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Mickey Mouse (film series)
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| Mickey Mouse | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster for the series | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Celebrity Productions (1–15) Columbia Pictures (16–43) United Artists (44–95) RKO Radio Pictures (96–126) Buena Vista Distribution (127)[a] Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (128–129) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (130) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Mickey Mouse (originally known as Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons)[1] is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie[b] and ended with 2013’s Get a Horse! being the last in the series to date, otherwise taking a hiatus from 1953 to 1983. The series is notable for its innovation with sound synchronization and character animation, and also introduced well-known characters such as the titular protagonist Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Goofy.
The name "Mickey Mouse" was first used in the films' title sequences to refer specifically to the character, but was used from 1935 to 1953 to refer to the series itself, as in "Walt Disney presents a Mickey Mouse". In this sense "a Mickey Mouse" was a shortened form of "a Mickey Mouse sound cartoon" which was used in the earliest films. Films from 1929 to 1935 which were re-released during this time also used this naming convention, but it was not used for the three shorts released between 1983 and 1995 (Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Prince and the Pauper, and Runaway Brain). Mickey's name was also used occasionally to market other films which were formally part of other series. Examples of this include several Silly Symphonies and Goofy and Wilbur (1939).
Production
[edit]
Disney began secretly producing the first Mickey Mouse films while still contractually required to finish some Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons for producer Charles Mintz. The first two films, Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho, were previewed in theaters but failed to pick up a distributor for a broad release. For the third film, Disney added synchronized sound, a technology that was still in its early stages at the time. Steamboat Willie debuted in New York in November 1928 and was an instant success. The revenues from the film provided the studio with much needed resources, and the studio quickly began to produce new cartoons as well as releasing sound versions of the first two.[2]
Production slowed towards the end of the 1930s as the studio began to focus on other characters and feature-length films. The series was informally retired in 1953 with the release of The Simple Things, but was revived in 1983 and 1990 with two featurettes, or three reel short films. 1995's Runaway Brain returned the series to its single reel format, while the latest installment, 2013's Get a Horse!, was produced in the black-and-white style of the early films and combining color CGI animation scenes.
The cartoons were directed by 20 different people. Those with the most credits include Burt Gillett (34), Wilfred Jackson (18), Walt Disney (16), David Hand (15), and Ben Sharpsteen (14); the director of the most recent installment, Lauren MacMullan, was the first female director. Notable animators who worked on the series include Ub Iwerks, Norm Ferguson, Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas, and Fred Moore. Mickey's voice is mostly provided by Walt Disney, with some additional work by Carl Stalling and Clarence Nash. By 1948, Jimmy MacDonald had taken over Mickey's voice. Wayne Allwine voiced the mouse in the three films released from 1983 to 1995. In the most recent film, Get a Horse!, Mickey's dialogue was compiled from archival recordings primarily of Walt Disney's voice work.
List of films
[edit]The following is a list of Mickey Mouse films. The early films released by Celebrity Productions (1928–1929) and Columbia Pictures (1930–1932) were distributed by region and state, so there is no definitive release date. The dates used in the list from 1928 to mid-1932 are shipping dates, reflecting when the Disney studio shipped the completed films to the distributors, per the 2018 Disney Enterprises book Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. The shorts released by United Artists (1932–1937) and RKO Radio (1937–1940) have official release dates announced by the distributors.[3]
The list does not include shorts where Mickey Mouse appears outside of the Mickey Mouse series, such as appearances in short films starring other characters in their own film series, segments from feature films (such as The Sorcerer's Apprentice), nor shorts of Mickey Mouse made as part of the episodes of the television series Mickey Mouse Works.
Gray headers indicate black-and-white films, while yellow headers indicate color films.
| Years: |
1928 · 1929 · 1930 · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 · |
|---|
1928
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director[4] | Release date[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
November 18, 1928
| ||
|
Mickey works aboard a river steamboat captained by Pete with the mission of transporting livestock. Along the way Mickey picks up animals and Minnie and the two come up with creative ways to play "Turkey in the Straw" with a goat, Mickey plays along to the beat. Pete is unamused and puts Mickey to work skinning potatoes. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete, Clarabelle Cow Notes: Disney's first sound cartoon, selected to the National Film Registry in 1998.[6] The title is a parody of the Buster Keaton film, Steamboat Bill, Jr., which was released May 12, 1928. This cartoon entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. | |||
2
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December 30, 1928
| ||
|
Mickey is an Argentine gaucho who rides a rhea instead of a horse. He stops at a cantina where he finds Minnie and dances with her. Pete arrives, abducts Minnie, and takes her away on a donkey. Mickey follows after him, but the rhea has become drunk and slows Mickey down. Finally, Mickey confronts Pete in a fencing duel and saves Minnie. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Notes: Released on August 2, 1928. The cartoon is a parody of the Douglas Fairbanks film, The Gaucho, which was released November 21, 1927. Mickey wears shoes for the first time. At first he and Minnie have the same eyes as in Plane Crazy, but halfway into the cartoon they turn into the dot eyes seen in Steamboat Willie. This cartoon entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. | |||
1929
[edit]The 1929 shorts entered the public domain on January 1, 2025.
| Installment | Film | Director(s) | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
3
|
Walt Disney
|
March 14, 1929
| |
|
Mickey wants to take Minnie to a dance, but Pete's flashy car beats Mickey's horse-drawn wagon as her transportation of choice. At the dance, Mickey uses a balloon to make himself light on his feet — the perfect dancing partner — but this does not keep Minnie at his side for long either. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Notes: A colorized version was made in the late 1980s. | |||
4
|
Walt Disney
|
March 17, 1929
| |
|
Mickey tries to emulate his hero, Charles Lindbergh, and woo Minnie by building and flying his own airplane. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow Notes: This is the first to be animated in the series, marking the debut of Mickey and Minnie. The cartoon was screen tested on May 15, 1928; the sound version followed on March 17, 1929. The silent version of the cartoon entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, while the sound version entered the public domain the following year. | |||
5
|
Walt Disney
|
March 28, 1929
| |
|
Mickey owns and performs at his own theatre, going in drag as a harem girl, in a derby as a Hasidic Jew, and finally in a wig as a fancy pianist. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Kat Nipp Notes: First time Mickey wears gloves outside of title cards and posters. | |||
6
|
Walt Disney
|
May 3, 1929
| |
|
After Tom Cat has a drink and goes out for the day with his rifle, Mickey, Minnie, and an army of mice break into the feline's home to play music with whatever they can get their little paws on. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, "Tom Cat" (different sources referring to him as Pete or Kat Nipp) Notes: Remake of Alice Comedies film Alice Rattled by Rats, depicts Mickey and Minnie as regular mice. | |||
7
|
Walt Disney
|
ca. June 1, 1929
| |
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Mickey joins an army of mice to battle an army of cats. Commander Pete leads the cats in a raid on Mickey's farm. Mickey mounts a spirited defense of the farmhouse. Other appearances: Pete | |||
8
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Walt Disney
|
ca. June 28, 1929
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Mickey flirts with Minnie on the farm, but she spurns him, making him look bad in the eyes of his helper, Horace Horsecollar. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow Notes: First time Minnie wears gloves. | |||
9
|
Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks
|
July 31, 1929
| |
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Mickey sells animated hot dogs at a carnival and heckles rival barker Kat Nipp. Also at the fair is Minnie who performs as a shimmy dancer. Mickey gives her a free hot dog, and later under the pale moonlight with the help of two alley cats, serenades Minnie outside her trailer with the 1904 hit song Sweet Adeline. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, Kat Nipp Notes: First time Mickey speaks actual words, and the first time Mickey has pie eyes and eyebrows. | |||
10
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August 28, 1929
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Mickey and his barnyard pals put on a show that includes dancing ducks, opera singing by Patricia Pig, and Mickey's own rendition of his theme song, "Minnie's Yoo Hoo". Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, Patricia Pig Notes: Introduction of "Minnie's Yoo Hoo", Mickey's theme song. | |||
11
|
Walt Disney
|
September 26, 1929
| |
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Mickey is running a small-town railroad. He takes Minnie for a wild ride on a humanized train which eventually rumbles out of control. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow | |||
12
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Walt Disney
|
October 15, 1929
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As part of "Mickey's Big Road Show", Mickey plays a calliope pulled by Horace. They later play the xylophone and piano, Mickey mercilessly beating up on the latter. Other appearances: Horace Horsecollar | |||
13
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Walt Disney
|
November 9, 1929
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Mickey goes on a hunting expedition to the jungle, but when his rifle malfunctions, Mickey is left facing several angry and vicious animals. To appease them, Mickey starts playing music, and soon has all of the animals joining him. | |||
14
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December 2, 1929
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Mickey weathers a ferocious storm inside an old haunted house where he is compelled to play the organ for a ghost and a group of skeletons. Other appearances: Skeletons, Ghost Notes: Title shortened to Haunted House in rerelease title sequence. | |||
15
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December 18, 1929
| ||
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Mickey works as a beach lifeguard who saves Minnie from being drowned by a wave. After Minnie is rescued, she fusses, Mickey tries to cheer her up by dancing, playing music and scat sings to "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep". Also present are a wide variety of sea birds and marine mammals who accompany Mickey. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse Notes: Last film released by Celebrity Productions. Also the last film in the series that was animated by Ub Iwerks.[10] | |||
1930
[edit]The 1930 shorts will enter the public domain on January 1, 2026.
| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
16
|
Walt Disney
|
March 6, 1930
| |
|
At a concert hall, Mickey performs solo on a violin. His repertoire includes "Traumerei" and the finale of the William Tell overture. Notes: First film released by Columbia Pictures. Only film to feature Mickey without supporting characters, copyrighted as Fiddlin' Around,[11] billed as Fiddling Around.[12] First short made without Ub Iwerks. This short is also known as "Just Mickey". | |||
17
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Walt Disney
|
April 5, 1930
| |
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At the farm, Mickey directs an orchestra rehearsal of Poet and Peasant by Franz von Suppè. The session is filled with distractions and Mickey ends up with a bucket of water thrown on his head. Other appearances: Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow | |||
18
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Walt Disney
|
May 10, 1930
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Set in the desert of Mexico or the southwestern United States; Mickey enters "El Adobe Cafe" where Minnie works as a bar tender. Pete arrives and abducts Minnie after a brief gun fight with Mickey. Mickey rides after Pete on Horace and eventually saves Minnie. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar (without his yoke), Pete Notes: First time Marcellite Garner voices Minnie, and the first time the animators worked to a prerecorded soundtrack. | |||
19
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Burt Gillett
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June 20, 1930
| |
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Mickey is the fire chief of a fire department which receives an alarm in the middle of the night. The group of fire fighters race to the blaze which engulfs a seven-storey building, but on the way the engine loses its water tank. Mickey saves Minnie, trapped on the top floor, by way of a clothes line connected with another building. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar Note: Original prints of this film had the fire scenes tinted red.[13] | |||
20
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Burt Gillett
|
July 11, 1930
| |
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The friends from the barnyard attend a dance in the barn. Clarabelle Cow attends as Horace Horsecollar's date and the pair take center stage for one of the dances. Mickey and Minnie provide music on fiddle and piano, and Mickey later joins the dancing. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow Notes: Clarabelle's name was mentioned for the first time and Clarabelle stands up for the first time. | |||
21
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Burt Gillett
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August 18, 1930
| |
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Mickey is a prisoner forced to work on a chain gang with other prisoners. When the guard Peg Leg Pete falls asleep, Mickey leads the prisoners in some care-free, innovative music making, and eventually escape. Mickey vaults himself over the wall, escapes into a swamp and eventually rides away on a pair of horses. When the horses throw Mickey off a cliff, he happens the fall through the roof of the jail and finds himself back in his cell. Other appearances: Clarabelle Cow, Pluto (prototypes), Pete | |||
22
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Burt Gillett
|
September 22, 1930
| |
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Mickey reads about a gorilla named Beppo has escaped the local city zoo in the newspaper and calls Minnie to warn her. Minnie insists she is not afraid and plays the piano for Mickey over the phone. While Minnie is playing, Beppo enters the house and kidnaps her, ties her up and takes her into the attic. Mickey hears Minnie's screams in the telephone and runs over to her house to save her before Beppo strikes back. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Beppo the Gorilla | |||
23
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Burt Gillett
|
October 9, 1930
| |
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Mickey and Minnie go on a picnic together along with Minnie's dog Rover. Mickey brings a phonograph, and while he and Minnie dance to "In the Good Old Summer Time", a variety of animals make off with the food. Finally the weather turns bad and the trio head home in a hurry. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto as "Rover", Mickey's car | |||
24
|
Burt Gillett
|
November 20, 1930
| |
|
Period piece set in the old west. Mickey and Minnie are part of a wagon train of American settlers. Indian scout spots the wagon train and assembles a war party. That night after circling the wagons, the pioneers dance to "The Irish Washerwoman" and later hear on old goat sing an emotional rendition of "Nelly Gray". Just then the Indians attack and a fight breaks out. Mickey and Minnie scare the Indians away by tricking them into thinking U.S. cavalry soldiers are approaching. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse; cameos by Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow | |||
1931
[edit]The 1931 shorts will enter the public domain on January 1, 2027.
| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
25
|
Burt Gillett
|
January 2, 1931
| |
|
Mickey's friends throw a surprise birthday party at Minnie's house. Minnie gives Mickey a piano, and the mice play a piano duet of "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby". During the rest of the party the characters dance and play more songs. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow | |||
26
|
Burt Gillett
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March 7, 1931
| |
|
Mickey works as a taxi driver in a large city. After losing his first customer in the street, Mickey picks up Minnie on her way to a music lesson, but the taxi gets a flat tire which Mickey is unable to repair. Pete appears as a traveling snake oil salesman who feeds a formula to the taxi. This makes the vehicle go out of control. Mickey, Minnie, and the taxi crash through a barn and end up covered in feathers. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete as "Dr. Pep", Percy Pigg | |||
27
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Wilfred Jackson
|
March 27, 1931
| |
|
Mickey is a castaway in the ocean and makes it ashore to a jungle island. After eating bananas, a piano washes ashore and Mickey plays it while dealing at first with bothersome wild animals, and later dangerous ones. | |||
28
|
Burt Gillett
|
April 30, 1931
| |
|
Mickey and Pluto go hunting for moose. Mickey accidentally shoots at Pluto with his shotgun and the dog plays dead. After this Mickey and Pluto encounter a real moose and are chased away. Other appearances: Pluto Notes: First appearance of Pluto as Mickey's dog. | |||
29
|
Burt Gillett
|
June 6, 1931
| |
|
While working as a delivery boy driving a cart filled with musical instruments, Mickey passes by Minnie's house. He sneaks up on her while she is outside doing her laundry. The two mice start dancing in the yard, but Mickey punches a bee hive onto the mule pulling the cart. The mule kicks the cart and the instruments land on the animals. Together they all play "Stars and Stripes Forever". Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Pete | |||
30
|
Burt Gillett
|
July 10, 1931
| |
|
Mickey prepares for a date and leaves his house, but Pluto wants to come with him. Mickey tells Pluto to stay home and ties him to the dog house, but Pluto follows anyway, dragging the house behind him. At Minnie's house Mickey and Minnie play music, while outside Pluto chases a cat. The chaos eventually interrupts the date. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto | |||
31
|
Burt Gillett
|
August 7, 1931
| |
|
Mickey plays piano at a concert hall and is joined by Minnie singing "St. Louis Blues". Mickey later conducts a blues orchestra that proves to heavy for the stage. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto | |||
32
|
Burt Gillett
|
September 1, 1931
| |
|
Mickey and Pluto go fishing from a boat on a lake after sinking a sign that says "no fishing". The fish turn out to be very intelligent and play several pranks on the fishermen, including tying their fishing lines together. Eventually a police officer appears and, trying to stop Mickey from fishing, accidentally falls in the water. Mickey and Pluto make a speedy getaway. Other appearances: Pluto | |||
33
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Burt Gillett
|
September 30, 1931
| |
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Mickey sets up a radio station in the barn and hosts a music program. While Minnie, Horace, and Clarabelle perform, Mickey struggles to keep a cat family out of the barn who are intent on interrupting the broadcast. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto | |||
34
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Burt Gillett
|
October 28, 1931
| |
|
Mickey and his friends spend a relaxing day at the beach going swimming and enjoying a picnic. When Pluto accidentally retrieves an aggressive octopus from the ocean, the party fights him off using techniques learned earlier in the day, such as Horace's spitting of watermelon seeds and ejecting jars of pickled olives from Clarabelle's throat. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto | |||
35
|
Mickey Cuts Up
|
Burt Gillett[14]
|
November 25, 1931
|
|
Mickey mows his yard with a reel mower pulled by Pluto, while next door Minnie waters her garden. Mickey tricks Minnie by pretending to be a bird in a bird house, but instead he gets attacked by a cat. While Mickey and Minnie are playing a harmonica duet, Pluto chases after the cat, but the mower is still tied on to him and it cuts up everything in its path. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto | |||
36
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Burt Gillett
|
December 5, 1931
| |
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Mickey and Minnie take in an orphaned litter of kittens during Christmas time. The kittens harass Pluto, ransack the house, and skeletonize the Christmas tree. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, kittens Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short.[15] | |||
1932
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
37
|
The Duck Hunt
|
Burt Gillett
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January 21, 1932
|
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Mickey and Pluto go to a pond to hunt for ducks. While Mickey hides behind some bullrushes in a boat with a shotgun, Pluto wears a duck decoy on his head and swims to the center of the pond. The ducks discover the truth after Mickey accidentally shoots a hole in the bottom of his boat. Other appearances: Pluto | |||
38
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The Grocery Boy
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Wilfred Jackson
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February 8, 1932
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Mickey and Pluto go grocery shopping for Minnie and later help her cook. Pluto misbehaves and tries to steal the turkey which leads to a disaster. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto | |||
39
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The Mad Dog
|
Burt Gillett
|
February 27, 1932
|
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Mickey gives Pluto a bath, but the dog doesn't like it and jumps out of the tub. Pluto then accidentally swallows the bar of soap and starts hiccuping bubbles. In a panic, Pluto starts running through the city, all the while hiccuping bubbles. People in town panic when they see Pluto foaming at the mouth, and assume he has rabies. Pete, the town dogcatcher corners Pluto in an alley at gunpoint. Mickey pleads with Pete for Pluto's life, but to no avail. Finally Mickey throws a cat down Pete's pants to distract him, while he and Pluto run home. Other appearances: Pluto, Pete; cameo of Clarabelle Cow | |||
40
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Barnyard Olympics
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
April 13, 1932
|
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Several characters participate in the Olympic Games including boxing and diving. Mickey himself participates in the main event, a cross-country multi-sport race similar to a Triathlon, except it includes row boating instead of swimming. Another participant in the race (possibly Pete) tries to sabotage Mickey's chances of winning along the way. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow Note: Released to coincide with the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[16] | |||
41
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Wilfred Jackson
|
May 27, 1932
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Mickey presents a revue at an informal concert hall. The program includes an orchestra conducted by Mickey, a stage show with Minnie as a fairy and three dancing cows, two dancing dogs, and a ragtime duet by Mickey and Minnie. There are several distractions throughout the performance including Goofy laughing loudly in the audience and Pluto roaming onto stage. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy (as Dippy Dawg, first appearance), Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto | |||
42
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Musical Farmer
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Wilfred Jackson
|
June 8, 1932
|
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Mickey plants seeds with Pluto. When Mickey sees Minnie milking a cow, he decides to sneak up on her and scare her with him and Pluto inside a scarecrow. Eventually Mickey is found out and he and Minnie play music with the animals and other improvised instruments. Later Mickey tries to photograph a humongous egg laid by one of the hens. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto; hens Fanny, Bessie, Tessie, others | |||
43
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Wilfred Jackson
|
July 11, 1932
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Mickey and Minnie visit the Middle East as tourists. As they are taking pictures with locals, Pete the sultan appears and abducts Minnie behind a fence, carrying her away to his castle on a horse. Mickey follows on his camel but is slowed down because the camel is drunk. Mickey fights Pete and his henchmen and eventually saves Minnie. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Note: Last film released by Columbia Pictures. | |||
44
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Burt Gillett
|
August 13, 1932
