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Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Walt Disney's first animated character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was an instant hit and Universal (who Walt Disney worked for) ordered a series of shorts.
When trying to negotiate another contract in 1928, the studio informed Walt that it had hired away all of his employees. Therefore, the rights were confined to Oswald. Universal offered to take Walt back, but he didn't accept it. -
Plane Crazy
Even though this was the 3rd Disney cartoon, this was the first cartoon that actually starred Mickey Mouse. That was the beginning of his "stardom" in over 120 Disney cartoons. -
Minnie Mouse
Since Oswald the Lucky Rabbit had an interest of the "ladies", Mickey Mouse had to be given a character to flirt with to portray Oswald's love life. Minnie Mouse of course! In fact, Minnie Mouse was made at the same time as Mickey Mouse (by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks), and her first appearance was in Steamboat Willie. -
Steamboat Willie
Because of the loss of Oswald, Disney had to come up with something new; a new character. He and Ub Iwerks spent many stressing, long nights trying to make a replacement for Oswald. Finally, on November 18, 1928, a new animation with synchronized music and sound effects was released and premiered in New York. The name of the animation: Steamboat Willie. IT WAS A HIT! The minor apperence of Mickey Mouse in it made him well-known. In a matter of months, more shorts of Mickey Mouse were appearing. -
Mickey's First Makeover
Fred Moore, a young animator, gave Mickey Mouse his first makeover in 1935. Before, earlier animators had drawn Mickey as a series of circles, which disabled his movements.
Moore gave Mickey a pear-shaped body, pupils, white gloves, and a shortened nose. This made him look cuter :)
That same year, Mickey made his first apperance in color.
