Mickey Mouse Turns 86: A Look Back at 12 of His Best Animated Shorts
Today, everyone’s favorite young-at-heart mouse turns the ripe old age of 86.
Though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when a cartoon is “born,” Disney has long recognized the premiere of Steamboat Willie, on November 18th, 1928, as the birthdate of Mickey Mouse. Mickey was actually born out of necessity, after Walt Disney lost the rights to his first hit animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (whom the Disney company would get back in a trade with Universal in 2006).
Before he became the mascot of a multi-billion-dollar corporation and an international icon, Mickey was a bit of a rabble-rouser, splitting time in early cartoons between making trouble and saving the day. To celebrate Mickey’s birthday, we’re looking back on some of the highlights of those early days, marking some of Mickey’s biggest moments in cartoon history.
Steamboat Willie (1928):The beginning.
Plane Crazy (1928):This was actually the first Mickey Mouse cartoon produced, but it did not find distribution until after Steamboat Willie — the third produced, and the first with sound — became a hit.
The Gallopin’ Gaucho (1928): This was the second Mickey cartoon made, which likewise didn’t find a home until Steamboat Willie became a hit.
The Barn Dance (1929): The fourth Mickey cartoon made, and the second to screen for the public, about a month after Steamboat Willie.
The Big Moments:
The Karnival Kid (1929):The first time Mickey speaks.
The Moose Hunt (1931): The first time Pluto appears as Mickey’s dog, initiating one of the strangest and sweetest inter-species relationship in history.
Mickey’s Orphans (1931): This was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short the following year.
Orphan’s Benefit (1934): The beginning of a tumultuous friendship, this is the first cartoon with both Mickey and Donald Duck.
The Band Concert (1935):The first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be presented in color.
The Brave Little Tailor (1938):One of the most iconic shorts of its time, it was nominated for an Oscar and remains a fan favorite.
Mickey’s Surprise Party (1939): The first cartoon featuring Mickey’s modern design.
New York Weenie (2013): Part of a new series of Mickey shorts, meant to mimic the old school style and inject a dose of mischief back into the character.