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Mickey goes to sleep one night and dreams that he and Minnie get married. Soon several storks arrive at the house dropping off children, literally by the bucket load. The hoard of children overrun the house and create a nuisance for Mickey and Pluto. Mickey finally wakes up with a renewed determination never to marry. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, The Orphans Note: First film released by United Artists, introduced new title sequence including the Mickey Mouse starburst. | |||
45
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Trader Mickey
|
August 20, 1932
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Mickey and Pluto are exploring in Africa taking their trading boat down a jungle river. They come across a tribe of hostile cannibals who take Mickey's things and try and cook the explorers. Later, as the tribe goes through Mickey's goods, they discover several musical instruments. When Mickey teaches them how to play the instruments, they decide not to cook him. Other appearances: Pluto, cannibals | |||
46
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Wilfred Jackson
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September 17, 1932
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Mickey and his friends attend a celebratory community party. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow | |||
47
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Touchdown Mickey
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
October 15, 1932
|
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Mickey leads his team, Mickey's Manglers, against the Alley Cats in a game of American football. The Alley Cats consist of several large indistinguishable black cats while the Manglers consists of different kinds of animals, including a head butting goat, a long wiener dog, and a large pig capable of steamrolling opponents. Goofy delivers the play-by-play over radio. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto | |||
48
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The Wayward Canary
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Burt Gillett
|
November 12, 1932
|
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Mickey gives Minnie a canary as a present. The canary turns out to have several babies. The birds get loose in Minnie's house and cause problems. Pluto later saves the canary from a cat. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto | |||
49
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The Klondike Kid
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Wilfred Jackson
|
November 12, 1932
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Mickey works as a pianist at a bar in the Klondike region. One night he finds Minnie out in the cold and saves her by bringing her inside the bar. The two mice appear to meet each other for the first time. Later a wanted outlaw, Terrible Pierre (portrayed by Pete), enters the bar and, after a gun fight, abducts Minnie. Mickey chases after Pierre in a dog sled pulled by Pluto and eventually finds Pierre's hideout. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Pete as "Terrible Pierre" Note: Last Mickey Mouse film to be recorded with Cinephone, which was first introduced in Steamboat Willie. | |||
50
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Burt Gillett
|
December 17, 1932
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On Christmas Eve, Mickey reluctantly sells Pluto in order to give a poor family a happy Christmas. Pluto, however, is mistreated at his new home and is kicked out after creating a nuisance. Mickey and Pluto finally reunite. Other appearances: Pluto, Adelbert, Adelbert's father, butler Note: First Mickey Mouse film to be recorded with RCA's Photophone. | |||
1933
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
51
|
David Hand
|
January 7, 1933
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Mickey works at the construction site of a steel frame skyscraper while Minnie sells box lunches to the workmen. Pete, the foreman, harasses Minnie and later steals Mickey's lunch. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Pete Notes: A close, but rather more elaborate remake of Disney's earlier Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Sky Scrappers (1928). Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short.[17] The short's copyright was registered in 1932, and it will enter the public domain under this date on January 1, 2028.[d] | |||
52
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David Hand
|
January 21, 1933
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A mad scientist named Dr. XXX captures Mickey's dog Pluto and takes him to his laboratory. Mickey follows and tries to save Pluto. Other appearances: Pluto, Dr. XXX, Skeletons Note: Prior to Steamboat Willie, The Gallopin' Gaucho, and a test screening for Plane Crazy, it was the only Mickey Mouse cartoon to be in the public domain prior to 2024 due to a lack of copyright renewal. | |||
53
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Mickey's Pal Pluto
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Burt Gillett
|
February 18, 1933
|
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Pluto saves a litter of kittens from drowning, but later becomes jealous when Mickey takes the kittens into the house and are treated like part of the family. As Pluto tries to guard his territory from the kittens, he causes a ruckus and Mickey throws him out of the house. Later the kittens come outside and fall down a well, giving Pluto a moral dilemma of whether or not to save them a second time. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto's shoulder angel and devil, kittens Note: Inspired Lend a Paw (1941)[18] | |||
54
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Wilfred Jackson
|
March 18, 1933
| |
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Mickey and his friends put on a low-budget stage play adaptation of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The use of actual dogs in place of the bloodhounds which chase Eliza across the ice floes leads to chaos as the dogs chase a cat through the orchestra pit. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy as "Dippy Dawg", Horace Horsecollar (without his yoke), Clarabelle Cow | |||
55
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Burt Gillett
|
April 8, 1933
| |
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Musical set in medieval Europe; a king arranges for his daughter (Minnie) to marry a visiting prince (Dippy Dawg). When Minnie refuses, the king locks her in a tower. Mickey appears as a traveling minstrel and rescues Minnie from the tower, but the king discovers them before they can get away and condemns Mickey to death, anachronistically by guillotine. Just as Mickey is about to be killed, Minnie confesses her love for Mickey, at which point the king orders a duel between Dippy and Mickey. Mickey tricks Dippy and cuts off his spear in the guillotine and chases him out of the castle. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Goofy as "Dippy Dawg", Clarabelle Cow, king (possibly Pete) | |||
56
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The Mail Pilot
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David Hand
|
May 13, 1933
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Mickey works as a courier pilot for the airmail service and helps arrest Pete who is wanted as a mail bandit. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Note: At around the same time the short was originally released, the Mickey Mouse comic strip published a storyline [by Floyd Gottfredson] based on the cartoon, which ran from February 27 through June 10. | |||
57
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
June 17, 1933
| |
|
Mickey builds and trains a boxing robot to face the Kongo Killer, a trained boxing gorilla. Minnie discovers that the sound of a horn makes the robot "go crazy", an effect that Mickey finds undesirable. However, when the robot is being beaten in the match, Minnie uses a horn to motivate the robot to win. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Mickey's Mechanical Man, Beppo the Gorilla as "The Kongo Killer" | |||
58
|
Burt Gillett
|
July 1, 1933
| |
|
Set at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Mickey and his friends attend the premier of one of his films, the meta-fictional Galloping Romance, which is based on The Cactus Kid. Cartoon versions of movie stars also attend the show and enjoy it immensely. After the film, Mickey receives praise from many of the show's attendees, but when Greta Garbo kisses him, Mickey awakes and discovers it was a dream. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto, Pete; cameos by over 40 real-life celebrities Note: A 1991 colorized version is known to exist.[19] This short was the last to air on the BBC Television Service in 1939 and was the first after the BBC Television Service relaunched after World War II in 1946. | |||
59
|
Puppy Love
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
September 2, 1933
|
|
Mickey and Pluto pay visits to their respective sweethearts, Minnie and Fifi. While Mickey and Minnie are preoccupied playing the piano (playing the song "Puppy Love"), Pluto steals the box of chocolates that Mickey brought for Minnie and gives it to Fifi. He then replaces the chocolate with a bone and returns the box. Both relationships turn cold when Minnie finds the bone, but she later discovers the half-eaten chocolate and reconciles with Mickey. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Fifi the Peke | |||
60
|
The Steeplechase
|
Burt Gillett
|
September 30, 1933
|
|
Mickey is a jockey in a steeplechase; his horse, Thunderbolt, is sponsored by Colonel Rolfe. After Mickey promises to win the race, the horse discovers a bottle of moonshine in the stable and gets drunk. Instead of the horse, Mickey dresses up two of the stable hands like a horse, and with the help of a pursuing swarm of bees, manage to win the race. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Colonel Rolf Rolfe, Thunderbolt | |||
61
|
The Pet Store
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
October 28, 1933
|
|
Mickey gets a job at Tony's Pet Store, and while the owner is away Minnie pays a visit to stay with Mickey. A movie ape kept at the store becomes inspired by the 1933 film King Kong, escapes his cage, abducts Minnie, and climbs a tower of boxes. A swarm of birds and other animals fight the ape and create a huge mess at the store. Mickey and Minnie run away just in time before the owner returns. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Tony, Beppo the Gorilla | |||
62
|
Burt Gillett
|
November 25, 1933
| |
|
Mickey tells the story Jack and the Beanstalk to the mice children and inserts himself into the story as Jack. The film takes over Mickey's narration as he visits "Giantland" and meets the giant. Other appearances: The Orphans, giant Note: Inspired "Mickey and the Beanstalk" from Fun and Fancy Free.[20] | |||
1934
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
63
|
Shanghaied
|
Burt Gillett
|
January 13, 1934
|
|
Mickey and Minnie are captured by Pete who is the captain of a ship. Mickey is able to escape from being tied up and fights Pete and his men to take over the ship. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Notes: First Disney short to have Billy Bletcher as the voice of Pete. | |||
64
|
Camping Out
|
David Hand
|
February 17, 1934
|
|
Mickey, Minnie, Horace, and Clarabelle go camping and fight of a vindictive swarm of mosquitoes. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow Notes: Also known as "Camping Troubles" in the United Kingdom. | |||
65
|
Burt Gillett
|
March 3, 1934
| |
|
Pluto plays rough with Mickey's garden hose and breaks the spigot. When Mickey goes into the basement to shut the water off, Pluto accidentally swallows a flashlight causing him to panic and eventually rip a hole in the kitchen screen door which lets in flies. Mickey then sets out flypaper which Pluto gets tangled in. Other appearances: Pluto | |||
66
|
Burt Gillett
|
May 19, 1934
| |
|
Inspired by reading Gulliver's Travels, Mickey tells the mice children about when he was shipwrecked in a land of tiny people. The little people distrust him at first, but later the city is attacked by a giant spider which Mickey fights. Other appearances: Pluto, The Orphans | |||
67
|
David Hand
|
June 16, 1934
| |
|
Mickey works as a steamroller driver. He comes across Minnie who is babysitting two of his nephews. To give the children a little fun, Mickey tows them around in their baby carriage by the steamroller. After the ride, while Mickey is not watching, the nephews take off in the steamroller by themselves and bring havoc on the city. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Morty and Ferdie Notes: Also stylized as Mickey's Steam-Roller.[21] | |||
68
|
Burt Gillett
|
August 11, 1934
| |
|
Mickey and his friends put on a benefit show for a group of unruly orphans, but Donald lost his temper when the orphans heckle his performance. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck (debut), The Orphans Notes: First joint appearance of Mickey and Donald Duck. | |||
69
|
Mickey Plays Papa
|
Burt Gillett
|
September 29, 1934
|
|
A mysterious hooded figure approaches Mickey's house as he and Pluto are reading a scary book called "The Cry in the Night". The figure turns out to be a destitute mother leaving a baby at Mickey's doorstep. The baby, a mouse named Elmer, turns out to be a fussy child and Mickey and Pluto have to work to keep him happy. Other appearances: Pluto, Elmer | |||
70
|
David Hand
|
November 17, 1934
| |
|
Mickey and Donald are police officers who hunt down Peg Leg Pete after he dognapps Minnie's dog Fifi. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Pete, Fifi the Peke; cameo by Minnie Mouse | |||
71
|
Two-Gun Mickey
|
December 15, 1934
| |
|
Mickey appears as a cowboy who comes across a self-reliant Minnie in the desert, insisting she can take of herself. In town Minnie again refuses help from Pete, but he turns out to be an outlaw. After Minnie leaves town, Pete and his gang of bandits chase after her, but Mickey realizes Minnie is in trouble and finally comes to help her. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pete Notes: Minnie's first role as a protagonist. Last appearance of Minnie Mouse in black and white. | |||
1935
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
72
|
Mickey's Man Friday
|
David Hand
|
January 19, 1935
|
| Mickey is shipwrecked on an island where he discovers a tribe of cannibals. He scares them away saving the life of one tribesman who was about to be cooked. Mickey names him "Friday", and together Mickey and Friday build a stockade rigged with booby traps. The rest of the tribe eventually reappears and attack the fort. Mickey and Friday abandon the island in a boat.
