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This section of my page is dedicated to Mickey Mouse. My second love, after my boyfriend, Justin. I hope you enjoy!

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This is a copy of my research paper that I did on Mickey Mouse. Happy reading!

November 18, 1928, was probably the most important day in Disney creator Walt Disney's life. This day would represent Mickey Mouse's birthday. For it is the day that Mickey Mouse made his debut in Plane Crazy, a short cartoon. Mickey Mouse is known as the most famous mouse in the world and the most famous of all of Walt Disney's characters. However, Mickey Mouse wasn't all that famous when he was first introduced to the public. Nor did he look like what he does now.

Mickey Mouse first started his career as Oswald the Rabbit in early 1928. He looked like a rabbit with the long ears and bushy tail. Yet, if you look close at a picture of him, you can see the similarities between "Oswald" and "Mickey." Walt Disney had such a lack of success with Oswald that he pulled all cartoons of him. Disney lost most of his artistic staff, his claims on the rabbit, and nearly all of his hopes of a future in animation because of the poor success of Oswald. Disney and his brother, Roy Disney, still had hopes of owning and running an animation studio.

All hope was restored when Disney and his wife, Lillian, were on there way back to California from a business trip in New York. Disney had suggested a mouse named Mortimer, thinking of the field mice that were in his Kansas City office. However, Lillian thought the humble name of Mickey was more appropriate. Mickey Mouse was born.

At the beginning of Mickey Mouse's career, he looked nothing like he does now and didn't act the same as he does now. Mickey's looks were extremely different than they are now. In Steamboat Willie, Mickey's first "talkie" cartoon, he had huge eye sockets, a long snout, and no gloves. His arms and legs also looked like pipes, and his ears were put in an akward place on his head. Also, Mickey's body was somewhat pear-shaped. The one thing that Mickey still has is his two-button shorts. Now, Mickey Mouse still has the two-button shorts, his eyes are smaller, his arms and legs are thicker, and he has gained some weight. Also, his ears are not circles anymore (they change shape when veiwed from different angles), he has gloves, bigger feet, and his pear-shaped body has smoothed out. His tail has also been shortened (In WWII, he actually loses his tail because it was hard to animate and saved money).

With Mickey's character reformation, also came what you could call an "attitude adjustment." Mickey Mouse started his career as a "at best a fresh a bratty kid, at worst a diminutive and sadistic monster"(Schikel). At the beginning of his career, Mickey Mouse was dubbed obnoxious, loud, and insensitive. He was also dubbed Charlie Chaplin in a mouse's body. After the debut though, letters flooded Disney's office demanding a "kinder and gentler mouse." Mickey was the reformed and destined forever to be a quiet and more charming mouse. Mickey was not funny but is attractive in a pleasant and appealing way. This character trait was given to him by his creator, Walt Disney, himself, and it is fashoined after him. Mickey became a "goody-two-shoes", and would never do anything questionable. He also became more human. "Mickey is probably the first mouse ever to wash a car or conduct a symphony orchestra. Unlike the average mouse, he would never carry parasitic mites or nibble on electrical wiring. In essense, Mickey became a perfect gentleman--but in the body of a mouse." Mickey also had a quite unusual name. His name was used as the code name for the entire Allied mission in WWII.

Mickey Mouse wasn't alone though. He has a girlfriend, a dog, a crazy friend, and two nephews. Minnie Mouse, his girlfriend, was with Mickey right from the start. She debuted with him in Steamboat Willie. ALso among Mickey's "family" is Pluto, his dog. When Pluto, or Pluto the Pup, first debuted, it seemed that he was Minnie's dog and named Pover. But then in The Moose Hunt, he was realized as Mickey's dog and named Pluto. Pluto remains Mickey's dog and is with him almost always. Goofy has been there with Mickey for awhile, too. Goofy is like Mickey, more human than animal. He can do everything a human might, just with a few difficulties. With Mickey in Mickey's Nephews, a short Sunday "funny," is his nephews Morty and Ferdie Fieldmouse. Nothing is really known of their creation, but they did appear with Mickey more than once.

Mickey Mouse is known around the world as a representationn of Disney. "Mickey is synonymous with all that is good and benign; he is the ultimate symbol of happiness and delight" (Quote from Walt Disney). Mickey has enchanted us and captured us since 1928 with his movies, cartoons, and "funnies." He has also captured us with his merchandise and resorts. Mickey Mouse will be 70 this November 1998, and will always remain an American icon.