As the golden anniversary of Mickey Mouse approaches, the Disney Corporation’s most iconic character is taking a notable leap into the public domain. In 2024, all Mickey Mouse cartoons released in 1928 will enter the public domain, with the early 1920s shorts showcasing Mickey’s mischievous nature and his rivalry with Pete the Cat. The cartoons feature Iwerks’ unique animation style, weaving visual gags with music to create a charming narrative.
In these initial shorts, Mickey’s boundless creativity is matched by Iwerks’ innovative animation techniques. The silent version of “Plane Crazy,” released in 1928, marks the first Mickey Mouse cartoon and instantly showcases the character’s antagonist nature. The animation is particularly noteworthy, with Mickey’s plane depicted through the eyes of the pilot. “Steamboat Willie,” released in 1928, introduced sound to Mickey Mouse cartoons, featuring the character’s antics as a steamboat captain.
These early shorts also highlight Mickey’s vulnerable side, a characteristic that rarely reappears in future works. “The Opry House” and “The Barn Dance” showcase Mickey’s attempts to woo Minnie, while “The Gallopin’ Gaucho” combines dance and suspense, featuring a simple but effective damsel-in-distress setup. “The Karnival Kid” marks Mickey’s first non-singing spoken words, “Hot Dogs!” and “Wild Waves” features music by Carl Stalling, a composer who would later work on Looney Tunes.
A Still From Mickey Mouse (Photo: Disney)
As Iwerks’ last direction, “Wild Waves” showcases Mickey’s personality shift away from troublemaking and closer to the kind-hearted character audiences know. “The Haunted House” and “The Plow Boy” feature Mickey exploring more diverse storylines, with “Haunted House” showcasing a horror theme and Mickey in a more limited role, serving as an audience surrogate. “Mickey’s Choo-Choo” and “Gallopin’ Gaucho” highlight Iwerks’ creative animation, including perspective shots of tunnels and downhill, as well as Mickey’s facial expressions.
These early Mickey Mouse shorts, now in the public domain, offer a fascinating Look into the character’s evolution, from a prankster to a more relatable and lovable character. Iwerks’ innovative animation techniques and Walt Disney’s creative storytelling set the stage for the beloved character’s enduring success, solidifying Mickey Mouse’s place in animation history.
