Today marks the ninetieth anniversary of the debut of Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. It was on this date in 1928 that Walter Elias Disney and Walt Disney Studios released a short animated film called Steamboat Willie. The short follows Mickey as he tries to navigate a steamboat down a river, crosses paths with the boat's real captain, meets Minnie, and ends up in the river.
The short was produced in response to The Jazz Singer, the first synchronized sound feature. Though it was not the first animated short with synchronized sound, it was the first successful one as the previous shorts failed to properly time the sound. It was actually the third short with Mickey produced but the first released as it had garnered the best reaction from test audiences. Disney himself performed all the voices, though they are all unintelligible.
Steamboat Willie was an instant success. It was highly regarded for its technical innovations and story. It propelled Disney and his company into the international spotlight, eventually leading to the massive empire we know today. It is now considered one of the greatest cartoons ever made.
The main character and his gal pal quickly became the most iconic characters of their day. Mickey was created after Walt lost the rights to his original character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who was being used by another company to force Disney to take a budget cut. Disney refused and eventually created a new character he named Mortimer Mouse. Walt's wife Lillian convinced him to change the name becoming Mickey.
Mickey and Minnie would go on to star in a number of animated shorts and newspaper strips eventually making their way into theatrical films. Thanks to Mickey's simple silhouette of three circles, he is today perhaps the most iconic character ever created. He has become the mascot for The Walt Disney Company. He was the first cartoon character to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His cartoons have been nominated for ten Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, winning one. Mickey is part of one of the most elaborate series of Easter Eggs known as Hidden Mickeys, where his outline is hidden throughout the Disney movies, series, games, and theme parks. Minnie may not have reached the same level of success as her boyfriend, but thanks to sharing the same iconic silhouette and large bow she has achieved great success among women.
Quinton Flynn provided the voice of Mickey for the first season of Mickey Mouse Works. Janet Waldo performed the voice of Minnie for he album An Adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol, Performed by The Walt Disney Players.