Happy Birthday, Mickey: How a little mouse changed the world

Ninety-seven years ago today, a whistling deckhand steered a steamboat into history. On 18 November 1928, Mickey Mouse made his debut in Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater in New York City—an appearance that would transform an obscure studio into a global powerhouse. Walt Disney later reflected, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.”

The story of Mickey’s birth has become part of animation folklore. In 1928, after losing the rights to his previous star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a dejected Disney boarded a train from New York to Los Angeles. Somewhere along that journey, determination sparked creativity. Disney began sketching a mischievous little character he first named Mortimer—until his wife Lillian gently suggested a friendlier name: Mickey.

Back in the studio, Disney and animator Ub Iwerks threw themselves into crafting the character. Their early silent cartoons, Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho, were promising. But with sound films taking Hollywood by storm, they started afresh on a third short: Steamboat Willie. The result was an overnight sensation and the birth of an international icon.

Mickey dominated the 1930s before sharing the limelight with Donald Duck and Goofy in the following decade. Across 121 theatrical cartoons—including a 30-year hiatus between The Simple Things (1953) and Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)—he remained a fixture of popular culture. He fronted The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, graced millions of merchandise shelves, and became the ever-smiling host of Disney theme parks.

His look has evolved as much as his legacy. Originally drawn from simple circles—a design so striking that the three-circle silhouette is now recognised worldwide—Mickey’s form was refined over time. The Pointer in 1939 introduced a more expressive, pear-shaped version, complete with pupils. Later experiments, including 3D-styled ears, were brief. Costumes changed, too, though his red shorts, yellow shoes and white gloves remain his signature. In 1978, Mickey became the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Behind the microphone, Disney himself voiced the character until 1946. Jim Macdonald carried the role for three decades, followed by Wayne Allwine, Bret Iwan, and most recently Chris Diamantopoulos for the 2013 television revival.

Today, Mickey stands not just as a cartoon hero but as the enduring ambassador of The Walt Disney Company. His optimism, bravery, and charm have spanned generations, cultures, and continents. And on his birthday, it’s hard not to marvel at how true Disney’s words remain: “it really was all started by a mouse.”