Mickey Mouse, one of the most popular characters in the history of cartoons, is a very familiar name with all of us. This interesting character has entertained the people all over the world since a long time through its appearances in films, television and amusement parks. In the process, its creator became as famous as the creation. Do you know who was the creator of this well-known cartoon?
Mickey Mouse was the brain child of the famous American motion picture producer Walter Elivas Disney. He was very fond of making cartoon films and also became a successful animator. Mickey Mouse was introduced by him in 1928 in his silent cartoon film Plane Crazy. The first talkie (sound film) presenting Mickey Mouse was Steambout Willie made in 1929 by Disney. Thereafter it remained one of the most important characters in Walt Disney’s stock company of animated figures. The character was always drawn by Ub lwerks, one of Disney’s indispensable co-workers. The voice of Mickey in the films was the voice of Disney himself. Disney won a special Academy award in 1931-32 for creating Mickey Mouse.
Disney was born in Chicago on December 5, 1901. He started producing advertising films in Kansas City in 1919 and then turned to animation but only with limited success. Later he moved to Hollywood where he and his brother Roy become partners. When the first sound track movie featuring Mickey Mouse (Steambout Willie) was made in 1928, the character as well as its creator became instantly famous all over the world. Walt Disney also produced animated feature films like Snow white and the Seven dwarfs (1937), Fantasia (1940), Pinocchio (1938) etc. When the cost of making animated films became prohibitive, he ventured into true life adventure films such as Seal Island (1948), Beaver Valley (1950) etc. Later he made live action family films that include Davy Crocklet (1955), Mary Poppins (1965) etc.
Disney introduced a new method of synchronizing sound with animation and also was the first to make a television series in colour in 1961. But he is best remembered for the two amusement parks he created – Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida.
This great showman died in Los Angeles on December 16, 1966.