Mickey Mouse is arguably the most famous of the Disney cartoon characters. Making his debut in "Steamboat Willie" at the Colony Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1928, Mickey went on to star in over 120 different cartoons. He also starred in "The Mickey Mouse Club" television show of the 1950s.
Mickey Mouse's original drawings used circles for his head, body and ears. 1939's "The Pointer" saw a bold, new design for Mickey as his body became more pear-shaped and pupils were added to his eyes to increase his range of expression. Later on, animators of the 1940s would add a perspective aspect to his ears, giving them a three-dimensional effect. This change, however, was short-lived. The Mickey Mouse of today appears much as he did in the early days with the exception of a costume change here and there.
"Steamboat Willie" was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon released, and the first cartoon with synchronized sound. Mickey was born out of necessity when Walt discovered he had lost the rights to his previous character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Refusing to work with the Oswald character for less money, he instead teamed up with Ub Iwerks to create Mickey Mouse. In "Steamboat Willie," Mickey plays a mischievous deckhand on a riverboat, who, to Minnie's delight, plays "Turkey in the Straw" utilizing an animal menagerie as his instruments. The tyrannical Captain Pete, however, is not amused, and Mickey ends up peeling potatoes in the galley.
The Mickey Mouse comic strip, distributed by King Features Syndicate, made its debut on January 13, 1930.
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