8 Surprising Things You Might Not Know About Mickey Mouse

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    1/9
  • 2/9
    Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse after he lost the rights to his very popular cartoon character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, when Disney Brothers Studio was owned by Universal Pictures' animation. Mickey Mouse was born out of Walt Disney’s fondness for his childhood pet mouse.
    2/9 Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse after he lost the rights to his very popular cartoon character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, when Disney Brothers Studio was owned by Universal Pictures' animation. Mickey Mouse was born out of Walt Disney’s fondness for his childhood pet mouse.
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    Originally Mickey was going to be named Mortimer. But, Walt’s wife, Lillian, disliked the idea saying that it sounded pretentious, and instead suggested the name Mickey. Eventually a mouse named Mortimer did appear, but as Mickey’s enemy in the short Mickey’s Rival.
    3/9 Originally Mickey was going to be named Mortimer. But, Walt’s wife, Lillian, disliked the idea saying that it sounded pretentious, and instead suggested the name Mickey. Eventually a mouse named Mortimer did appear, but as Mickey’s enemy in the short Mickey’s Rival.
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    'Plane Crazy' was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever created. However, 'Plane Crazy' failed to find distribution so it wasn’t initially released publicly.
    4/9 'Plane Crazy' was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever created. However, 'Plane Crazy' failed to find distribution so it wasn’t initially released publicly.
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    'Steamboat Willie' was the first publicly released Mickey cartoon and it was an instant hit. The short was also the first cartoon to have synchronized sound.
    5/9 'Steamboat Willie' was the first publicly released Mickey cartoon and it was an instant hit. The short was also the first cartoon to have synchronized sound.
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    The first words Mickey ever spoke were “Hot dogs!” He delivered this dialogue in the 1929 short, 'The Karnival Kid'.
    6/9 The first words Mickey ever spoke were “Hot dogs!” He delivered this dialogue in the 1929 short, 'The Karnival Kid'.
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    Walt was the voice of Mickey from 1928-1946. He allegedly had to stop voicing the character after he damaged his voice due to his smoking habit. Since then, only four other people have gone on to voice Mickey: first Jim MacDonald, followed by Wayne Allwine, and currently by both Bret Iwan and Chris Diamantopoulos.
    7/9 Walt was the voice of Mickey from 1928-1946. He allegedly had to stop voicing the character after he damaged his voice due to his smoking habit. Since then, only four other people have gone on to voice Mickey: first Jim MacDonald, followed by Wayne Allwine, and currently by both Bret Iwan and Chris Diamantopoulos.
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    Mickey and Minnie are married according to Walt.
    8/9 Mickey and Minnie are married according to Walt.
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    In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He received the star in honour of his 50th birthday.
    9/9 In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He received the star in honour of his 50th birthday.

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Today marks Mickey Mouse's official birthday (he was born' November 18, 1928), so to celebrate here are eight things you never knew about the famous mouse!