was essentially a remake of one of the Alice Comedies,
Alice Rattled by Rats, which had been first released on January 15, 1926.
Kat Nipp makes his second appearance, though his name is given as "Tom Cat" (this describes his being a
tomcat, and the character should not be confused with the co-star of the
Tom and Jerry series). He is seen getting drunk on
alcoholic beverages. Then he leaves his house to go
hunting. In his absence an army of mice invade his house in search of food. Among them are Mickey and Minnie, who proceed to turn this gathering into a
party. This short is unusual in depicting Mickey and Minnie as having the size and partly the behavior of regular mice. The set standard both before and after this short was to depict them as having the size of rather short human beings. On another note, since this short was released during the
Prohibition era, the alcoholic beverages would probably have been products of
bootlegging.
Mickey as a soldier
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Mouse in transition
Mickey Mouse Club
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Among the subjects addressed are Disney'sdocumentaries and westerns and the allegations that Bambi contributed toan antihunting sentiment in the United States.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
[11]
First comic strip appearance
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ This study is a quantitative content analysis of characters appearing in the 19 most successful and most recent Disney animated movies.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ The Collection is supported by the Walt Disney Collectors Society, the first membership society established by Disney.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
^ Walt Disney and Europe: European influences on the animated feature films of Walt Disney / Bloomington: Indiana University Press, c1999.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Walt accepted and Mickey made his first comic strip appearance on January 13, 1930. The comical plot was credited to Walt Disney himself, art to Ub Iwerks and inking to
Win Smith. The first week or so of the strip featured a loose adaptation of "
Plane Crazy". Minnie soon became the first addition to the cast. The strips first released between January 13, 1930 and March 31, 1930 have been occasionally reprinted in
comic book form under the collective title
"Lost on a Desert Island". Animation historian Jim Korkis notes "After the eighteenth strip[s], Iwerks left and his inker, Win Smith, continued drawing the gag-a-day format..."
[12]
Classical music performances
Meanwhile in animation, two more Mickey shorts had been released.
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
The only recurring characters among its members were Clarabelle as a
flutist and Horace as a
drummer. Their rendition of the
Poet and Peasant Overture (by
Franz von Suppé) is humorous enough; but it has been noted that several of the gags featured were repeated from previous shorts. The second, was originally released on March 14, 1930 under the title
Fiddlin' Around but has since been renamed to
Just Mickey. Both titles give an accurate enough description of the short which has Mickey performing a
violin solo.
.^ Issue 3, p501-537, 37p UC users only Gooding-Williams, Robert "Disney in Africa and the inner city: On race and space in The Lion King."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
2", the latter which would appear on a regular basis in shorts starring
Bugs Bunny,
Tom and Jerry and
Woody Woodpecker.
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ "Explores the basis for the long and universal popularity of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon character.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
It is said that conductor
Arturo Toscanini so loved this short that, upon first seeing it, he asked the projectionist to run it again.
.^ The Mickey in Macy's window: childhood, consumerism, and Disney animation / Richard deCordova -- Fantasia: cultural constructions of Disney's "masterpiece" / Moya Luckett.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ Plans to create Fantasia continued, a new theatrical version of the 1940 classic.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
^ One of the most famous of these is the 1954 Disney film of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
.^ One of the most famous of these is the 1954 Disney film of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
The segment features no dialogue at all, only the music. The apprentice (Mickey), not willing to do his chores, puts on the sorcerer's magic hat after the sorcerer goes to bed and casts a spell on a broom, which causes the broom to come to life and perform the most tiring chore—filling up a deep well using two buckets of water. When the well eventually overflows, Mickey finds himself unable to control the broom, leading to a near-flood.
.^ Taylor, Deems Walt Disney's Fantasia / by Deems Taylor; with a foreword by Leopold Stokowski.- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
Departure of a co-creator and consequences
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
But it is considered to be more or less a remake of "
The Gallopin' Gaucho" set in
Mexico instead of Argentina. Mickey was again cast as a lonely traveler who walks into the local
tavern and starts flirting with its dancer. The latter is again Minnie.
