torsdag 31. januar 2019

Mickey Mouse - The Small, High-Pitched, But Iconic Disney Mouse and Trademark Who Started It All

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize



I can strike this pose and be adorable at the same time :)




And that's of course me ;)
For anyone who knows Disney knows the phrase Walt himself used to say: "That it all started with a mouse". While it's technically not true, it's still fair to claim that Mickey Mouse belongs to that pantheon of Disney's earliest creations. Therefore, Mickey is instantly associated with that time. But we all know that Mickey's Legacy stretches far beyond that and is still a relevant to this day.
Even Mickey can make a
drawing. So it`s full circle,
since I came from one :)
That`s why it's completely needless to cite Mickey's position in Disney's history. He's not only the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company. Mickey is so ingrained in people's consciousness that he's immediately been labeled as a Disney icon. But it's also pretty fair to say that he is usually associated with Walt. Finally turning 90 years old in the Fall of 2018 (when this entry was written), Mickey has been one of Disney's most recognizable and promoted characters and trademarks. For aforementioned reasons. But Mickey is also essentially perceived as Disney's most pivotal character of all time.












Mickey`s Origins and History

Mickey Mouse was created by Ub Iwerks (who was known for being the best animators back then) as a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. He was originally named Mortimer, but Walt`s wife Lillian hated that name (so much that she couldn't even focus on the story Walt was telling, despite that she approved the idea of Walt inventing a rodent). And suggested the name Mickey instead (Mickey Rooney has claimed that Disney named Mickey after him, but it's just a rumor). Lillian was also among those who painted the earliest cels on Mickey.
So don't call me Jinx :)
The choice of having him be a mouse was an inspired one. Since Walt used to observe them in a park back in Kansas City while working for Film Ad Co. And even capturing them and training them, while drawing them (at his workplace they were caught as pets and one of them given the name Mortimer). To the dismay of his female colleagues. 
It's rumored that Walt got the idea of Mickey on a train. Walt actually happened to like mice from The Aesop's Fables and used them in his Alice shorts. And even had some mices drawn on a photograph of him in a publicity poster. By studio artist Hugh Harman, where a couple of them looked like Mickey. Yet artist Clifton Meek came up with the final design (for his ability to draw cute ears).
It's love at first
sight :)
Look at this, Lionel Richie :)
While Mickey's design has of course changed through the years, Walt wanted to keep his design short and simple. His circular forms was made to make him simpler to animate. Originally he was not given gloves. The reason for why he has only four fingers was for being easier to animate (something that the late Robin Williams joked about).
In the 1940s, Mickey's ears were animated in a more realistic perspective. Later, they were drawn to always appear circular no matter which way Mickey was facing. This made Mickey easily recognizable to audiences and made his ears an personal trademark. The circular rule later created a dilemma for toy creators who had to recreate a three-dimensional Mickey.
In 1938, animator Fred Moore redesigned Mickey's body away from its circular design to a pear-shaped design. Although Moore himself was nervous at first about changing Mickey, Walt actually liked the new design and told him "that's the way I want Mickey to be drawn from now on."  In the film The Opry House (1929), Mickey was first given white gloves.











Mickey`s History, First Shorts, His Fellow Squad and Popularity Compared to Other Cartoon Characters

