Mickey Mouse
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
A character created by Walt Disney for the purpose of appearing in animated shorts. Originaly drawn in circles and called Mortimer, it was Walt's wife who convinced him that Mickey was "cuter" and so a star was drawn. Over time Mickey's appearance changed but his spirit did not. He's a mirror image of Disney himself. As one of his animators once said "Walt was Mickey and Mickey was Walt." Just a little guy trying to do his best. His first picture, also the first sound cartoon, was "Steamboat Willie" followed by "Plane Crazy" and "Gallopin Gaucho." Since 1928 Mickey has appeared in over 135 films both shorts and features including "The Jazz Fool" "The Barnyard Concert" "The Moose Hunt" "Mickey Steps Out" "Mickey's Revue" "The Mad Doctor" "Orphan's Benefit" "The Brave Little Tailor" an appearance in "Fantasia" "The Nifty Nineties" "Mickey's Christmas Carol" a cameo in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" "Runaway Brain" and "Fantasia 2000"(archive film from first Fantasia movie). Besides being a successful film star, Mickey has starred in books, comics, radio, television, merchandising, and Disneyland(see seperate entry). The three circled "Mickey" image has become something of an international symbol and with some luck will ultimately replace Joe Boxer's "Have a Nice Day" as the international sign of goodwill, peace and happiness. His voice was provided by Walt himself until the film "Fun and Fancy Free" He was then replaced by Jim MacDonald (who voiced the mice in Disney's Cinderella) and Wayne Allwhine(current voice). Mickey's popularity is far from dwindling and his comeback to films is expected any decade now
