Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Birth of a Mouse

Walt Disney once said, "Mickey Mouse will be five years old on Sunday. He was born on October 1, 1928. That was the date on which his first picture was started, so we have allowed him to claim this day as his birthday."

While that date obviously didn't last, the film Walt was referring to would play an integral part in deciding Mickey's birthday. Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho were already completed (and test-screened) by October of 1928, which means Walt was in fact talking about Steamboat Willie. The short, inspired by the Buster Keaton film Steamboat Bill Jr., debuted on November 18, 1928, at New York's Colony Theatre.

Happy Birthday to both of you -- photo copyright Disney

It wasn't until Mickey Mouse was about to turn 50, however, that it was decided just when he was turning 50.

Read the full article on STORYBOARD: http://www.waltdisney.org/content/birth-mouse


Happy Birthday, Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 15, 2013 at 10:49 AM

    Hi,
    I'm using your picture above for a school project, but I need some more information on it. If you have it, can you tell me the artist, the date, the medium and the size?
    Thank you so much,
    Kimberlee Noordyk

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  2. KeithMarch 15, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    That photo is just a still frame from the animated short "Steamboat Willie." There were 4 animators I believe: Les Clark, Ub Iwerks, Wilfred Jackson, and Dick Lundy. I would give credit for the above shot to Ub Iwerks, since he was the one who refined Mickey Mouse after Walt created him. It was done in 1928. I don't know the size, but it's just ink and paint on an animation cel.

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