I'm Mickey, the Sailor Man :)
Of course Mickey is known for his very first short, Steamboat Willie. Yet funny enough, he appeared in the short Plane Crazy, despite being lesser known (and who's about Charles Lindbergh's flight). Since Walt was pretty much an innovator, he made technical innovations with each of his shorts and features. Walt wanted Mickey to have an impact, so therefore it was decided that Steamboat Willie should come along with sound, which made it the first cartoon short with fully synchronized soundtrack). And it was intended as a parody of Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Walt went ahead with it before his contract about Oswald had expired. Walt hired artist Wilfred Jackson (who was the lone male among a group of female colleagues) to animate Mickey secretly, due to not wanting him to be stealed. Wilfred could also play the harmonica and came up with the musical structure of Steamboat Willie. 
Yes, I want you, not the
beer :)
It's needless to say Mickey has been pretty much labeled for starring in shorts. Mickey's Follies (1929) introduced the song Minnie's Yoo-Hoo which would become the theme song for his following films for the next years. The Cactus Kid (1930) was the last film to be animated by Ub Iwerks. Mickey first appeared animated in color in Parade of the Award Nominees in 1932 (the film strip was created for the 5th Academy Awards ceremony and was not released to the public). Which therefore made Mickey's official color debut in 1935 with The Band Concert (which was voted the third-greatest cartoon of all time in a poll of animation professionals in 1994).
A mouse can be taller than
a duck in Cartoonland :)
By colorizing and partially redesigning Mickey, Walt would put Mickey back on top once again. And Mickey would reach popularity he never reached before. Also in 1935, Walt would receive a special award from the League of Nations for creating Mickey. However, by 1938, the more manic Donald Duck would surpass Mickey, resulting in a redesign of the mouse between 1938 and 1940 that put Mickey at the peak of his popularity. While Mickey had to compete with Felix the Cat in terms of popularity, he still surpassed his feline oponent (even though Popeye was at one point more popular than Mickey in 1935). But it was in Orphan's Benefit (1934) that Mickey first appeared with Donald Duck who had been introduced earlier that year in the Silly Symphonies series.
At least we're a substitute
for the actual catch :)
The second half of the 1930s saw the character Goofy reintroduced as a series regular. Together, Mickey, Donald Duck, and Goofy would go on several adventures together. Several of their films are some of Mickey's most critically acclaimed ones. As Mickey's Fire Brigade (1935), Moose Hunters (1937), Clock Cleaners (1937), Lonesome Ghosts (1937), Boat Builders (1938), and Mickey's Trailer (1938). In the 40's, Mickey changed once more in The Little Whirlwind. Where he used his trademark pants for the last time in decades, lost his tail, got more realistic ears that changed with perspective and a different body anatomy. But this change would only last for a short period of time before returning to the one in The Pointer, with the exception of his pants. In his final theatrical cartoons in the 1950s, he was given eyebrows, which were removed in the more recent cartoons.
I'm just kind to ya
until I'll eat ya :)
After 1940, Mickey's popularity would decline until his 1955 re-emergence as a daily Children's Television Personality. Despite this, he continued to appear regularly in animated shorts until 1943 (winning his only competitive Academy Award, with canine companion Pluto, for a short subject, Lend a Paw) and again from 1946 to 1952. Lend a Paw was the only film to actually win the award. The last regular installment of the Mickey Mouse film series came in 1953 with The Simple Things. In which Mickey and Pluto goes fishing and are pestered by a flock of seagulls.











Mickey`s Personality & Character Traits, Voice Actors

Yes, we have rare habbits
in this world :)
If we're to summarize Mickey's personality and character traits, it's fair to say that he's known for his distinctive, high pitched voice, who was of course voiced by Walt himself (who voiced Minnie as well). Yet he's also known for his (mostly) aforementioned squeaky-clean persona. Back on his early days, it was said that Mickey had a definite personality to make him distinctive from his peers (and that Walt saw him as his alter ego).
No more The Exorcist
for me :)
Since Disney characters are essentially labeled as archetypes (as I've mentioned in my prior entries), it's awfully tempting to label them as being pure good or pure evil. So Mickey is mostly put in the former box, despite not always being portrayed as a goody-two-shoes. However, he's still a departure from his counterpart, Donald Duck. But in 2009, Disney began to rebrand the character by putting less emphasis on his friendly, well-meaning persona and reintroducing the more menacing and stubborn sides of his personality, beginning with the video game Epic Mickey.
If Walt could have a
puppy in a box, I can
do the same with
a dragon :)
But now that we're having his voice actors here, Jimmy MacDonald took over the role in 1946. But Walt provided Mickey's voice again from 1955 to 1959 for The Mickey Mouse Club television series on ABC. It's also speculated that his cigarette habit had damaged his voice over the years. However, Mickey never actually spoke until The Karnival Kid in 1929, where his words were "Hot dogs, Hot dogs!". Composer Carl W. Stalling was the very first person to provide lines for Mickey in The Karnival Kid. Clarence Nash voiced Mickey in the 1934 short The Dognapper since Walt was traveling in Europe at the time. And was unavailable to record his lines for Mickey then. 
The 1983 short film Mickey`s Christmas Carol marked the theatrical debut of Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse. Who was the official voice of Mickey from 1977 until his death in 2009. Allwine once recounted what MacDonald had told him about the part: "Just remember kid, you're only filling in for the boss.' And that's the way he treated doing Mickey for years and years.
Clopin would've
been so proud :)
Bret Iwan, a former Hallmark greeting card artist, is the current voice of Mickey. Iwan was originally cast as an understudy for Allwine due to the latter’s declining health. However, Allwine died before Iwan could meet him and Iwan became the new official voice of the character.
However, despite this, Mickey's voice was provided by Chris Diamantopoulos in the 2013 animated series, as the producers were looking for a voice closer to Walt Disney’s portrayal of the character in order to match the vintage look of that series.









