Disney's Mickey Mouse

This Disney mascot has appeared in countless Disney shorts, films, and recently a critically appraised video game.
Mickey was born as a replacement for Oswald the lucky Rabbit, a character created by Disney studio for Charles Mintz, but over whom Walt Disney no longer held any copy rights. The inspiration for Mickey came from Walt's pet mouse that he owned when he lived on a farm as a boy. Originally names Mortimer Mouse, the name would soon be dropped ( at Lillian, Disney's wife, request) and Mickey Mouse would be adopted.
 The first short in which Mickey starred was "Plane Crazy" in 1928:





The first Mickey Mouse that used sound was "Steamboat Willie" in 1928:




"The Band Concert" 1935:




Mickey Mouse became so famous that Mickey Mouse Clubs were popular in cinemas. The financial success that came form this popularity would be the basis of Disney's empire.

Mickey's design has changed over the years.

The original version lacked pupils, gloves (to help distinguish hands from the body ), a stodgier appearance and smaller ears.

The "Fantasia" version gave him pupils, a caucasian colored face, pupils, and a pear -shaped body:

In " The Little Whirlwind", Mickey lost his tail, his ears became more realistic and changed perspective and hw lost his trademark pants:

The design used nowadays features the original red pants, large eyes, round head and round ears that face the same direction no matter the perspective used.

 The ears have even become a symbol of Disney Studios.

Mickey Mouse has become such a cultural icon that he is used as a sign of protest in votes where a "None of the Above" choice is not present, electors opting to write Mickey's name as a way of protesting.
Mickey is the most recognisable character in America.
Because of the fact that he has become a symbol of Disney and America, Mickey is ofter parodied or regarded with hatred by anti-American satirists.
In 1935 Romanian authorities banned Mickey Mouse films in cinemas out of fears that children would get scared at seeing a 10 foot mouse on screen.
As we can see, Mickey Mouse is a symbol, a cartoon character people love and love to hate. Personally I paid very little interest in Mickey Mouse as a child, preferring Donald Duck's antics to Mickey's high pitched voice and annoying laugh. Still, I respect his simple design and world wide appeal and recognise his value to the world of animation.