.^ Peg Leg Pete .- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
.^ He first applied the technique to Mickey Mouse short films and attained major success with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."- Walt Disney: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Libraries 14 January 2010 18:27 UTC www.lib.berkeley.edu [Source type: Academic]
This would become a recurring feature of the character. The rhea of the original short was replaced by Horace Horsecollar. This is considered to be his last non-anthropomorphic appearance. The short is considered significant for being the last Mickey short to be animated by Ub Iwerks.
Shortly before its release, Iwerks left the Studio to start his own bankrolled by Disney's then-distributor
Pat Powers. Powers and Disney had a falling out over money due Disney from the distribution deal. It was in response to losing the right to distribute Disney's cartoons that Powers made the deal with Iwerks, who had long harbored a desire to head his own studio. The departure is considered a turning point to the careers of both Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. The former lost the man who served as his closest colleague and confidant since 1919. The latter lost the man responsible for his original design and for the direction and/or animation of several of the shorts released till this point, and some would argue Mickey's creator.
.^ The Collection is supported by the Walt Disney Collectors Society, the first membership society established by Disney.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
^ The Walt Disney Classics Collection is the only collection of fine animation sculptures created using the time-honored principles of Disney film animation.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
^ As a result, each sculpture captures all the emotion and magic of the unforgettable characters and settings created by Disney.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
Consequently some animation historians have suggested that Iwerks should be considered the actual creator of Mickey Mouse. It has been pointed that advertising for the early Mickey Mouse cartoons credit them as "A Walt Disney Comic, drawn by Ub Iwerks". Later Disney Company reissues of the early cartoons tend to credit Walt Disney alone.
Disney and his remaining staff continued the production of the Mickey series, and he was able to eventually find a number of animators to replace Iwerks.
.^ The Mickey Mouse Club (c.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
[14] Despite being eclipsed by the Silly Symphonies short
The Three Little Pigs in 1933, Mickey still maintained great popularity among theater audiences too, until 1935, when polls showed that
Popeye the Sailor was more popular than Mickey.
[15] By 1934, Mickey merchandise had also earned $600,000.00 a year.
[16]In 1994, "
The Band Concert" was voted the third-greatest cartoon of all time in a poll of animation professionals. By colorizing and partially redesigning Mickey, Walt would put Mickey back on top once again, and Mickey would also reach popularity he never reached before as audiences now gave him more appeal;
[13] in 1935, Walt would also receive a special award from the League of Nations for creating Mickey as well. However, by 1938, the more manic
Donald Duck would surpass the passive Mickey, resulting in a redesig of the mouse;
[17] the redesign between 1938 and 1940 also put Mickey at the peak of his popularity.
[13] However, after 1940, Mickey's popularity would decline.
[18] Despite this, the character continued to appear regularly in animated shorts until 1943 (winning his only competitive Academy Award—with Pluto—for a short subject for
Lend a Paw) and again from 1946 to 1952.
Appearances in comics
.^ Barker Comic Strip Art Publishers Co.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
However, Walt's focus had always been in animation and Smith was soon assigned with the scripting as well. Smith was apparently discontent at the prospect of having to script, draw, and ink a series by himself as evidenced by his sudden resignation.
Walt proceeded to search for a replacement among the remaining staff of the Studio. For unknown reasons he selected
Floyd Gottfredson, a recently hired employee. At the time Floyd was reportedly eager to work in animation and somewhat reluctant to accept his new assignment. Walt had to assure Floyd that the assignment was only temporary and that he would eventually return to animation. Floyd accepted and ended up holding this "temporary" assignment from May 5, 1930, to November 15, 1975.
Walt Disney's last script for the strip appeared May 17, 1930.
