On Nov. 18, 1928, the world changed. While movies had been talking for barely a year, animated cartoons had yet to talk. But that changed 86 years ago today, when Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie was screened for the first time.
“Disney Cartoons present a Mickey Mouse sound cartoon,” reads the title card, announcing a new cultural icon. After a shot of a steamboat, we finally see the first image of Mickey Mouse, whistling a tune that’s been stuck in our heads ever since. He moves like a piece of rubber, not too far off from his distant cousin, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. His limbs are sticks, his eyes are big black discs. He’s not even wearing gloves.
Oswald was Disney’s real first hit in animation, but he soon learned that he didn’t actually own the character. Defeated, Disney created Mickey on a train ride, as the legend goes, and set shop in California. With animator Ub Iwerks in tow, they set to work. (By the way, Disney does now own Oswald.)
Iwerks animated like a mad man. They completed Plane Crazy first, animating Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse for the first time. However, Steamboat Willie was released first, introducing the world to Mickey, Minnie and his early rival Pete.
Yes, before Disney created any of his other beloved characters, he created Pete, who is best known today for his part in the Goof Troop. Pete is also shown chewing a giant block of tobacco. Oh, simpler times.
Steamboat Willie isn’t much of a technical marvel on the animation front. If you’ve seen other cartoons from the 1920s, the style is familiar, with no attempt at realistically drawing these characters. But Steamboat Willie talks and sings. Even the music is generic, with Mickey abusing animals just so he can perform “Turkey in the Straw.”
It would take a long time for Mickey and Minnie to become the characters we love today, but all cultural icons have to start somewhere. Mickey’s most familiar look doesn’t come in until Fantasia, when the Disney artists refined his look.
The Disney studio has embraced the traditions set forth in Steamboat Willie, even including it in the logo for the feature animation department. They are also making new shorts. While it seemed like they had forgotten for years, they’ve finally remembered. It really did all start with a mouse.