Walt Disney is a name that is synonymous with animation and entertainment. He was a pioneer in the field of animation and brought to life some of the most beloved characters in the world. But what was the first Disney character? Was it Mickey Mouse, the iconic cartoon mouse that has become a cultural icon? Or was it someone else?
Contents
The First Disney Character
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as you might think. While Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the most famous character created by Walt Disney, he was not the first. That honor goes to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character that was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1927. Oswald was a popular character in his own right and appeared in a series of animated shorts from 1927 to 1938.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an animated cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1927 for Universal Pictures. Oswald was a mischievous and adventurous rabbit who could reassemble his body parts and functions to his advantage. He had a distinctive personality, humor, and style, and appeared in various films, TV shows, video games, and merchandise since his creation.
Oswald was one of the first cartoon characters that had personality, as outlined by Walt himself: “Hereafter we will aim to make Oswald a younger character, peppy, alert, saucy, and venturesome, keeping him also neat and trim”. Oswald was a popular character in his own right and appeared in a series of animated shorts from 1927 to 1938. Twenty-seven animated Oswald shorts were produced at the Walt Disney Studio.
The Rise of Mickey Mouse
So why is Oswald not as well-known as Mickey Mouse? The answer lies in a business deal that went sour. In 1928, Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Universal Studios. This was a devastating blow to Disney, who had put so much time and effort into creating the character. However, he did not let this setback stop him. Instead, he went back to the drawing board and created a new character that would become even more famous than Oswald: Mickey Mouse.
Mickey Mouse made his debut in 1928 in a short film called “Steamboat Willie”. The character was an instant hit and quickly became a cultural icon. Mickey Mouse was different from Oswald in many ways. He was more relatable, more expressive, and more fun. He was also the first cartoon character to have synchronized sound, which was a major innovation at the time.
Other Beloved Characters
Mickey Mouse was not the only character created by Walt Disney after Oswald. Over the years, he created many other beloved characters, including Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. Each of these characters had their own unique personalities and quirks, and they all contributed to the success of the Walt Disney Company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the most famous character created by Walt Disney, he was not the first. That honor goes to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character that was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1927. Oswald was a popular character in his own right and appeared in a series of animated shorts from 1927 to 1938. However, Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald in 1928, which led him to create a new character that would become even more famous than Oswald: Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse was an instant hit and quickly became a cultural icon. He was the first cartoon character to have synchronized sound, which was a major innovation at the time. Over the years, Walt Disney created many other beloved characters, each with their own unique personalities and quirks, and they all contributed to the success of the Walt Disney Company.