[12] Gottfredson's first task was finish the storyline Disney had started on April 1, 1930. The storyline was completed on September 20, 1930 and later reprinted in comic book form as
Mickey Mouse in Death Valley. This early adventure expanded the cast of the strip which to this point only included Mickey and Minnie. Among the characters who had their first comic strip appearances in this story were Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar and
Black Pete as well as the debuts of corrupted
lawyer Sylvester Shyster and Minnie's uncle
Mortimer Mouse. The Death Valley narrative was followed by
Mr. Slicker and the Egg Robbers, first printed between September 22 and December 26, 1930, which introduced
Marcus Mouse and his wife as Minnie's parents.
Starting with these two early comic strip stories, Mickey's versions in animation and comics are considered to have diverged from each other. While Disney and his
cartoon shorts would continue to focus on
comedy, the comic strip effectively combined comedy and adventure. This adventurous version of Mickey would continue to appear in comic strips and later comic books throughout the 20th and into the 21st century.
Floyd Gottfredson left his mark with stories such as
Mickey Mouse Joins the Foreign Legion (1936) and
The Gleam (1942). He also created the
Phantom Blot,
Eega Beeva, Morty and Ferdie, Captain Churchmouse, and Butch. Besides Gottfredson artists for the strip over the years included Roman Arambula, Rick Hoover,
Manuel Gonzales,
Carson Van Osten, Jim Engel, Bill Wright, Ted Thwailes and
Daan Jippes; writers included
Ted Osborne,
Merrill De Maris,
Bill Walsh, Dick Shaw,
Roy Williams, Del Connell, and
Floyd Norman.
The next artist to leave his mark on the character was
Paul Murry in
Dell Comics.
.^ The Collection is supported by the Walt Disney Collectors Society, the first membership society established by Disney.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
In the same period
Romano Scarpa in Italy for the magazine
Topolino began to revitalize Mickey in stories that brought back the
Phantom Blot and
Eega Beeva along with new creations such as the Atomo Bleep-Bleep. While the stories at
Western Publishing during the
Silver Age emphasized Mickey as a detective in the style of
Sherlock Holmes, in the modern era several editors and creators have consciously undertaken to depict a more vigorous Mickey in the mold of the classic Gottfredson adventures. This reinnasance has been spearheaded by
Byron Erickson,
David Gerstein,
Noel Van Horn,
Michael T. Gilbert and
Cesar Ferioli.
In Europe, Mickey Mouse became the main attraction of a number of comics magazines, the most famous being
Topolino in Italy from 1932 on and
Le Journal de Mickey in France from 1934 on.
Later history
Recent history
On November 18, 1978, in honor of his 50th anniversary, he became the first cartoon character to have a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is located on 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Melbourne (Australia) runs the annual
Moomba festival street procession and appointed Mickey Mouse as their
King of Moomba (1977).
[19] Although immensely popular with children, there was controversy with the appointment: some Melburnians wanted a 'home-grown' choice, e.g.
Blinky Bill; when it was revealed that Patricia O'Carroll (from Disneyland's Disney on Parade show) was performing the mouse, Australian newspapers reported "Mickey Mouse is really a girl!"
[20]
Throughout the decades, Mickey Mouse competed with
Warner Bros.'
Bugs Bunny for animated popularity. But in 1988, in a historic moment in motion picture history, the two rivals finally shared screen time in the
Robert Zemeckis Disney/
Amblin film
Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Disney and Warner signed an agreement stating that each character had
exactly the same amount of screen time, right down to the micro-second.
Similar to his animated inclusion into a live-action film on
Roger Rabbit, Mickey made a featured cameo appearance in the 1990 television special
The Muppets at Walt Disney World where he met
Kermit the Frog. The two are established in the story as having been old friends.
The Muppets have otherwise
spoofed and referenced Mickey over a dozen times since the 1970s. Eventually, The Muppets were purchased by the Walt Disney Company in 2004.
Mickey appeared on several animated logos for
Walt Disney Home Entertainment, starting with the "Neon Mickey" logo and then to the "Sorcerer Mickey" logos used for regular and Classics release titles. He also appeared on the video boxes in the 1980s.
