95 years ago this weekend, a rambunctious animated mouse set sail, becoming one of the most recognizable and beloved icons in history.
That mouse—as you probably have guessed—was named Mickey and on November 18, 1928, the character—alongside his partner Minnie—debuted in the touchstone animated short, Steamboat Willie.
Since then, Mickey Mouse and The Walt Disney Company have become—in many ways—one in the same.
“All of the wonderful things that followed in Walt’s own career were founded upon the first screening of a simple little mouse whistling his way into the hearts of audiences all over the world,” Rebecca Cline, the director of the Walt Disney Archives, said.
But Mickey is more than just a company mascot. He’s a symbol, a work of art and a beloved “everyman,” according to Cline.
“When asked why Mickey was so popular, Walt once said, ‘when people laugh at Mickey Mouse it’s because he’s so human; and that is the secret of his popularity,’” she added. “He struggles with life as we all do, but uses his innate sense of optimism to overcome all obstacles and has a wonderful time while doing so. He is terrifically appealing because of that optimistic, sunny outlook, and that optimism is sorely needed in the times we are living in today.”
Mickey’s everyman quality was evident from the start as seen in the sketches found within the Steamboat Willie story script. That very first image of Mickey is one of a character joyfully whistling a tune.
Cline noted that the script was of great importance to Walt Disney—a man who is synonymous with the character itself.
“When the Archives was founded in 1970, many of the historical materials remaining in Walt Disney’s offices were inventoried and preserved. The original script of Steamboat Willie was found in one of the drawers of Walt’s desk,” she said. “While Walt always claimed that he was not particularly sentimental, the fact that he kept the script so close illustrates how important it was to Walt himself.”
But after 95 years as a cultural star, how does Mickey keep that iconic legacy alive for future generations?
“My take is that while Mickey has evolved over time, he is forever young and is still as relatable as he was when he first appeared as Steamboat Willie 95 years ago,” Cline said. “I expect we will continue to see Mickey’s sunny personality in great stories full of heart, and he will continue to charm audiences of all ages, all over the globe, for generations to come.”