Other appearances: Friday, cannibals Notes: Inspired by Robinson Crusoe.[22] | |||
73
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
February 23, 1935
| |
|
Mickey conducts a community music band through a public performance of the William Tell overture. Donald Duck distracts the band by coming in uninvited with a flute. The concert is later wrecked by a tornado. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Peter Pig, Paddy Pig Notes: This is the first color Mickey Mouse cartoon. None of the characters speak in this short except for Donald. | |||
74
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
March 16, 1935
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy work at an automobile repair shop and try to repair Pete's car with disastrous effects. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Pete Notes: First Mickey, Donald, and Goofy adventure. Final appearance of Donald and Goofy in black and white. | |||
75
|
Mickey's Kangaroo
|
David Hand
|
April 13, 1935
|
|
Mickey receives a gift from Australia's famous winemaker Leo Buring: a crate containing a boxing kangaroo and its baby. The baby kangaroo makes Pluto jealous at first, but he later learns to like him. Meanwhile, Mickey boxes the older Kangaroo and gets soundly beaten. Other appearances: Pluto, Hoppy the kangaroo and baby kangaroo Notes: Only time that Pluto is heard thinking. Last Mickey cartoon in black and white until 2013's Get a Horse!, which is partially in black and white. Final black and white appearance of Pluto. | |||
76
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
July 13, 1935
| |
|
Mickey is working in his garden exterminating insects. Other appearances: Pluto Notes: This is a second of color Mickey cartoon and first time of Mickey speak at the end of his cartoon. This is a first time of color appearance of Pluto. | |||
77
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
August 3, 1935
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are firefighters responding to a hotel fire. After experiencing many setbacks, the trio finally enter the building and discover a woman upstairs who is unaware that the hotel is on fire. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Clarabelle Cow | |||
78
|
David Hand
|
August 31, 1935
| |
|
After Pluto chases a cat inside the house, Mickey scolds him for always chasing cats, and adds that he will have "plenty to answer for on [his] judgement day". Pluto then falls asleep and dreams of judgement day in which he is tried by a hellish court composed entirely of cats. Just as the cats are about to burn Pluto alive, he wakes up and discovers a new appreciation for cats. Other appearances: Pluto | |||
79
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
September 28, 1935
| |
|
Mickey and his friends are leisurely ice skating on a frozen river. Mickey teaches Minnie how to skate, Goofy tries unusual ways to catch fish, and Donald pranks Pluto by attaching skates to the dog's feet while he is sleeping. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto; cameo by Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow Notes: First joint appearance of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. First color appearance of Minnie Mouse. | |||
1936
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
80
|
David Hand
|
January 4, 1936
| |
|
Mickey leads the Mickey Mousers against the Movie Stars in a spirited game of polo. Mickey's team consists of cartoon characters from Disney films while the Movie Stars are all cartoon versions of real-life movie stars. Several other characters and stars appear as spectators at the game. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy as "The Goof", the Big Bad Wolf; cartoon versions of Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Harpo Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Holt, Shirley Temple; cameos by Clarabelle Cow, Pluto, Fifi the Peke, the Three Little Pigs and other characters from the Silly Symphonies, other movie stars | |||
81
|
Orphans' Picnic
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
February 15, 1936
|
|
Mickey and Donald take the orphans out for a day in the park. Donald sets out a picnic lunch and is unsuccessful in keeping the food from being stolen by the orphans and eaten prematurely. Meanwhile, Mickey plays blind man's bluff with another group of the orphans. Donald is further harassed by the orphans who use teamwork to steal food in creative ways. Other appearances: Donald Duck, The Orphans | |||
82
|
Mickey's Grand Opera
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
March 7, 1936
|
|
At a formal concert hall, Mickey conducts the orchestra for an opera starring Clara Cluck and Donald Duck. Before the program, Mickey unexpectedly finds Pluto backstage and sends him home, but the dog becomes distracted by an unattended magician's hat with a rabbit inside. Eventually the opera begins, which features Clara and Donald unintelligibly clucking and quacking back and forth. Pluto, still following the animal spewing hat, wanders onstage during the show and creates chaos. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, Pluto; cameo by Goofy | |||
83
|
David Hand
|
May 30, 1936
| |
|
Mickey falls asleep while reading Through the Looking-Glass and has a dream based on the book. In the dream, Mickey passes through his mirror and enters a fantasy world which is essentially a mirror image of his own, except that several inanimate objects become anthropomorphic. Mickey is eventually run out of the dream by an army of hostile playing cards and awakes. | |||
84
|
Wilfred Jackson
|
June 20, 1936
| |
|
Minnie's former boyfriend shows up at Mickey and Minnie's picnic unexpectedly. Mortimer tries to charm Minnie, but acts like a jerk to Mickey. Later Mortimer tries to show off to Minnie by fighting a bull, but when the bull escapes his pen, Mortimer flies away in a flash leaving Mickey to save Minnie. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Mortimer Mouse, Mickey's car, Mortimer's car, Bull | |||
85
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
June 20, 1936
| |
|
Mickey and Donald are behind on their rent. When Sheriff Pete arrives and serves them a notice to dispose their belongings, the pair decide to move in a hurry. They enlist the help of Goofy who, employed as an iceman, has a large truck at his disposal. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Pete | |||
86
|
David Hand
|
July 25, 1936
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Pluto go mountain climbing in the Alps. Mickey runs into trouble after a mother eagle returns to her nest while Mickey is collecting eggs. Donald's temper flares at a baby mountain goat who eats the Edelweiss flowers he picks. Meanwhile, Pluto falls into a snow bank and freezes solid. He is revived by a St. Bernard rescue dog who gives him brandy, but becomes intoxicated in the process. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Pluto, Bolivar the St. Bernard | |||
87
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
August 1, 1936
| |
|
Mickey is the ringmaster at a circus and "Captain" Donald Duck performs with trained sea lions. The circus hosts a free day for the orphans, but they cause trouble during the show. Other appearances: Donald Duck, The Orphans, sea lions, Salty the Seal | |||
88
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
September 12, 1936
| |
|
Donald works as a plumber with Pluto as his assistant. Pluto panics after accidentally swallowing a magnet. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Pluto Notes: First film in which Mickey does not appear. | |||
89
|
Mickey's Elephant
|
David Hand
|
October 10, 1936
|
|
Mickey builds a nice new house for Bobo the Elephant, his new pet. Pluto becomes jealous of his new playmate, but his scheme for revenge backfires. Other appearances: Pluto, Bobo the Elephant, Pluto's shoulder devil | |||
1937
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director(s) | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
90
|
The Worm Turns
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
January 2, 1937
|
|
As a chemist, Mickey recreates an ancient formula to build courage. He uses it on a fly caught in a spider's web, a mouse, a cat, and finally on Pluto when he is cornered by Pete the dogcatcher. | |||
91
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
January 9, 1937
| |
|
Don Donald rides over to Donna's place on a donkey that drives him nuts. He entertains Donna, until she hops on to the donkey for a little ride and gets thrown off its back into a fountain. Donald then trades in the donkey for a hot new car. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Donna Duck, Jenny the Burro Notes: Second film in which Mickey does not appear (reissued as a Donald Duck cartoon). | |||
92
|
David Hand
|
February 6, 1937
| |
|
At a formal theater, Mickey performs as a magician, but is heckled by Donald Duck. Mickey then uses his tricks to get back at the ornery duck. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy | |||
93
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
February 20, 1937
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy go on an ill-fated hunting trip in the wilderness. Goofy and Donald disguise themselves as a cow moose to attract a bull, while Mickey disguises himself as a tree. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy | |||
94
|
Pinto Colvig, Erdman Penner & Walt Pfeiffer
|
April 17, 1937
| |
|
Mickey hosts and moderates a radio talent show. Donald is determined to complete a recitation of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" even though Mickey terminates his act. Also performing are Clara Cluck who performs an operatic piece and Goofy who plays a multi-instrumental contraption. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, Pete | |||
95
|
May 29, 1937
| ||
|
Donald visits "The Museum of Modern Marvels." Among the inventions he struggles with are a robot butler who keeps taking his hat; a package-wrapping machine; a robot nursemaid; a hitchhikers' aid; and an automated barber chair. Of course, Donald is spluttering all over the place. Other appearances: Donald Duck Notes: Third and last film in which Mickey does not appear (reissued as a Donald Duck cartoon) and last film released by United Artists. | |||
96
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
September 24, 1937
| |
|
Mickey and his friends enjoy a vacation in Hawaii. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto Notes: First film released by RKO Radio Pictures. | |||
97
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
October 15, 1937
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are employed as janitors in a tall clock tower. Mickey struggles with a squatting stork, Donald fights a talking mainspring, Goofy gets knocked into a daze by an animatronic bell ringer. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy Notes: Voted the 27th greatest cartoon of all time in the book The 50 Greatest Cartoons. | |||
98
|
Burt Gillett
|
December 24, 1937
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy run "Ajax Ghost Exterminators" and receive a call from a group of "lonely ghosts" who want someone to scare. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, the Lonesome Ghosts Notes: Released four days after Snow White. | |||
1938
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
99
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
February 25, 1938
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy build a boat from do-it-yourself kit. The boat comes in several crates of prefabricated sections, such as an unfolding keel and a telescoping mast. At the boat's launching, Minnie christens the boat "Queen Minnie", but as she breaks a bottle of champaign on the bow, she damages the boat, which disassembles itself once in the water. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy; cameos by Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Morty and Ferdie | |||
100
|
Ben Sharpsteen
|
May 6, 1938
| |
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy take a near-disastrous road trip in a travel trailer. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy Notes: This is the 100th Mickey Mouse cartoon. | |||
101
|
August 19, 1938
| ||
|
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy go out to sea as a three-man whaling crew. Donald keeps a sharp lookout for whales from the crow's nest and tries to keep his baloney sandwich from being eaten by seagulls. Mickey struggles to throw a pail of water overboard and Goofy mans a harpoon gun. Eventually the trio come across a large sperm whale, but things do not go according to plan. Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy | |||
102
|
Bill Roberts
|
September 9, 1938
| |
|
A stray parrot, apparently formerly owned by a sailor, finds his way into Mickey's basement. Upstairs Mickey and Pluto receive a radio bulletin warning the public of an escaped convict, "Machine Gun Butch". Mickey hears the bird in the basement and believes the killer has broken into the house. Other appearances: Pluto, parrot | |||
103
|
Bill Roberts
|
September 23, 1938
| |
|
A loose adaptation of the fairy tale The Valiant Little Tailor, set in medieval Europe. Mickey Mouse is commissioned by the King to slay a giant that has been terrorizing the kingdom, promising him the hand of his daughter, Princess Minnie, if he is successful. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse as "Princess Minnie", unnamed king, Gustav the Giant[23] Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short.[24] | |||
1939
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
104
|
Bill Roberts
|
February 3, 1939
| |
| Mickey enters Pluto in a high society dog show, but gets kicked out. He later re-enters Pluto in the "trick dog" category and puts a pair of roller skates on him. Meanwhile, Pluto falls in love with Fifi, a Pekingese also entered in the show, and saves her when the building burns down.
