Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Quick Summary
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was the first fully animated character created by Walt Disney and his team for a series of short films produced for Universal starting in 1927. Disney and his chief animator, Ub Iwerks, designed Oswald as a mischievous but likeable rabbit, a departure from their earlier Alice Comedies series.12
Despite the success of Oswald's debut film, Trolley Troubles, Disney lost the rights to the character due to a contract dispute. This experience led Disney to create Mickey Mouse, ensuring he retained ownership of his future creations. In 2006, the Walt Disney Company reacquired the rights to Oswald, allowing the character to be featured in new entertainment and merchandise.2
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Walt DisneyFirst animated cartoonsThey invented a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, contracted for distribution of the films at $1,500 each, and propitiously launched their small enterprise. In 1927, just before the transition to sound in motion pictures, Disney and Iwerks experimented with a new characterâa cheerful, energetic, and mischievous mouse called Mickey.âŠ
Read MoreThey invented a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, contracted for distribution of the films at $1,500 each, and propitiously launched their small enterprise. In 1927, just before the transition to sound in motion pictures, Disney and Iwerks experimented with a new characterâa cheerful, energetic, and mischievous mouse called Mickey.âŠ
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Disney CompanyEarly years and Mickey MouseâŠanimated films, featuring the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When his distributor appropriated the rights to the character, Disney altered Oswaldâs appearance and created a new character that he named Mortimer Mouse; at the urging of his wife, Disney rechristened him Mickey Mouse. Two silent Mickey Mouse cartoonsâPlane Crazy (1928)âŠ
Read MoreâŠanimated films, featuring the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When his distributor appropriated the rights to the character, Disney altered Oswaldâs appearance and created a new character that he named Mortimer Mouse; at the urging of his wife, Disney rechristened him Mickey Mouse. Two silent Mickey Mouse cartoonsâPlane Crazy (1928)âŠ
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Mickey MouseâŠin 1927, featuring the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When his distributor appropriated the rights to the character, Disney altered Oswaldâs appearance and created a new character that he named Mortimer Mouse; at the urging of his wife, Disney rechristened him Mickey Mouse. Two silent Mickey Mouse cartoonsâPlane Crazy (1928)âŠ
Read MoreâŠin 1927, featuring the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When his distributor appropriated the rights to the character, Disney altered Oswaldâs appearance and created a new character that he named Mortimer Mouse; at the urging of his wife, Disney rechristened him Mickey Mouse. Two silent Mickey Mouse cartoonsâPlane Crazy (1928)âŠ
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