Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse! Wish Upon that Star

That beloved mouse, Mickey Mouse, a cartoon character, turns another year and he has never looked better in hi spiffy red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves.

Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character and the mascot of The Walt Disney Company created in 1928 at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Mickey is arguably the world’s most recognizable fictional character.

Ten of Mickey’s cartoons were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, one of which, Lend a Paw, won the award in 1942. In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was included alongside Donald Duck in TV Guide’s list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002.

A large part of Mickey’s screen persona is his famously shy, falsetto voice. From 1928 onward, Mickey was voiced by Walt Disney himself, a task in which Disney took great personal pride.

As the official Walt Disney mascot, Mickey has played a central role in the Disney parks since the opening of Disneyland in 1955. As with other characters, Mickey is often portrayed by a non-speaking costumed actor. In this form, he has participated in ceremonies and countless parades. A popular activity with guests is getting to meet and pose for photographs with the mouse. As of the presidency of Barack Obama (who jokingly referred to him as “a world leader who has bigger ears than me”)[64] Mickey has met every U.S. President since Harry Truman, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson.[39]

Mickey also features in several specific attractions at the Disney parks. Mickey’s Toontown (Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland) is a themed land which is a recreation of Mickey’s neighborhood. Buildings are built in a cartoon style and guests can visit Mickey or Minnie’s houses, Donald Duck’s boat, or Goofy’s garage. This is a common place to meet the characters.

Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse, Thanks for all the memories.

Image Sources

  • Mickey Mouse: Shutterstock