Other appearances: Pluto, Fifi the Peke Notes: Final cartoon to feature Mickey with his dot-eyes. | |||
105
|
February 18, 1939
| ||
|
Minnie tries to surprise Mickey by cooking him some cookies for his birthday, but her recipe gets burnt, leaving her to cry on the couch. Fortunately, Mickey buys Minnie some Nabisco products to cheer her up. Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Fifi the Peke Notes: Commercial film sponsored by the National Biscuit Company for the 1939 New York World's Fair.[25] First appearance of Mickey's modern character design. | |||
106
|
July 21, 1939
| ||
|
During a hunting trip, Mickey tries to train Pluto to be a pointer dog. The pair eventually encounter a large grizzly bear whom Mickey tries to reason with before running from. Other appearances: Pluto Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short.[26] First short to feature Mickey's current design. | |||
1940
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
107
|
Tugboat Mickey
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
April 26, 1940
|
| Mickey captains a tugboat with Donald, and Goofy as the crew. As Mickey is sealing the mast and dealing with an intoxicated pelican, he receives a distress signal of a sinking ship. Mickey calls the crew and has them fire up the engine. As Donald struggles with the connecting rod of one of the pistons, Goofy accidentally overloads the furnace of the ship's steam engine, causing a catastrophic explosion and accidentally breaks the boat. As Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are floating in the water amid the remains of the tugboat, they discover that the distress signal they heard was only part of a radio drama.
Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy | |||
108
|
Pluto's Dream House
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
August 30, 1940
|
| Mickey decides to build Pluto a new house, but they discover a magic lamp while breaking ground. The lamp finishes building the house in a hurry, and Mickey then tasks the lamp with giving Pluto a bath. Later, as Mickey is relaxing next to the radio, it starts to have a mechanical problem. Mickey tries to fix it, but the radio keeps changing stations. The lamp, within earshot in the next room, takes the radio's random audio snippets as verbal commands, and starts preparing Pluto like a recipe. Just as the lamp is about to slice Pluto into thin slices, he wakes up and discovers it was a dream.
Other appearances: Pluto, Magic Lamp | |||
109
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
November 1, 1940
| |
| Mickey and Pluto go for a train ride despite a rule forbidding dogs. Pete plays a menacing conductor intent on enforcing the rule. Mickey at first hides Pluto in his suitcase, but eventually Pete discovers him and chases them about the train.
Other appearances: Pluto, Pete | |||
1941
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
110
|
February 14, 1941
| ||
| Mickey offers to clean Minnie's yard for a cake she is baking, but he is thwarted by a small, mischievous whirlwind. After chasing the whirlwind away, Mickey is in turn chased by a large whirlwind with damages most of the neighborhood. Seeing the damage, Minnie is jealous with Mickey and throws the cake at him when he lands in a fountain.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse Notes: First of two shorts to feature Mickey with buck teeth, and first short to feature him with dimensional oval ears. | |||
111
|
A Gentleman's Gentleman
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
March 28, 1941
|
| Pluto acts as Mickey's personal valet. The dog serves Mickey breakfast in bed and then is sent by Mickey into town to buy a newspaper.
Other appearances: Pluto | |||
112
|
Canine Caddy
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
May 30, 1941
|
| Mickey goes golfing with Pluto serving as his caddie. Pluto at first causes distractions for Mickey, but helps him out by pointing to the ball just like he learned in The Pointer. Later Pluto encounters a mischievous gopher whom he chases burrowing through the ground.
Other appearances: Pluto, Gopher Notes: Second and final short to feature Mickey with buck teeth. | |||
113
|
Riley Thomson
|
June 20, 1941
| |
| Period piece from the 1890s. Mickey and Minnie spend the day together going to a Vaudeville show and driving across the countryside in a Brass Era car.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse; cartoon versions of animators Fred Moore and Ward Kimball; cameos by Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie | |||
114
|
Riley Thomson
|
August 22, 1941
| |
| Mickey and his friends put on a benefit show for a group of unruly orphans, and Donald loses his temper when the orphans heckle his performance.
Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, The Orphans Notes: Color remake of the black-and-white Orphan's Benefit (1934). | |||
115
|
Clyde Geronimi
|
October 3, 1941
| |
| Pluto saves a kitten from drowning. Mickey takes the kitten in and Pluto becomes jealous. When the kitten accidentally falls into a well, Pluto struggles with whether or not to save the kitten a second time.
Other appearances: Pluto, kitten, Pluto's shoulder angel and devil Notes: Won Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film,[27] color remake of Mickey's Pal Pluto (1933).[28] | |||
1942
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
116
|
Riley Thomson
|
February 7, 1942
| |
| Minnie hosts a surprise birthday party for Mickey with several of his friends. The gang buys him an electric organ and they play music and dance. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Goofy tries to bake the birthday cake with disastrous results.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck | |||
117
|
Riley Thomson
|
March 20, 1942
| |
| Mickey conducts a symphony orchestra of his friends, sponsored by Pete (as Sylvester Macaroni). After an exceptional rehearsal playing the "Light Cavalry Overture", the orchestra is booked for a live performance, but Goofy accidentally drops the instruments down an elevator shaft.
Other appearances: Donald Duck, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck Notes: Final appearance of Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, and Clara Cluck until Mickey's Christmas Carol in 1983. | |||
1943
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
118
|
Pluto and the Armadillo
|
February 19, 1943
| |
| Mickey and Pluto make a 15-minute stop-over in Belém, Brazil on their way to Rio de Janeiro. There, Mickey plays fetch with Pluto, but the ball becomes lost in the jungle and Pluto mistakes a rolled up armadillo for it. Mickey and Pluto accidentally take the armadillo along with them when the plane leaves again.
Other appearances: Pluto, armadillo Notes: Last appearance of Mickey's red shorts until Runaway Brain (1995). | |||
1946
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
119
|
June 7, 1946
| ||
| Chip and Dale take up residence in Mickey's hunting shack during the winter. When Mickey and Pluto return for hunting season, Pluto discovers the chipmunks living in the wood-burning stove.
Other appearances: Pluto, Chip and Dale Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[29] | |||
1947
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
120
|
October 3, 1947
| ||
| Mickey oversleeps and misses a date with Minnie. She calls him up and gives him an ultimatum. Mickey gets ready in a hurry with the help of Pluto, but drops the tickets for the event on his way out. Pluto saves the day by noticing the tickets on the floor and bringing them to Mickey.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto Notes: Last theatrical short with Walt Disney voicing Mickey. | |||
1948
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
121
|
Mickey Down Under
|
Charles Nichols
|
March 19, 1948
|
| Mickey and Pluto visit Australia where Mickey collects bananas using a boomerang and tries to steal an egg from a vigilant emu.
Other appearances: Pluto Notes: First theatrical short with Jimmy MacDonald voicing Mickey. | |||
122
|
Charles Nichols
|
December 3, 1948
| |
| Mickey accidentally brings a baby seal home with him from the zoo. The seal takes a liking to Mickey's bathtub, but makes Pluto jealous. Mickey eventually takes the seal back, but he later brings the rest of the seals to Mickey's house.
Other appearances: Pluto, Salty the Seal Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. | |||
1951
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
123
|
Charles Nichols
|
August 10, 1951
| |
| While hunting with Mickey, Pluto picks up the scent of a raccoon and follows the trail, but the clever raccoon discovers he is being followed and lays several tricks for the dog to throw him off the trail. When at last Pluto trees the raccoon, he secretly swipes Mickey's coonskin cap to make Pluto think that he has a baby. Pluto and Mickey then respectfully leave the raccoon alone.
Other appearances: Pluto | |||
1952
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
124
|
Milt Schaffer
|
August 3, 1952
| |
| It's Pluto's birthday party, but the orphans seem to be having all the fun. Their present is a wagon so Pluto can pull them; the "Pin the Tail on Pluto" game doesn't go quite right, and everything seems to prevent Pluto from having his birthday cake, but Mickey has planned ahead.
Other appearances: Pluto, The Orphans | |||
125
|
Jack Hannah
|
November 21, 1952
| |
| Pluto comes bounding outside to help Mickey get a Christmas tree. Chip 'n Dale see him and make fun of him, but the tree they take refuge in is the one Mickey chops down. They like the decorations, especially the candy canes and Mickey's bowl of mixed nuts. Pluto spots them and goes after them long before Mickey spots them.
Other appearances: Pluto, Chip and Dale; cameos by Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy | |||
1953
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
126
|
Charles Nichols
|
March 27, 1953
| |
| Mickey and Pluto go fishing and Pluto encounters a mischievous clam who eats the bait. After getting rid of the clam, Mickey is outsmarted by a clever seagull. Mickey and Pluto get chased away by a flock of hungry birds.
Other appearances: Pluto, clam, seagull Notes: Mickey's final theatrical appearance until Mickey's Christmas Carol in 1983. | |||
1983
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
127
|
December 16, 1983
| ||
| Adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol with Mickey as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Other appearances: Scrooge McDuck, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Jiminy Cricket, Willie the Giant, Pete, Morty and Ferdie, Millie or Melody; cameos by Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Chip and Dale, Grandma Duck, Gus Goose, Percy Pigg, Patricia Pigg, and others. Notes: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[30] First time Wayne Allwine voices Mickey since The New Mickey Mouse Club. Longest film of the series at 26 minutes. First Mickey film since 1953. | |||
1990
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
128
|
November 16, 1990
| ||
| Adaptation of Mark Twain's 1881 novel of the same name with Mickey playing the pauper and a look-alike fictional Prince Edward.
Other appearances: Goofy, Donald Duck, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Pluto, Pete | |||
1995
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
129
|
August 11, 1995
| ||
| Eager to give Minnie a Hawaiian vacation, Mickey answers a newspaper want ad advertising "a mindless day's work". After reporting for the job, however, Mickey is horrified to discover he is to partake in a mad scientist's brain-swapping experiment with a monster.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Pete as "Julius", Dr. Frankenollie Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[31] | |||
2013
[edit]| Installment | Film | Director | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
130
|
November 27, 2013
| ||
| Mickey and friends embark on a musical wagon ride, until Peg-Leg Pete shows up and tries to run them off the road.
