Did you know?
In honor of Mickey's 75th birthday celebration, here are some interesting tidbits about the world's most lovable mouse.
In the beginning:
Walt Disney's original cartoon creation was not a mouse but a rabbit named Oswald.
Walt Disney created Mickey based on a mouse that lived in the tiny studio in Kansas City where he produced his first animation shorts.
Mickey Mouse was originally going to be named "Mortimer Mouse," but Walt Disney's wife, Lillian, thought the name was too pompous. They later named him Mickey Mouse.
A character named Mortimer Mouse later made an appearance in the 1936 short "Mickey's Rival," where Mortimer Mouse challenged Mickey for Minnie Mouse's affection.
Only three men have been the "official" voice of Mickey: Walt Disney, Jim Macdonald and the current voice, Wayne Allwine.
Today, Mickey Mouse is the official greeter of all the Disney parks. He has greeted kings and presidents, prime ministers and princes, actors, and millions of fans. Mickey's travels have taken him everywhere, including the New York Stock Exchange, where he rang the opening bell.
Mickey goes to Hollywood:
After "Steamboat Willie," released in 1928, Mickey starred in more than 120 short cartoons. Eighty-seven of them were produced during the 1930s.
The first two Mickey Mouse films cost the studio $2,500 each. More recent Disney animated features have cost between $100 million and $150 million to produce.
Mickey appeared in three feature films: "Fantasia" (1940), "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947) and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" (1988); two featurettes: "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983) and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990), and two animated television series: "Disney's Mickey MouseWorks" (1999) and "House of Mouse" (2001).
In Mickey's most famous role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice in "Fantasia," his image was modified to include eye pupils and a more three-dimensional appearance.
In 1932, a special Academy Award was given to Walt Disney for the creation of Mickey Mouse.
In 1988, Mickey presented an envelope to actor Tom Selleck at the Academy Awards. In 2003, Mickey also presented the award for Best Animated Short with actress Jennifer Garner.
The upcoming holiday season will bring "Twice Upon a Christmas," a direct-to-video premiere with Mickey Mouse and the gang in three-dimensional CGI animation for the first time.
Bet Ya Didn't Know ...
At the Disney theme parks, Mickey can now wiggle his nose.
In all Mickey Mouse cartoons, Mickey's ears always face forward, no matter which way Mickey is facing.
Mickey has worn more than 175 different outfits.
Mickey's favorite sayings are "Gosh!," "Oh, boy!," "That sure is swell!," "Aw, gee ..." and "See ya soon!"
In honor of Mickey's 75th birthday celebration, here are some interesting tidbits about the world's most lovable mouse.
In the beginning:
Walt Disney's original cartoon creation was not a mouse but a rabbit named Oswald.
Walt Disney created Mickey based on a mouse that lived in the tiny studio in Kansas City where he produced his first animation shorts.
Mickey Mouse was originally going to be named "Mortimer Mouse," but Walt Disney's wife, Lillian, thought the name was too pompous. They later named him Mickey Mouse.
A character named Mortimer Mouse later made an appearance in the 1936 short "Mickey's Rival," where Mortimer Mouse challenged Mickey for Minnie Mouse's affection.
Only three men have been the "official" voice of Mickey: Walt Disney, Jim Macdonald and the current voice, Wayne Allwine.
Today, Mickey Mouse is the official greeter of all the Disney parks. He has greeted kings and presidents, prime ministers and princes, actors, and millions of fans. Mickey's travels have taken him everywhere, including the New York Stock Exchange, where he rang the opening bell.
Mickey goes to Hollywood:
After "Steamboat Willie," released in 1928, Mickey starred in more than 120 short cartoons. Eighty-seven of them were produced during the 1930s.
The first two Mickey Mouse films cost the studio $2,500 each. More recent Disney animated features have cost between $100 million and $150 million to produce.
Mickey appeared in three feature films: "Fantasia" (1940), "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947) and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" (1988); two featurettes: "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983) and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990), and two animated television series: "Disney's Mickey MouseWorks" (1999) and "House of Mouse" (2001).
In Mickey's most famous role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice in "Fantasia," his image was modified to include eye pupils and a more three-dimensional appearance.
In 1932, a special Academy Award was given to Walt Disney for the creation of Mickey Mouse.
In 1988, Mickey presented an envelope to actor Tom Selleck at the Academy Awards. In 2003, Mickey also presented the award for Best Animated Short with actress Jennifer Garner.
The upcoming holiday season will bring "Twice Upon a Christmas," a direct-to-video premiere with Mickey Mouse and the gang in three-dimensional CGI animation for the first time.
Bet Ya Didn't Know ...
At the Disney theme parks, Mickey can now wiggle his nose.
In all Mickey Mouse cartoons, Mickey's ears always face forward, no matter which way Mickey is facing.
Mickey has worn more than 175 different outfits.
Mickey's favorite sayings are "Gosh!," "Oh, boy!," "That sure is swell!," "Aw, gee ..." and "See ya soon!"
