Facts about Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse Biography
Mickey Mouse debuted in the 1928 animated short Steamboat Willie and went on to become the familiar global symbol of Walt Disney studios.
A cheerful rodent in white gloves and red shorts, Mickey Mouse starred in dozens of Disney shorts and the 1940 animated feature Fantasia, becoming one of the world’s best-known cartoon characters. After 1950 Mickey appeared only rarely in films and instead settled into a role as Disney’s ambassador in its advertisements and theme parks, with Mickey’s mouse ears becoming the company symbol.
Disney’s daily TV show The Mickey Mouse Club was first broadcast in 1955 (the same year that Disneyland opened its doors) and became a long-running hit. Its familiar theme song included the spelled-out lyric, “Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.”
Extra credit
Mickey Mouse was born on November 18, 1928, according to promotional materials from The Walt Disney Company. That was the release date of Steamboat Willie… According to legend, Walt Disney planned to name his little star “Mortimer Mouse” until his wife suggested the name of Mickey Mouse instead… Mickey’s longtime girlfriend is Minnie Mouse and his dog is named Pluto… The Mickey Mouse Club was revived in 1977 and again in the 1990s, when its cast members (or “Mouseketeers”) included future music stars Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. The original show launched the career of Annette Funicello… Mickey Mouse’s modern-day cousins at Disney include The Little Mermaid and Jessica Rabbit.