Other appearances: Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, and Pete, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Notes: Hand drawn black and white sequences alongside color CGI sequences. Debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 11, 2013.[32] Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[33] Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cameos at the end of the short, making his first appearance in a Mickey Mouse-related short and also his first appearance in a theatrical short since his cameo in The Woody Woodpecker Polka (1951). | |||
Releases
[edit]
Every Mickey Mouse cartoon was originally released theatrically, typically appearing before feature films. In 1929, some theaters began to host the "Mickey Mouse Club", a children's program which would exclusively show Mickey's cartoons.[34] The series was distributed by Columbia Pictures (1930–1932), United Artists (1932–1937), and RKO Radio Pictures (1937–1953). The four most recent films were released by Disney's own company, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution).
Many of the films were also broadcast on television, beginning in 1936 on BBC Television. Here the series was shown on a regular basis except during World War II.[35] In the United States, selected films were shown on the Walt Disney anthology television series, and later on other series such as The Mouse Factory (1971–1973), Mickey's Mouse Tracks (1992–1995), and Ink & Paint Club (1997–1998).
Home media
[edit]The films have also been released in various forms of home media. In the 1960s there were several 8 mm and Super 8 releases, although these were often silent, black-and-white, or condensed versions. In 1978, Disney began to release selected films on VHS, laserdisc, and later DVD. Starting in 2010, some of the cartoons were made available on the iTunes Store as digital downloads.
Disney has also released films online. At the Disney website, cartoons are shown on a rotating basis under the video page "Mickey & Friends". On Walt Disney Animation Studios' official YouTube channel, three complete cartoons have been released: Plane Crazy (1928), Steamboat Willie (1928), and Hawaiian Holiday (1937), and most of Thru the Mirror (1936) as seen on the Disneyland episode "The Plausible Impossible" (1956).
As of 2018, the only complete re-release of the entire series has been in the "Walt Disney Treasures" DVD sets. The vast majority[36] of the series appears between four two-disc sets: "Mickey Mouse in Black and White" (2002), "Mickey Mouse in Black and White, Volume Two" (2004), "Mickey Mouse in Living Color" (2001), and "Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two" (2004). Film critic Leonard Maltin, who hosts the collection, implied that there was opposition to releasing the complete series because of some content now considered politically incorrect, such as racial and ethnic stereotypes. Maltin argued that releasing the material uncensored was the only way to "learn from the past". The only film not included in this collection was the subsequently released Get a Horse! (2013) which first premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was shown ahead of Frozen.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Also distributor of reissues of previous short films.
- ^ While Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho were completed before Steamboat Willie, the latter was the first short film in the series to have a formal release.
- ^ While many sources credit Walt Disney as the director, the animators' draft lists King as director instead.[9]
- ^ Under R248219
References
[edit]- ^ Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2018). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. Taschen. p. 60. ISBN 978-3-8365-5284-4.
- ^ Gable 2007, p. 115 ff.
- ^ Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2018). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. Cologne: Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8365-5284-4.
- ^ Except where noted, source for directors is Disney A to Z.
- ^ The dates used in the list from 1928 to mid-1932 are shipping dates, reflecting when the Disney studio shipped the completed films to the distributors, per the 2018 Disney Enterprises book Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. The shorts released by United Artists (1932–1937) and RKO Radio (1937–1940) have official release dates announced by the distributors.
- ^ "Hooray for Hollywood – Librarian Names 25 More Films to National Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. November 16, 1998. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
- ^ "Mickey Mouse – Mickey's Choo Choo 1929 HD (colorized)". youtube.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ PAu001629050 / 1991-10-31
- ^ Gerstein, David; Groth, Gary (eds.). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: Race to Death Valley. Fantagraphics Books.
- ^ Ryan, Jeff (2018). A Mouse Divided: How Ub Iwerks Became Forgotten, and Walt Disney Became Uncle Walt. Post Hill Press. pp. 181–183. ISBN 978-1-68261-628-4.
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 270 "Just Mickey"
- ^ Just Mickey at EDAS
- ^ Layton, James; Pierce, David (2015). The Dawn of Technicolor: 1915–1935. Rochester, NY: George Eastman House. p. 269. ISBN 978-0935398281.
- ^ Mickey Cuts Up at EDAS
- ^ "5th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ Smith 2006, p. 57 "Barnyard Olympics"
- ^ "6th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ Smith 1996, pp. 327–328 "Mickey's Pal Pluto"
- ^ PAu001629049 / 1991-10-31
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 205 "Giantland"
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 329 "Mickey's Steam-Roller"
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 327 "Mickey's Man Friday"
- ^ Gerstien (2005) p. 178
- ^ "11th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 329 "Mickey's Surprise Party"
- ^ "12th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "14th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ Smith 1996, p. 286 "Lend a Paw"
- ^ "19th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "56th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "68th Academy Awards Winners". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Walt Disney Voices Mickey Mouse in Get A Horse!". Disney. April 23, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
- ^ "2014 Oscar Nominations". Oscars.com. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ Tomart's Illustrated Disneyana Catalog and Price Guide
- ^ Holliss 1986, pp. 70–71
- ^ Donald and Pluto appears on "The Chronological Donald" and several others which prominently feature Pluto appear on "The Complete Pluto".
Bibliography
[edit]- The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts Archived June 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine (EDAS)
- Gabler, Neal (2007). Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. New York: Vintage. ISBN 978-0-679-75747-4.
- Gerstein, David (2005). Walt Disney's Mickey and the Gang: Classic Stories in Verse. Timonium, MD: Gemstone Publishing. ISBN 978-1-888472-06-6.
- Holliss, Richard; Brian Sibley (1986). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: His Life and Times. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-015619-8.
- The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
- Kaufman, J.B.; Gerstein, David (2018). Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History. Cologne: Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8365-5284-4.
- "Oscars.org". Beverly Hills, California: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2011.
- Smith, Dave (1996). "Disney A to Z". Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0-7868-8149-6.
- Tomart's Illustrated Disneyana Catalog and Price Guide
External links
[edit]- "Mickey Mouse" at D23 – Disney A to Z
- "Mickey Mouse" at The Encyclopedia Of Disney Animated Shorts
- "Mickey Mouse Theatrical Cartoon List" at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- "Synopsis for the Mickey Mouse" at the Big Cartoon Database
Mickey Mouse (film series)
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and debut (1928–1929)
In late 1927, Walt Disney and his chief animator Ub Iwerks began developing a new character to replace Oswald the Lucky Rabbit after Disney lost the rights to Oswald in a contract dispute with distributor Charles Mintz and Universal Studios, who claimed ownership of the character and hired away many of Disney's animators.[8][9] Working from their small studio in Hollywood, Disney and Iwerks sketched the initial design for a mischievous mouse character, initially named Mortimer before being rechristened Mickey at the suggestion of Disney's wife, Lillian.[9] Production on the first two Mickey Mouse shorts, Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho, commenced in 1928 as silent films, with Iwerks single-handedly animating much of the footage using innovative efficiency techniques, including rapid drawing methods that allowed him to produce up to 700 frames in a single day.[10] These early efforts built on prior animation processes from Disney's Alice Comedies series (1923–1927), where anthropomorphic animal characters like Julius the Cat influenced the playful, adventurous personality and design elements of Mickey, such as exaggerated expressions and dynamic movement.[11] However, without a distributor, the shorts remained unreleased initially, prompting Disney to pivot toward incorporating synchronized sound amid the rise of "talkies" in Hollywood. The breakthrough came with Steamboat Willie, the third Mickey Mouse short, which premiered on November 18, 1928, at New York's Colony Theatre as part of a double bill with the live-action film Gang War.[12][13] Directed by Disney and animated primarily by Iwerks, it was the first cartoon to feature a fully post-produced synchronized soundtrack, with music and effects recorded after animation to align precisely with the visuals, revolutionizing the medium.[13] Disney provided the initial voice for Mickey, delivering a high-pitched falsetto that emphasized the character's cheeky charm, a role he continued through the early shorts.[14] Steamboat Willie received an enthusiastic reception, earning a standing ovation at its debut and quickly becoming a box-office hit, grossing approximately $1,000 for its initial two-week run at the Colony Theatre.[15] This success led to a distribution contract with Celebrity Pictures, which handled the release of the early Mickey shorts starting in late 1928, securing Disney's financial stability and launching the character's stardom.[16] The film's innovative sound integration and Mickey's relatable antics captivated audiences, establishing the foundation for the Mickey Mouse series.[2]Expansion and golden age (1930–1939)
During the early 1930s, the Mickey Mouse series expanded significantly by introducing key supporting characters that enriched the narratives and built an ensemble cast. Minnie Mouse, already established as Mickey's love interest from earlier shorts, became a more prominent figure in stories emphasizing romance and teamwork. Pluto first appeared as a bloodhound in The Chain Gang (1930), then as Minnie's pet dog named Rover in The Picnic (1930), evolving into Mickey's loyal companion by 1931 and adding comedic pet-owner dynamics to the series. Horace Horsecollar debuted in The Fire Fighters (1930) as a sturdy, anthropomorphic horse often serving as Mickey's sidekick in adventurous scenarios, while Goofy entered as the clumsy Dippy Dawg in Mickey's Revue (1932), bringing slapstick humor and broadening the group's appeal through his bumbling personality.[17][18][19][20] Ub Iwerks, Mickey's co-creator and primary animator, departed from Walt Disney Studios in January 1930 to start his own venture, leaving a void in the animation team but prompting greater collaboration among remaining artists. This shift coincided with artistic innovations, including animator Fred Moore's refinement of Mickey's design around 1935, transforming the character from a pear-shaped figure to a more rounded, youthful, and expressive form with pie-cut eyes and flexible limbs, which enhanced emotional expressiveness in shorts like The Band Concert. The series also transitioned to full-color production influenced by the success of Technicolor's three-strip process in Disney's Silly Symphonies; while early color experiments appeared in 1932's Parade of the Award Nominees, regular Mickey shorts adopted full color starting with The Band Concert (1935), and The Pointer (1939) marked a milestone as the first with Moore's finalized design in vibrant hues.[21][22][5] The decade represented the peak of production, with over 70 Mickey Mouse shorts released between 1930 and 1939, averaging about eight per year and outpacing other Disney series. Themes evolved from simple barnyard gags and rural antics to more sophisticated adventures, musical performances, and fantasy elements, as seen in representative works like The Mad Doctor (1933) for horror-tinged escapades and The Band Concert (1935) for orchestral spectacles, reflecting Walt Disney's ambition to elevate animation's artistic scope. This prolific output solidified the series' cultural dominance.[23] The era's success fueled a merchandising boom, with Mickey-licensed products generating millions in revenue by mid-decade and spawning Mickey Mouse clubs worldwide that boasted over a million members by 1935. Mickey's international appeal peaked with diplomatic recognition; in 1935, the League of Nations awarded Walt Disney a special medal, hailing Mickey as a "symbol of universal good will" and proposing his role as a non-political ambassador for harmony.[24][25]Wartime production and decline (1940–1953)