.^ Design House: Disney Year Introduced: 2000 Notes: citrus, lemon, florals and sweet spices.- MINNIE MOUSE by Disney - Scentiful.com 6 February 2010 12:32 UTC www.scentiful.com [Source type: General]
Prior to all these, Mickey was also featured as an
unseen character in the
Bonkers episode "You Oughta Be In Toons".
In the
Disney on Ice play,
Disney Presents Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom/Disneyland Adventure, Mickey and Minnie are kidnapped by an
android replica of
Syndrome, who seeks to create "his" own theme park in Walt Disney World/Disneyland's place. They are briefly imprisoned in the
Pirates of the Caribbean attraction's prison cell before an assault on the robot Syndrome by the Incredible Family forces "him" to place them in
laser prisons, but not without using a
flamethrower in a botched attempt to incinerate their would-be
superhuman saviors. After the robot Syndrome is congealed by Frozone, Mickey and Minnie are finally liberated, the magic and happiness of the Walt Disney World/Disneyland Resort is restored, and the Incredibles become Mickey and Minnie's newest friends.
Video games
Like many popular characters, Mickey has starred in many
video games, including "
Mickey Mousecapade" on the
Nintendo Entertainment System, "
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse", "
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge", and "
Disney's Magical Quest" on the
Super Nintendo Entertainment System,
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse on the
Mega Drive/Genesis, "
Mickey Mouse: Magic Wands" on the
Game Boy, and many others. In the 2000s, the
Disney's Magical Quest series were
ported to the
Game Boy Advance, while Mickey made his
sixth generation era debut in
Disney's Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse, a
Nintendo GameCube title aimed at younger audiences. Mickey plays a major role in the
Kingdom Hearts series, as the king of
Disney Castle and aide to the protagonist,
Sora. King Mickey wields the
Keyblade, a weapon in the form of a key that has the power to open any lock and combat darkness.
Epic Mickey, featuring a darker version of the Disney universe, is scheduled to be released in 2010 for the
Wii.
Toys and games
Design and voice
The character has gone through some major changes through his existence. The first one happened with "
The Pointer" in 1939 and "
The Sorcerer's Apprentice" section of "
Fantasia" in 1940, where he was given pupils in his eyes, a Caucasian skin colored face, and a pear-shaped body. In the 40's, he changed once more in "
The Little Whirlwind", where he used his trademark pants for the last time in decades, lost his tail, got more realistic ears that changed with perspective and a different body anatomy. But this change would only last for a short period of time before returning to the one in "
The Pointer", with the exception of his pants. In his final theatrical cartoons in the 50's, he was given eyebrows, which were removed in the more recent cartoons.
Mickey's top trademark is his ears, and they have also become a trademark of the Disney company in general. Basic design of Mickey's ears is two very round ears that are attached to a very round head. Other than the 1940s Mickey, he and Minnie's ears have had the unusual characteristic of always being viewable with the same symmetry despite which direction that their respective head is facing. In other words, the ears are always generally in the same position as they are in a frontal view of the character, and appear to be sideways on their head when facing left or right.
A large part of Mickey's screen persona is his famously shy,
falsetto voice. From his first speaking role in "
The Karnival Kid" onward, Mickey was voiced by Walt Disney himself, a task in which Disney took great personal pride. (Carl Stalling and
Clarence Nash allegedly did some uncredited
ADR for Mickey in a few early shorts as well.) However, by 1946, Disney was becoming too busy with running the studio to do regular voice work (and it is speculated his
cigarette habit had damaged his voice over the years), and during the recording of the "
Mickey and the Beanstalk" section of "
Fun and Fancy Free", Mickey's voice was handed over to veteran Disney musician and actor
Jimmy MacDonald. (Both Disney's and MacDonald's voices can be heard on the final soundtrack.) MacDonald voiced Mickey in the remainder of the theatrical shorts, and for various television and publicity projects up until his retirement in the mid-1970s, although Walt voiced Mickey again for the introductions of the original 1954—1959 "Mickey Mouse Club" TV series and the "Fourth Anniversary Show" episode of the "Disneyland" TV series aired on September 11, 1958. 1983's
Mickey's Christmas Carol marked the theatrical debut of the late
Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse, who was the voice of Mickey until his death in
2009[21]. Allwine was, incidentally, married to
Russi Taylor, the current voice of
Minnie Mouse. Les Perkins did the voice of Mickey in the TV special
Down and Out with Donald Duck released in 1987.