Mickey`s Love Interest and Relatives

Since you're playing angry, 
I have something that
 will get you mad :)
It's also impossible to not talk about Mickey without talking about his girlfriend Minnie and his other relatives. While they gets less recognition than Mickey, we cannot forget to mention his nephews Ferdinand "Ferdie" and the appropiately named Mortimer "Morty" Fieldmouse (hahaha). They first appeared in Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse Sunday strip story line titled Mickey's Nephews (1932).
Since then they`ve appeared in lots of comic strips and a couple of shorts as well. At least Minnie has starred in a couple of shorts, too and is more marketed and more prominent with Mickey in several merchandise than his newphews (her current voice actress, Russi Taylor, married aforementioned actor Wayne Allwine).
But now that we have previously mentioned Mickey's unofficial squad, it's worth to mention his most faithful one, his dog, Pluto. It would be easy to frown at a mouse having a dog for a pet, when the dog could've easily eaten him. Yet it`s something that still works. And despite their disagreements, their relationship is loving and affectionate, nonetheless.












Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey`s Following Appearances in Movies & His Role in Fantasia

To you, Fleetwood
Mac :)
By 1932, The Mickey Mouse Club would have one million members. But in 1935, Disney began to phase out the Mickey Mouse Clubs, due to administration problems. About this time, story artists at Disney were finding it increasingly difficult to write material for Mickey. As he had developed into a role model for children, they were limited in the types of gags they could make. In the 1950s, Mickey became more known for his appearances on television, particularly with The Mickey Mouse Club. Many of his theatrical shorts were rerelased on television series, such as Ink & Paint Club, various forms of the Walt Disney Anthology series, and on home video.
It doesn't have too
much space to run
in :)
Many television series have centered on Mickey, such as the ABC shows Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000), Disney's House of Mouse (2001–2003), Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016), and Mickey and the Roadster Racers (2017–). Prior to all these, Mickey was also featured as an unseen character in the Bonkers episode You Oughta Be In Toons. His most recent theatrical cartoon short was 2013's Get a Horse! which was preceded by 1995's Runaway Brain.
Since June 28, 2013, Disney Channel has been airing new 3-minute Mickey Mouse shorts. With animator Paul Rudish at the helm, incorporating elements of Mickey's late twenties-early thirties look with a contemporary twist. The creative team behind the 2017 DuckTales reboot had hoped to have Mickey Mouse in the series, but this idea was rejected by Disney executives.
As long as it doesn't
 make me evil :)
I'm kind to you, so you
can make my chores :)
But Mickey has of course not only starred in features. In 1940, Mickey appeared in his first feature-length film, Fantasia. His screen role as The Sorcerer's Apprentice, set to the symphonic poem of the same name by Paul Dukas, is perhaps the most famous segment of the film and one of Mickey's most iconic roles. Mickey has often been pictured in the red robe and blue sorcerer's hat in merchandising. It was also featured into the climax of Fantasmic!, an attraction at the Disney theme parks.
Mickey also starred in some of Walt's package features. Mickey returned to theatrical animation in 1983 with aforementioned Mickey's Christmas Carol. An adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in which Mickey played Bob Cratchit. This was followed up in 1990 with The Prince and the Pauper.
Throughout the decades, Mickey Mouse competed with Warner Bros.' Bugs Bunny for animated popularity. But in 1988, the two rivals finally shared screen time in the Robert Zemeckis Disney/Amblin film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Disney and Warner signed an agreement stating that each character had the same amount of screen time in the scene.
Never let a Cyclop make
your watch again :)
Similar to his animated inclusion into a live-action film on Roger Rabbit, Mickey made a featured cameo appearance in the 1990 television special The Muppets at Walt Disney World where he met Kermit the Frog. The two are established in the story as having been old friends. The Muppets have otherwise spoofed and referenced Mickey over a dozen times since the 1970s.
From 1999 to 2004, he appeared in direct-to-video features like Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers and the computer-animated Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas. Mickey has recently been announced to star in two films. One is being based on the Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort, while the other is a film idea pitched by Walt Disney Animation Studios veteran Burny Mattinson centering on Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Overall, Mickey has appeared in over 130 films. And yes, of course Mickey has made his cameo in several animated features, as an Easter Egg. 
 