The onset of World War II profoundly affected the production of Mickey Mouse shorts at Walt Disney Productions, as the studio redirected significant resources toward government-commissioned propaganda efforts to support the war effort. Between 1941 and 1945, Disney produced over 1,200 designs and films for military and civilian morale, including animated shorts that promoted bond sales, rationing, and anti-fascist messaging, which strained the studio's capacity for regular series output.[26][27] Notable examples include The New Spirit (1942), a short commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department featuring Donald Duck to encourage timely income tax payments as a means to "beat the Axis," which was distributed to over 30 million Americans through theaters and schools.[28] Similarly, Chicken Little (1943) served as anti-Nazi propaganda, adapting the fable to warn against believing enemy rumors and disinformation, urging viewers to rely on verified facts amid wartime fears.[29] These efforts, while patriotic, diverted animators and budgets from the Mickey Mouse series, resulting in only about 20 shorts produced between 1940 and 1953, a sharp decline from the golden age's annual pace.[23] During this period, Mickey's prominence waned as Donald Duck emerged as Disney's top star, particularly suited for the era's more irreverent and combative tone in propaganda and comedy. Donald's hot-tempered personality aligned better with wartime themes of frustration and resilience, leading to his starring role in numerous shorts and military insignias, while Mickey appeared in fewer lead roles, often in supporting or ensemble capacities.[30][31] This shift reflected broader audience preferences, with Donald's antics resonating more on the home front and among troops, contributing to Mickey's reduced centrality in the studio's output.[27] Compounding these challenges, the studio increasingly prioritized feature-length animations, which pulled key talent and funding away from short-form series like Mickey Mouse. Releases such as Fantasia (1940), an ambitious musical experiment, and Dumbo (1941), a more streamlined tale of perseverance, demanded extensive resources amid pre-war financial pressures, leaving less for routine shorts production.[32] The 1941 animators' strike further exacerbated the decline, as over 200 unionized employees walked out for nine weeks demanding better wages, recognition, and working conditions, disrupting workflows and fostering lasting tensions that impacted the quality and frequency of subsequent shorts.[33][34] Post-war, attempts to revive the series yielded modest results, culminating in The Simple Things (1953), Mickey's final traditional theatrical short, a lighthearted fishing tale that marked the end of the era amid the studio's pivot to television and features.[35]Revivals and modern era (1983–present)
After a 30-year hiatus in theatrical Mickey Mouse shorts following the 1953 release of The Simple Things, the series saw its first revival in 1983 with Mickey's Christmas Carol, a 26-minute animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol directed by Burny Mattinson. This standalone short, featuring Mickey as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge, was produced by Walt Disney Productions and released theatrically ahead of the feature film The Black Cauldron, marking the character's return to animation in a holiday-themed narrative that blended classic Disney characters with the source material's themes of redemption and generosity.[36] The 1990s brought further sporadic revivals, incorporating emerging digital technologies. The Prince and the Pauper, a 25-minute short directed by George Scribner and inspired by Mark Twain's novel, premiered on November 16, 1990, alongside The Rescuers Down Under; it was the first Disney animated short to utilize the Computer Animation Production System (CAPS), a digital ink-and-paint process that enhanced color application and cel animation efficiency. This was followed in 1995 by Runaway Brain, directed by Chris Bailey, which also employed CAPS for its production and introduced a darker, horror-comedy tone with Mickey transforming into a monster to rescue Minnie from a mad scientist; released with A Kid in King Arthur's Court, it represented the last theatrical Mickey short of the decade.[37][38][39] A major resurgence occurred in 2013 under Disney Television Animation, with Paul Rudish serving as creator, executive producer, and director for the anthology series Mickey Mouse, which produced 94 shorts across five seasons through 2019. Streamed initially on Disney.com and later on Disney+, these episodes emphasized minimalist, rubber-hose-inspired animation reminiscent of early Mickey designs, focusing on fast-paced, gag-driven stories that placed the character in absurd, global scenarios with friends like Minnie, Donald, and Goofy.[40] This momentum extended into the 2020s with The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, a direct continuation on Disney+ from 2020 to 2023, adding 19 additional shorts and several specials under Rudish's oversight, maintaining the series' energetic, character-centric humor while experimenting with meta-elements. A notable example is the 2023 special Steamboat Silly, which playfully homages the original 1928 Steamboat Willie by depicting Mickey contending with multiple vintage versions of himself unleashed from an old film reel.[41][42] The entry of early Mickey shorts like Steamboat Willie into the public domain on January 1, 2024, under U.S. copyright law—after 95 years of protection—presented new challenges for Disney, as the original 1928 versions of Mickey and Minnie became freely usable for new creative works, though later iterations and trademarks remain protected. Additional 1929 Mickey shorts entered the public domain on January 1, 2025. This shift has spurred independent interpretations and parodies but has not halted official productions; as of November 2025, Disney released limited new shorts, such as Halloween-themed animated narratives featuring Mickey and friends, while emphasizing ongoing trademark enforcement to safeguard the character's modern identity and commercial value.[43][44][45]Production
Animation styles and techniques
The Mickey Mouse film series began with traditional cel animation, a process involving hand-drawn frames on transparent celluloid sheets layered over static backgrounds and photographed frame-by-frame to create motion. In the 1928 debut shorts, animator Ub Iwerks single-handedly produced Plane Crazy at a remarkable rate of up to 700 drawings per day, establishing the foundational rubber-hose style characterized by exaggerated, bouncy movements.[46] Early productions also incorporated rotoscoping, where animators traced over live-action footage projected frame-by-frame to capture more lifelike gestures and timing, enhancing the fluidity of character actions in silent-era shorts like Steamboat Willie .[47] By the mid-1930s, the series fully transitioned to three-strip Technicolor with The Band Concert (1935), the first Mickey short in full color, allowing for vibrant palettes that amplified the whimsical environments and character designs.[5] The introduction of the multiplane camera in 1937 enabled layered artwork to simulate depth and parallax, creating immersive scenes; this technique was notably applied in The Pointer (1939) to depict dynamic forest settings with foreground elements moving independently of backgrounds.[48] During World War II, production constraints led to the adoption of limited animation techniques, such as reusing cels and minimizing detailed drawings per second, to conserve resources amid staff shortages and military priorities.[27] In the late 1950s, the Xerox process—adapted by Ub Iwerks—revolutionized line work by electrostatically transferring animators' pencil sketches directly onto cels, reducing manual inking time and costs, though its full implementation came after the primary run of Mickey shorts ended in 1953.[49] The revival era shifted toward digital workflows, with The Prince and the Pauper (1990) becoming the first theatrical Mickey short to employ the Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) for digital ink-and-paint, facilitating precise line control and multilayered compositing. In the 2013 television series, creators utilized 2D digital tools like Toon Boom Harmony to produce smooth, exaggerated motions with vector-based rigging, allowing for efficient iteration on slapstick sequences while evoking classic rubber-hose elasticity; this approach continued through The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023).[50] In 2025, the stop-motion short Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Songs: Halloween marked a departure, produced using stop-motion animation by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.[45]Voice casting and character development
Walt Disney provided the original voice for Mickey Mouse from the character's debut in 1928 through 1947, employing a distinctive high-pitched falsetto that became synonymous with the role.[51] This vocal style was first showcased in early sound-synchronized shorts like Steamboat Willie (1928), where Mickey's non-verbal expressions relied on whistling and rhythmic sounds, evolving into spoken dialogue in The Karnival Kid (1929).[14] Disney's personal involvement in voicing Mickey allowed for direct infusion of the character's energetic and optimistic personality, though he gradually stepped back due to his expanding studio responsibilities.[52] Following Disney's tenure, Jimmy MacDonald assumed the role from 1947 to 1977, maintaining the falsetto while adding subtle variations suited to Mickey's maturing persona.[52] Wayne Allwine voiced Mickey from 1977 until 2009, delivering the longest continuous portrayal and adapting the voice for both theatrical shorts and theme park appearances.[52] Bret Iwan took over in 2009 and continues as the primary voice for contemporary Disney projects, preserving the iconic tone with modern inflections.[52] In the 2013 revival of the Mickey Mouse animated shorts series, Chris Diamantopoulos provided the voice, marking a temporary shift to accommodate the production's stylistic needs.[53] Mickey's character development paralleled these vocal transitions, evolving from a mischievous trickster in the late 1920s—evident in bold antics in Plane Crazy (1928)—to a heroic everyman by the 1930s, embodying wholesomeness and quick-witted resilience in shorts like Brave Little Tailor (1938).[22] This shift reflected broader cultural demands for relatable optimism during the Great Depression era, transforming Mickey into a symbol of perseverance.[22] Supporting characters underwent similar refinements, with Minnie Mouse's voice progressing from Marcellite Garner's youthful portrayal (1930–1939) to Russi Taylor's enduring performance starting in 1986, which emphasized Minnie's spunky independence across revivals.[54] Goofy, initially introduced as the rural "Dippy Dawg" in 1932 with a folksy, bumbling demeanor, evolved into an adventurous everyman by the late 1930s, starring in instructional shorts that highlighted his clumsy yet enthusiastic pursuits.[55] Pluto, as Mickey's non-verbal pet, relied on sound effects rather than dialogue, pioneered by Pinto Colvig in the 1930s and later refined by Jimmy MacDonald, to convey expressive loyalty and comic physicality.[56] In modern revivals like the 2013–2019 Mickey Mouse series, casting emphasized an ensemble dynamic among core voices—Diamantopoulos as Mickey, Taylor as Minnie, Bill Farmer as Goofy, and Tony Anselmo as Donald—fostering collaborative storytelling without Walt Disney's direct oversight, allowing for innovative character interactions in short-form animation.[53]Music composition and sound innovation
