Mickey Mouse did not start with Mickey Mouse but rather with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit.
Oswald was created in 1927 and was a huge hit across the country. Walt thought he was in a good place with his famous rabbit, but when he tried to sign his contract again in 1928 he learned his rights were gone to the studio Universal. The studio offered to keep Walt on their team for a smaller pay, but Disney would not have it so he quit, hopped on a train and joined up with a few animator friends to find Oswald's replacement and start their own business. With a few minor adjustments and lots of brainstorming, they transformed Oswald into a mouse and named him Mortimer.
After some debate about the name and the disapproval from his wife, it was soon changed to Mickey. Disney released a few short films featuring Mickey Mouse but impressed very few until the debut of Steamboat Willie. The show came to life being the first animation feature synchronized to music and sound effects. It premiered in New York November 18, 1928 and was the unexpected turn of Walt Disney’s career.
Within two years Walt had begun Mickey merchandise as well as the Mickey Mouse Club for children. In 1935 the Mouse was revised for the first time giving him a rounder torso, the famous white gloves, pupils, and a shorter nose.Origonally Mickey was drawn with a series of circles which proved difficult for the character to move, but with these new adjustments it became much easier. It as well made Mickey more appealing and cuter to children. This would also be the first time Mickey Mouse is shown in color. Mickey grew more and more known as his adventures through is little mouse life broke the charts. By the 1950's Mickey Mouse had a theme park, a newspaper comic strip, and the Mickey Mouse Club. Alas, Disney's new movies like Bambi and Sleeping Beauty began to overshadow the famous Mouse. After Mickey's Christmas Carol in 1983, the great Mickey was out of work for 30 years. By 2006 he was shown in 3-D for the first time. Mickey and his theme park and merchandise are shown in many movies and are well known throughout the world. He now mostly only stars in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a children's show on Disney Channel, and in Walt Disney's theme parks where you can meet Mickey in person. This iconic Mouse was only the beginning of Disney's creations and the first of the Fab 5.
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