Voices in other languages
- French
- Jacques Bodoin: In Fun and Fancy Free (original version)
- Jean-François Kopf: In Fun and Fancy Free (reissue version)
- Roger Carel: 1973 - 1980s (France)
- Marc François: 1980s (France)
- Vincent Violette: Late 1980s - early 1990s (France)
- Jean-Paul Audrain: 1990s (France)
- Laurent Pasquier: 2000–present (France)
- Daniel Picard: 2000 (French Canada)
- Spanish
- Walt Disney: Fantasia
- Edmundo Santos: Original shorts through Fun and Fancy Free
- Francisco Colmenero: Other shorts
- Raúl Aldana: Other shorts up through The Prince and the Pauper
- Juan Alfonso Carralero: In Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Latin American version)
- Rafael Alonso Naranjo Jr.: In Who Framed Roger Rabbit (European version)
- Rubén Cerda: 1990s - present (Latin American version)
- José Padilla: 1990s - present (European version)
Social impact
A picture of several packaged products displaying pictures of Mickey Mouse and
Donald Duck dressed in traditional Japanese attire.
Use in politics
In the United States,
protest votes are often made in order to indicate dissatisfaction with the slate of candidates presented on a particular ballot, or to highlight the inadequacies of a particular voting procedure. Since most states' electoral systems do not provide for blank balloting or a choice of "
None of the Above", most protest votes take the form of a clearly non-serious candidate's name entered as a
write-in vote[citation needed]. Cartoon characters are typically chosen for this purpose
[citation needed]; as Mickey Mouse is the best-known and most-recognized character in America, his name is frequently selected for this purpose. (Other popular selections include Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny.) This phenomenon has the humorous effect of causing Mickey Mouse to be a minor but perennial contestant in nearly all
U.S. presidential elections.
[citation needed] A similar phenomenon occurs in the
parliament elections in
Finland and
Sweden, although Finns and Swedes usually write Donald Duck or
Donald Duck Party as a protest vote.
Pejorative use of Mickey's name
"Mickey Mouse" is a slang expression meaning small-time, amateurish or trivial. In the UK and Ireland, it also means poor quality or counterfeit.
- In The Godfather: Part II, Fredo's justification of betraying Michael is that his orders in the family usually were "Send Fredo off to do this, send Fredo off to do that! Let Fredo to take care of some Mickey Mouse night club somewhere!" as opposed to more meaningful tasks.
- In 1984, just after an ice hockey game in which Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers beat the New Jersey Devils 13-4, Gretzky is quoted as saying to a reporter, "Well, it's time they got their act together, they're ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse organization and put somebody on the ice."[25] Reacting to Gretzky's comment, Devils fans wore Mickey Mouse apparel when the Oilers returned to New Jersey.
- In the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, a butler at Brunwald castle says to Indy, "Yes, we have tapestries. But if you are a Scottish lord, then I am Mickey Mouse!"
- In the 1993 Warner Bros. film Demolition Man, as Sylvester Stallone's character is fighting the malfunctioning AI of his out-of-control police car, he shouts for the system to "Brake! Brake! Brake, now, you Mickey Mouse piece of shit!"[26]
- In the 1996 Warner Bros. film Space Jam, Bugs Bunny derogatorily referred to Daffy Duck's idea for the name of their basketball team, asking, "What kind of Mickey Mouse organization would call themselves 'The Ducks?'" (This also referenced the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, a NHL team that was owned by Disney.)
- In the United States armed forces, actions that produce good looks, but have little practical use, (such as the specific manner of making beds in basic training or the polishing of brass fittings onboard ship) are commonly referred to as "Mickey Mouse work".