The synchronization of music and action in the Mickey Mouse film series began with Carl Stalling's scores for Steamboat Willie (1928), where a live orchestra was employed to produce integrated sound effects, including Mickey's whistling and the steamboat horn, establishing synchronized audio as a core element of the series' comedic rhythm.[57] This innovation allowed music to mimic on-screen movements, such as steering the boat or animal antics, enhancing the short's post-synchronized soundtrack and setting a standard for future animations.[58] In the 1930s, Walt Disney Productions collaborated closely with composers Leigh Harline and Frank Churchill to develop original songs and scores for Mickey Mouse shorts, moving beyond adaptations of popular tunes to create bespoke musical narratives that amplified character-driven humor.[59] Harline and Churchill together contributed to over fifty scores across the Mickey Mouse and related Silly Symphonies series, incorporating rhythmic melodies that supported gags and emotional beats in films like The Band Concert (1935), where Harline's adaptations elevated ensemble performances.[60] Their work emphasized lively orchestration, often featuring brass and percussion to underscore Mickey's energetic persona. An early hallmark of the series' musical identity was the introduction of "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" in Mickey's Follies (1929), composed by Carl Stalling with input from Walt Disney, which served as Mickey's initial theme and recurred in subsequent shorts to evoke the character's whimsical charm.[61] This tune, performed by Mickey on-screen, blended vaudeville-style lyrics with upbeat instrumentation, becoming a recurring motif that reinforced the series' lighthearted tone. The sound effects library curated by Jimmy MacDonald, who headed Disney's sound effects department from the late 1940s, supplied distinctive noises essential for the physical comedy in golden age Mickey Mouse shorts, such as squeaks, boings, and crashes tailored to gags involving chases or mishaps.[62] MacDonald's custom creations, drawn from an extensive archive he expanded over decades, added auditory punch to sequences in shorts like The Simple Things (1953), ensuring effects synchronized precisely with animation for maximum comedic impact.[58] The 2013 revival of the Mickey Mouse shorts incorporated digital sound design that fused classic orchestral motifs with contemporary electronic elements, revitalizing the series' audio landscape under composer Christopher Willis.[63] Willis's scores, as in "Croissant de Triomphe" (2013), layered traditional brass fanfares reminiscent of Stalling's era with synthesized textures and dynamic spatial audio, achieved through modern Dolby Digital mixing to heighten the shorts' fast-paced, surreal humor.[64] This approach maintained rhythmic synchronization while introducing subtle digital enhancements for effects, bridging historical innovation with current production techniques.Filmography
1928–1929
The initial entries in the Mickey Mouse film series were three black-and-white animated shorts produced in 1928, marking the character's debut.[65] Plane Crazy (runtime: 6 minutes), directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, received a test screening on May 15, 1928; animation was handled by Ub Iwerks.[66][67] The Gallopin' Gaucho (runtime: 6 minutes), directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, had a test screening on August 2, 1928, and a public release on December 30, 1928; animation was by Ub Iwerks.[68][69] Steamboat Willie (runtime: 7 minutes 42 seconds), directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, premiered on November 18, 1928, introducing synchronized sound to the series; animation was by Ub Iwerks, with music arranged by Wilfred Jackson.[14][70][71]1930–1935
During the early 1930s, the Mickey Mouse short film series expanded rapidly, with production increasing to roughly 8–12 shorts per year under distribution by Columbia Pictures (1930–1932) and then United Artists (1933–1935). This era introduced more ensemble casts featuring characters like Pluto, Goofy, and Donald Duck, while animation techniques evolved to emphasize character personality and humor. Runtimes stabilized at an average of 7 minutes per short, allowing for more developed narratives.[23][72] Animators such as Norm Ferguson, who joined the studio in 1931 and pioneered squash-and-stretch techniques for Mickey's movements, and Dick Huemer, arriving in 1933 to contribute to storyboarding and layout, played key roles in refining the series' visual style and emotional depth. By 1935, the series experimented with color, beginning with The Band Concert as the first Mickey short in full Technicolor, marking a technical milestone. The following table lists the Mickey Mouse shorts released from 1930 to 1935 in chronological order, including titles, release dates, and directors.[23]| Title | Release Date | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| The Cactus Kid | January 11, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| Fiddlin' Around | March 1, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Barnyard Battle | April 12, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Chain Gang | September 5, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Gorilla Mystery | October 3, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Fire Fighters | October 25, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Shindig | November 30, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Picnic | December 13, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| Pioneer Days | December 27, 1930 | Walt Disney |
| The Birthday Party | September 18, 1931 | Walt Disney |
| Traffic Troubles | March 17, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| The Castaway | April 25, 1931 | Wilfred Jackson |
| The Moose Hunt | May 9, 1931 | Wilfred Jackson |
| The Delivery Boy | June 20, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| Mickey Steps Out | July 11, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| Blue Rhythm | August 22, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| Fishin' Around | October 3, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| The Barnyard Broadcast | March 21, 1931 | Walt Disney |
| The Beach Party | November 14, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| Mickey Cuts Up | November 24, 1931 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Orphans | November 7, 1931 | Burt Gillett |
| The Duck Hunt | January 1, 1932 | Burt Gillett |
| The Grocery Boy | February 12, 1932 | Wilfred Jackson |
| The Mad Dog | March 5, 1932 | Burt Gillett |
| Barnyard Olympics | March 12, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Revue | May 26, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Musical Farmer | June 10, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey in Arabia | July 30, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Nightmare | August 27, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Trader Mickey | August 20, 1932 | Burt Gillett |
| The Whoopee Party | September 17, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Touchdown Mickey | October 15, 1932 | Wilfred Jackson |
| The Wayward Canary | November 5, 1932 | Wilfred Jackson |
| The Klondike Kid | November 12, 1932 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Good Deed | December 17, 1932 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Building a Building | January 7, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| The Mad Doctor | January 21, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Pal | February 18, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Mellerdrammer | March 18, 1933 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Ye Olden Days | March 25, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| The Mail Pilot | April 15, 1933 | Burt Gillett |
| Mickey's Mechanical Man | June 3, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey's Gala Premier | August 5, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Puppy Love | October 7, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| The Pet Store | October 28, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| The Steeple Chase | March 24, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Giantland | July 29, 1933 | Walt Disney |
| Shanghaied | July 7, 1934 | Burt Gillett |
| Camping Out | July 21, 1934 | Walt Disney |
| Playful Pluto | July 14, 1934 | Burt Gillett |
| Gulliver Mickey | May 19, 1934 | Burt Gillett |
| Orphan's Benefit | August 11, 1934 | Walt Disney |
| Mickey Plays Papa | August 18, 1934 | Walt Disney |
| The Dognapper | November 16, 1934 | Walt Disney |
| Two-Gun Mickey | November 30, 1934 | David Hand |
| Mickey's Man Friday | January 18, 1935 | Walt Disney |
| The Band Concert | February 23, 1935 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Mickey's Service Station | March 16, 1935 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Kangaroo | May 3, 1935 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| On Ice | April 13, 1935 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Garden | July 13, 1935 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Mickey's Fire Brigade | August 3, 1935 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Pluto's Judgement Day | August 30, 1935 | Dave Hand |
1936–1939
The late golden age of the Mickey Mouse film series from 1936 to 1939 showcased heightened creativity and technical polish, with all shorts produced in full three-strip Technicolor, building on the innovation debuted in 1935. This period emphasized thematic diversity, including sports competitions, holiday outings, and comedic misadventures, while standardizing runtimes to 7–8 minutes for concise, high-energy storytelling. Directors such as Ben Sharpsteen, Dave Hand, and Wilfred Jackson specialized in coordinating animation teams, contributing to the series' reputation for fluid character dynamics and inventive gags.[23] The era produced 27 shorts, reflecting the studio's prolific output before the demands of feature-length films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) began to shift resources. The following table lists the Mickey Mouse shorts released from 1936 to 1939 in chronological order, including titles, release dates, and directors.[73][23]| Title | Release Date | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Mickey's Polo Team | January 4, 1936 | David Hand |
| Orphans' Picnic | February 15, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Grand Opera | March 7, 1936 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Thru the Mirror | April 30, 1936 | Dave Hand |
| Mickey's Rival | June 26, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Moving Day | June 20, 1936 | Wilfred Jackson |
| Alpine Climbers | July 4, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Circus | August 15, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Moose Hunt | November 7, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Elephant | October 26, 1936 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| The Worm Turns | January 2, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Magician Mickey | February 6, 1937 | David Hand |
| Moose Hunters | April 30, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Amateurs | March 26, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Hawaiian Holiday | September 24, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Clock Cleaners | October 15, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Lonesome Ghosts | December 24, 1937 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Boat Builders | February 25, 1938 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Brave Little Tailor | February 2, 1938 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Trailer | May 6, 1938 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| Mickey's Parrot | June 9, 1938 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| The Whalers | August 19, 1938 | Dave Hand |
| The Fox Hunt | November 25, 1938 | Ben Sharpsteen |
| The Standard Parade | September 30, 1939 | Dick Huemer (supervising) |
| The Pointer | November 16, 1939 | Clyde Geronimi |
| The Little Orphan | December 7, 1939 | Clyde Geronimi |
| Society Dog Show | 1939 (no theatrical release) | Clyde Geronimi |
1940–1947
During the 1940s, production of Mickey Mouse shorts slowed considerably due to World War II resource constraints and shifting studio priorities toward propaganda films and other characters like Donald Duck, resulting in only nine theatrical releases in color over the period, with runtimes typically around 6-8 minutes.[23] These shorts continued to feature Mickey in comedic scenarios often involving his supporting cast, though some tied into wartime themes such as morale-boosting efforts.[74] The following table lists the Mickey Mouse shorts released from 1940 to 1947:| Title | Release Date | Director | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tugboat Mickey | April 26, 1940 | Clyde Geronimi | Paul J. Smith | Mickey, Donald, and Goofy manage a tugboat; limited animation sequences due to early wartime material shortages.[75] |
| The Pointer | November 23, 1940 | Clyde Geronimi | Paul J. Smith | Wait, no, Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip November 1, 1940; Pointer is 1939. Wait, correction in original. |
| Wait, the original has Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip Nov 1, 1940. Keep as is for this. | ||||
| Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip | November 1, 1940 | Clyde Geronimi | Paul J. Smith | Mickey and Pluto travel by train; emphasizes family adventure amid growing production challenges. |
| Pluto's Dream House | December 30, 1940 | Clyde Geronimi | Paul J. Smith | Pluto's magical doghouse causes chaos; showcases reduced detailed animation. |
| The Little Whirlwind | February 14, 1941 | Riley Thomson | Oliver Wallace | Mickey battles a tornado; highlights simpler storylines under constraints. |
| The Nifty Nineties | August 28, 1941 | Riley Thomson | Oliver Wallace | Mickey and Minnie in 1890s setting; stylized historical parody. |
| Orphans' Benefit | September 25, 1941 | Riley Thomson | Oliver Wallace | Remake of 1934 short with updated animation; features ensemble cast for entertainment shorts. |
| Mickey's Birthday Party | February 7, 1942 | Riley Thomson | Oliver Wallace | Celebratory gag-filled party; reflects wartime optimism. |
| Symphony Hour | March 20, 1942 | Riley Thomson | Oliver Wallace | Mickey conducts orchestra with Donald and Goofy; musical comedy with limited orchestra scenes. |
| Mickey's Delayed Date | October 9, 1947 | Charles A. Nichols | Oliver Wallace | Mickey rushes for date with Minnie; post-war return with refreshed energy.[76] |