 
 
 
 





Mickey`s Popularity, Appearances in Comic Books & Slang Meaning

I know this ain`t
Picasso, but at least it
looks like it :)
A relevant issue regarding Mickey is whether his popularity still mantains today compared to before. Yet due to him being marketable and having his aforenmetioned position, it's fair to say that those two reasons will preserve his popularity. Disney officials have confirmed that 98% of children aged 3–11 around the world are at least aware of the character.
And yes, this leads us to the next phase of Mickey's existense; Of him being known for a consumer product devise. Largely responsible for Disney's merchandising in the 1930s was Kay Kamen (1892–1949). Kamen was recognized by The Walt Disney Company as having a significant part in Mickey's rise to stardom and was named a Disney Legend in 1998. By 1934, Mickey merchandise had earned $600,000.00 a year. In total, approximately 40% of Disney's revenues for consumer products are derived from Mickey Mouse merchandise, with revenues peaking in 1997. 
We're magicians
who're not from
Hogwarts :)
Me and me groupies :)
However, Mickey has also been featured extensively as a comic strip character. He first appeared in comics in 1930 after he had appeared in 15 commercially successful animated shorts and was easily recognized by the public. Walt Disney was approached by King Features Syndicate with the offer to license Mickey and his supporting characters for use in a comic strip. While the stories at Western Publishing during the Silver Age emphasized Mickey as a detective in the style of Sherlock Holmes, in the modern era several editors and creators have consciously undertaken to depict a vigorous Mickey in the mold of the classic Gottfredson adventures. His most famous rendition being Topolino in Italy. "Mickey Mouse" is also a slang expression meaning small-time, amateurish or trivial. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it means poor quality or counterfeit. However, in parts of Australia it can mean excellent or very good (rhyming slang for "grouse").












Mickey`s Apperances in Disney Parks & Video Games

We're a kindred spirit :)
Of course Mickey is a recurrent visitor in the Disney Parks and 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. 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. Mickey plays a central role in Fantasmic! (Disneyland Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios) a live nighttime show which famously features Mickey in his role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Mickey was the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day 2005. He was the first cartoon character to receive the honor and only the second fictional character after Kermit the Frog in 1996.
Yes, you're not blending in
with the colors, Pete :)
Mickey has starred in many video games, including Mickey Mousecapade on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse (also known as Mickey's Wild Adventure), Mickey's Ultimate Challenge, and Disney's Magical Quest on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse on the Mega Drive/Genesis, Mickey Mouse: Magic Wands! on the Game Boy, and many others. 
This is not for Cinderella :)
Yes, this picture lives
up to it's title :)
In the 2000s, the Disney's Magical Quest series were ported to the Game Boy Advance, while Mickey made his sixth generation era debut in Disney's Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse, a Nintendo GameCube title aimed at younger audiences. Mickey plays a major role in the Kingdom Hearts series, as the king of Disney Castle and aide to the protagonist, Sora. King Mickey wields the Keyblade, a weapon in the form of a key that has the power to open any lock and combat darkness. Epic Mickey, featuring a darker version of the Disney universe, was released in 2010 for the Wii.












Awards, Nominations & Celebration

At least it's a soaring
adventure, since I'm
not literally flying :)
But of course this leads us to the aspect that Mickey is a quite awarded character. In 2008, Time declared him one of the world's most recognized characters, even compared to Santa Claus. Walt Disney also received an honorary Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse. 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 (as has his girlfriend, as well). In 1994, four of Mickey's cartoons were included in the book The 50 Greatest Cartoons which listed the greatest cartoons of all time as voted by members of the animation field. The films were The Band Concert (#3), Steamboat Willie (#13), Brave Little Tailor (#26), and Clock Cleaners (#27).
At least it's not Hansel and
Grete's house :)
In August 2018, ABC television announced a two-hour prime time special, Mickey's 90th Spectacular, in honor of Mickey's 90th birthday. The program featured never-before-seen short videos and several other celebrities who wanted to share their memories about Mickey Mouse and performed some of the Disney songs to impress Mickey. The show took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and was produced and directed by Don Mischer on November 4, 2018.












Epilogue

Since I'm a cartoon,
I don't age with
wrinkles :)
Whatever could be said about Mickey Mouse, he truly deserves to be a Disney Icon in every sense of the word. It's redundant to point out his place and the World's knowledge about him. But at least it's a well-deserved staple of fame. All in all, Mickey is stan affable and likable character that deserves to be recognized and therefore deserves to have his fame and be forever be associated with Disney history and for founding it. As this entry was written to his belated 90th Anniversary, there`s nothing else to wish him Happy Anniversary, Mickey and let us wish you many more.





This is my favorite pose :) Don't ask me why :)




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