the continuing drive for mickey mouse toyss, cartoons and DVDs appears to go unabated, it’s worth taking a look back to the beginning and see where Mickey actually came from. Many of you will know that Steamboat Willie was one of the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons, and we should have a brief look at it here.
1928 was the year it was released, featuring synchronized sound for the first time. New York was the city that Steamboat Willie premiered. It was a hit straightaway.
Walt Disney and other Iwerks responsible for the writing and directing the film, which was a parody of Buster Keaton movie steamboat Bill Junior. A Disney animator called Wilfred Jackson put the music together. Some of the popular songs were Steamboat Bill And Turkey in the Straw.
It’s possible that Steamboat Willie may be in the public domain, following much controversy surrounding the copyright of the film. The film was voted number 13 out of the 50 greatest cartoons of all time, and was selected for preservation in the United States film Registry.
In the past the film has been subjected to the censors scissors. Mickey failed to impress the censor at all when he used a goose as a set of bagpipes and pulled a cat’s tail.
The Steamboat Willie movie was also featured in the Walt Disney treasures DVD. The DVD release Vintage Mickey included Steamboat Willie, and was a collection of black-and-white Mickey Mouse cartoons.
Sooner or later it was obvious that Mickey Mouse was featured in a video game. In the videogame Mickey Mania: the Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse, the basis of the first game was provided by the Steamboat Willie film. It was originally released for the Super Nintendo console, but was also seen on the Sega CD and Sony PlayStation.
The Disney game Kingdom Hearts I I also features a Steamboat Willie inspired the world, with period versions of the characters.
I’m pretty unmarried that the film from the 1920s has created this massive market for Mickey Mouse Toys and clothes. If you go for a quick online search you will be a mayonnaise at the amount of Mickey Mouse related paraphernalia exists. Available items include video games, DVDs, pajamas, jewelry, and plenty of board games. There is a toy for each occasion. There appears to be no letup in the desire for Mickey Mouse related goods.
I’m really amazed that 80 years after the first film, Mickey Mouse is still as successful as ever. Incredible!.