- In schools a "Mickey Mouse course" or "Mickey Mouse major" is a class or college major where very little effort is necessary in order to attain a good grade (especially an A) and/or one where the subject matter of such a class is not of any importance in the labor market.[27]
- Musicians often refer to a film score that directly follows each action on screen as Mickey Mousing (also mickey-mousing and mickeymousing).[28]
.^ The Mickey Mouse Club (c.- collection: Walt Disney Classics Collection at Barker Animation Art Gallery, Fine Arts & Sculptures 2 February 2010 17:57 UTC www.barkeranimation.com [Source type: General]
[30]
- In the British sitcom Red Dwarf. In the episode Quarantine: After the team's substandard equipment nearly cost them their lives, Lister pointed out, "We're a real Mickey Mouse operation, aren't we?" The Cat replied, "Mickey Mouse? We ain't even Betty Boop!"
- Because of Mickey's status as Disney's signature character, he is often jokingly referred to as the boss of The Walt Disney Company. Disney employees sometimes say they "work for the Mouse." [31][32] In the South Park season 13 episode "The Ring," Mickey is portrayed as a greedy, sadistic and foul-mouthed head of the studio, who berates and beats the Jonas Brothers after they complain that their purity rings are overshadowing their music.
- The 2009 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic are being dubbed the "Mickey Mouse Series"[33] due to the Disney theme parks located near Los Angeles (Disneyland) and Orlando (Walt Disney World), plus the fact that the Finals aired on ABC, which Disney also owns.
Parodies and criticism
Mickey Mouse was originally portrayed as a
minstrel character. From 1929 to well into the 1930s the character of Mickey Mouse was understood and openly described as "minstrel".
[34] These portrayals can be seen in early depictions such as the original version of "Steamboat Willie",
[35] as well as "
Mickey's Mellerdrammer", the advertising for which featured Mickey in blackface with pronounced facial features understood to resemble caricatures of African-Americans in the 1930s.
[36]On September 20, 2008 Sheikh
Muhammad Al-Munajid claimed that the
sharia considers mice to be harmful vermin and that characters like Mickey Mouse and Jerry from
Tom & Jerry are to be blamed for making mice such loveable characters. He issued a
fatwa against Mickey, which made international headline news and was the subject of much controversy and ridicule. Sheikh Muhammed Al-Munajid issued a statement afterwards in which he stated that he was misquoted and translated badly.
Legal issues
A typical style of sign in
Walt Disney World, showing one of many uses by Disney of the Mickey ears logo.
It is sometimes erroneously stated that the Mickey Mouse character is only
copyrighted. In fact, the character, like all major Disney characters, is also
trademarked, which lasts in perpetuity as long as it continues to be used commercially by its owner. So, whether or not a particular Disney cartoon goes into the
public domain, the characters themselves may not be used as trademarks without authorization. However, within the United States,
European Union and some other jurisdictions, the
Copyright Term Extension Act (sometimes called the 'Mickey Mouse Protection Act' because of extensive lobbying by the Disney corporation) and similar legislation has ensured that works such as the early Mickey Mouse cartoons will remain under copyright until at least 2023. However a Los Angeles Times article explains that ambiguity and "imprecision" in early film credits copyright claims could invalidate Disney's copyright on the earliest version of the character.
[39]The Walt Disney Company has become well known for protecting its trademark on the Mickey Mouse character, whose likeness is closely associated with the company, with particular zeal. In 1989, Disney threatened legal action against three daycare centers in
Florida for having Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters painted on their walls. The characters were removed, and rival
Universal Studios replaced them with Universal cartoon characters.
[40]Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates
In 1971, a group of
underground cartoonists calling themselves "The
Air Pirates," after a group of villains from early Mickey Mouse films, produced a comic called
Air Pirates Funnies. In the first issue, cartoonist
Dan O'Neill depicted Mickey and Minnie Mouse engaging in explicit sexual behavior and consuming drugs. As O'Neill explained, "The air pirates were...some sort of bizarre concept to steal the air, pirate the air, steal the media...Since we were cartoonists, the logical thing was Disney."
