Today, Mickey stands as the highest-grossing animated character of all time, and the 4th highest-grossing media franchise overall. In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1932, Walt Disney was presented an honorary Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse. He has appeared in over 130 films, for which he received numerous accolades. Disney once attributed his success to the advent of Mickey, famously proclaiming that, “it was all started by a mouse”.Īs its most famous character, Mickey serves as the mascot of the Walt Disney Company. The two were widely regarded as 'alter-egos' by peers and historians, a perception supported by Walt originating Mickey’s voice. The character was especially treasured by Walt Disney, himself. Upon his inception, Mickey rapidly rose to the pinnacle of American culture, becoming the most popular and recognizable cartoon character in the world, and the prime influence of following cartoons. Mickey has also featured prominently in critically acclaimed video games such as 1990's Castle of Illusion and the Kingdom Hearts series. In the 1950s, Mickey became a television mainstay with the premiere of 1955's The Mickey Mouse Club, as well as an icon for the Disney theme parks with the opening of Disneyland. In 1940, Mickey made his feature-length film debut with Fantasia, for which he was given his modern redesign by animator Fred Moore.

Mickey steadily branched into other mediums over the years, beginning with a comic strip by cartoonist Floyd Gottfredson in 1930. Mickey’s versatility, meanwhile, enables him to slip into any profession, location, or time period, while maintaining his core characteristics. His simplistic, 'rubberhose' design allows for both relatable emotion, and exaggerated physical gags. Mickey was popularized by his long-running short film series. The essence of Mickey’s character is that of an underdog who, despite being small and vulnerable, overcomes larger-than-life adversity through quick wit and a can-do spirit. He speaks in a falsetto voice, and his speech is typically infused with 1930s slang like 'swell' and 'gee'. Estimated as standing 2' 3' (68.58 centimeters) and weighing 23 pounds (10 kilograms), Mickey is easily identified by his round ears, red shorts, white gloves, and yellow shoes. A cheerful and plucky anthropomorphic mouse, Mickey made his first public appearance in Steamboat Willie, on November 18, 1928. Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.” ― Walt Disney “ When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it's because he's so human and that is the secret of his popularity.

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