Mickey Mouse is the most recognized and loved character in the world -- one of the most universal symbols of the Twentieth Century.
"I hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a Mouse."
Walt Disney
Walt Disney was on a train ride from New York to Los Angeles with his wife Lilly when he came up with the idea of a Mouse character. He wanted to call his new creation Mortimer, but Lilly felt that Mickey was a better name for the character.
Mickey was a symbol of independence for Walt. "He popped out of my mind and onto a drawing pad...Mickey was simply a little personality assigned to the purposes of laughter...When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it's because he's so human; and that is the secret of his popularity."
In the beginning Walt himself was the voice of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, while Lillian worked as an inker and painter. Steamboat Willie, 1928, was the first Mickey cartoon released to the public and the world's first cartoon with fully-synchronized sound.
Mickey became instantly popular and would go on to become the most recognized and loved character in the world. His cartoons were so popular that moviegoers would ask if the theaters were "playing a Mickey short" before they would purchase admission. The theaters responded by displaying posters that read, "Mickey Mouse playing today!"
The social and historical impact this small cartoon Mouse is immeasurable.
Mickey Mouse has graced the covers of Time Magazine, Newsweek, Life Magazine, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping.
In 1935, The League of Nations presented Walt Disney a special medal in recognition that Mickey Mouse was "a symbol of universal goodwill."
Mickey Mouse was the code name used for the 1944 invasion of Normandy by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Allied Forces.
Walt received an Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse in 1932.
In 1978, in honor of his 50th anniversary, Mickey Mouse became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2008, in honor of this legendary character, Great American Ink animation art gallery released the exclusive Mickey Mouse 80th limited edition cel, "80 Years of Ears."