[41] Rather than change the appearance or name of the character, which O'Neill felt would dilute the parody, the mouse depicted in
Air Pirates Funnies looks like and is named "Mickey Mouse." Disney sued for copyright infringement, and after a series of appeals, O'Neill eventually lost and was ordered to pay Disney $1.9 million. The outcome of the case remains controversial amongst free-speech advocates. New York Law School professor Edward Samuels said, "[The Air Pirates] set parody back twenty years."
[42]Censorship
In 1930, The
German Board of Film Censors prohibited showing a Mickey Mouse film because they felt the
kepi-wearing mouse negatively portrayed the Germans and would "reawaken the latest anti-German feeling existing abroad since the War".
[43] A mid 1930s German newspaper article even stated :
"Mickey Mouse is the most miserable ideal ever revealed...Healthy emotions tell every independent young man and every honorable youth that the dirty and filfth-covered vermin, the greatest bacteria carrier in the animal kingdom, cannot be the ideal type of animal...Away with Jewish brutalization of the people! Down with Mickey Mouse! Wear the
Swastika Cross!"
[44][45][46]
The 1935 Romanian authorities
banned Mickey Mouse films from
cinemas after they feared that children would be "scared to see a ten-foot mouse in the movie theatre".
[47] In 1938, based on the Ministry of Popular Culture's recommendation that a reform was necessary "to raise children in the firm and imperialist spirit of the Fascist revolution," the
Italian Government banned Mickey and other foreign
Children's literature.
[48]Filmography
See also
- Minnie Mouse, best known as the fellow Disney character, often portrayed as Mickey's significant other in animated shorts and features.
- Pluto, a canine character of the Disney series who is often portrayed as Mickey's dog in the animated shorts and features.
- Mickey Mouse universe, the phenomenon that has spawned from the Mickey Mouse series and other related characters.
- Mouse Museum, a Russian museum featuring artifacts and memorabilia relating to Mickey Mouse.
- Mickey Mouse Adventures A short-lived comic starring Mickey Mouse as the protagonist.
- Hidden Mickey, a phenomenon featuring throughout Disney films, theme parks and merchandise involving hiding images that are similar to a silhouette of Mickey's head and ears, another trademark of the Disney series, in non-related places.
- Celebration Mickey, a two foot tall, 100 lb (45 kg)., 24-karat gold authentic Mickey Mouse sculpture, designed by Disney artist Marc Delle and produced in 2001 to commemorate Walt Disney's 100th birthday. Certified an authentic and one-of-a-kind piece by Disneyland Resort, it is the largest gold sculpture ever cast in the history of the Disney Company.
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c Kenworthy, John (2001). The Hand Behind the Mouse (Disney ed.). New York. pp. 53–54.
- ^ "Disney Online Guest Services". Disney Online. http://psc.disney.go.com/guestservices/8699.html. Retrieved 2006-08-31.
- ^ Barrier, Michael (2008). The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney. University of California Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0520256194.
- ^ Mickey Mouse's Magic- Tweentimes - Indiatimes
- ^ » Mickey Mouse was going to be Mortimer Mo ... Useless Knowledge
- ^ Albin, Kira (1995). "Mickey Rooney: Hollywood, Religion and His Latest Show". GrandTimes.com. Senior Magazine. http://www.grandtimes.com/rooney.html.
- ^ justdisney.com
- ^ toontracker.com
- ^ Felix the Cat | St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture |
- ^ Mickey Mouse trademark
- ^ Disney Timeline: A mouse is born!!
- ^ a b Korkis, Jim. "The Uncensored Mouse".
- ^ a b c Charles Solomon. "The Golden Age of Mickey Mouse". Disney.com guest services. http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/exhibits/articles/mickeymousegoldenage/index.html.
- ^ Chronology of the Walt Disney Company (1935)
- ^ GAC Forums - Popeye's Popularity - Article from 1935
- ^ The Golden Age of Mickey Mouse
- ^ Free Cartoon Reviews of Fantasia
- ^ Charles Solomon. "Mickey in the Post-War Era". Disney.com guest services. http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/exhibits/articles/mickeymousepostwar/index.html.
- ^ Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 February 2006). "Moomba: A festival for the people (pp 17-22)" (PDF). http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf.
- ^ Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 February 2006). "Moomba: A festival for the people (pp 19-20)" (PDF). http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf.
- ^ Disney Legends - Wayne Allwine
- ^ Disney on Ice Celebrations features Princess Tiana and Mickey's New Voice, Bret Iwan - The Latest - LaughingPlace.com: Disney World, Disneyland and More
- ^ Vote drives defended, despite fake names - St. Petersburg Times
- ^ "The ACORN investigations". October 16, 2008. http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12432392.
- ^ 1983-84: Growing Pains Lead to Promise
- ^ script-o-rama.com
- ^ BBC News | Education | 'Irresponsible' Hodge under fire
- ^ Holm, Peter. "The Cottage: Review". Music From The Movies. http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=7374. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ Richard Forno. ""Microsoft", No. "Mickeysoft", Yes." Published November 28, 2001; retrieved November 7, 2006.
- ^ "What does Mickey Mouse Have To Do With The European Parliament?". EU-Oplysnigen (Denmark). http://www.eu-oplysningen.dk/euo_en/spsv/all/26/. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ Working for the Mouse
- ^ Working for the Mouse - Disney (Unofficial) - Families.com
- ^ "The Mickey Mouse Series". FanNation. May 30, 2009. http://www.fannation.com/throwdowns/show/346722-the-mickey-mouse-series?category_id=17. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ^ Ye Olden Days at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Steamboat Willie at the Internet Movie Database
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- ^ The Simpsons Movie (2007) - Memorable Quotes. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved on March 20, 2008.. Retrieved on March 20, 2008.
- ^ Joseph Menn (2008-08-22). "Disney's rights to young Mickey Mouse may be wrong". Los Angeles Times.com. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mickey22-2008aug22,0,6883462.story. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ Daycare Center Murals, Snopes.com
- ^ Comic Book Confidential. Sphinx Productions. 1989.
- ^ Levin, Bob (2003). The Pirates and the Mouse: Disney's War Against the Counterculture. Fantagraphics Books. ISBN 156097530X.
- ^ The Times (1930-7-14). "Mickey Mouse in Trouble (German Censorship)", The Times Archive (archive.timesonline.co.uk) Accessed November 19, 2008.
- ^ Hungerford, Amy (January 15, 2003). The Holocaust of Texts. University Of Chicago Press. pp. 206. ISBN 0226360768. http://books.google.com/books?id=hQaoyehtkBgC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=%22Mickey+Mouse+is+the+most+miserable+ideal+ever+revealed%22&source=web&ots=it1ra73w24&sig=ciUpF4YqVRVLEtUncn-Y9qtqIVA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result.
- ^ LaCapra, Dominick (March 1998). History and Memory After Auschwitz. Cornell University Press. pp. 214. ISBN 0801484960. http://books.google.com/books?id=pBhow2EcLHwC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=%22Mickey+Mouse+is+the+most+miserable+ideal+ever+revealed%22&source=bl&ots=OriZYqZ5Ua&sig=_Xg1JJgTHeVSZf_DOSYI7Ck5LjQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result.
- ^ Rosenthal, Jack (1992-08-02). "ON LANGUAGE; Mickey-Mousing". New York Times, The. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5DB1339F931A3575BC0A964958260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ^ Conner, Floyd. Hollywood's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Lucky Breaks, Prima Donnas, Box Office Bombs, and Other Oddities. illustrated. Brassey's, 2002.(pg 243)
- ^ The Times (1938-11-16). "The Banning of a Mouse", The Times Archive (archive.timesonline.co.uk) Accessed November 19, 2008.
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