Betcha didn’t know that Minnie Mouse appeared in other pictures before hitting it big with Mickey in Steamboat Willie!
It All Started in 1928
In 1928, Walt Disney created a human-like mouse character named Minerva Mouse and nicknamed her “Minnie.” The nickname “stuck,” and that’s the name she has made famous. Just as he had with Mickey Mouse, Disney provided Minnie’s voice from 1928 to 1947.
More recently – in the 1980’s, to be exact – a voice actor named Russi Taylor provided the voice of Minnie Mouse, and Ms. Taylor, a Disney Legend, was the voice of Minnie Mouse for hundreds of assignments. Sadly, Russi Taylor passed away in 2019, at the age of 75. RIP.
Plane Crazy, Their First Silent Film
Plane Crazy, produced in May 1928, was Walt Disney’s first silent cartoon short, starring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Unfortunately, Plane Crazy got less than “BOFFO!” reviews from the studio, so they shelved it – for a while.
Then, six months later, the Al Jolson movie The Jazz Singer was released. It was the first feature length movie with sound, and the public LOVED it! To ride the wave of that popularity, Disney released a black-and-white film short with audible dialog called Steamboat Willie.
Steamboat Willie was a SENSATION!
Debut
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were the stars of Steamboat Willie and the first animated characters ever to be heard in films.
On November 18, 1928, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse appeared in the short, 8-minute film and ever since then, their fans have celebrated that day as their birthday.
Meet Minnie’s Mouse Family
Marcus Mouse is Minnie’s father. He and his wife, Mrs. Mouse, run the family farm, and he is said to be a stern fellow. The public first met Marcus when he appeared in A ‘Pot’ Shot, in 1930.
Mortimer Mouse, Minnie’s rich uncle, is a cattle rancher who lives in Death Valley, and Minnie is his heir.
(Now, this is Important: We must be careful not to confuse Uncle Mortimer with Mortimer the Mouse! The latter is a slickster who is Mickey’s rival!)
Marshal and Matilda Mouse are Marcus’ parents, so that makes them Minnie’s grandparents. They appeared briefly in Mr. Slicker and the Egg Robbers (1930).
Minnie and Melody Mouse are Minnie’s twin nieces. Minnie’s family has twins, too, just as Mickey has twin nephews – Morty and Ferdie Fieldmouse.
Well, Are they or Aren’t They?
There has been a lot of discussion on social media about Mickey’s relationship with Minnie. Are they twins? Is he her boyfriend? What’s the story?
Here it is:
In a 1933 interview, Walt Disney unofficially disclosed that Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were married.
There was never an official announcement or an onscreen ceremony, and they don’t live together.
Walt said, “While they might be depicted as a husband and wife or in a courtship depending on what the story is, the two characters are always married behind-the-scenes.”
“Speaking to Film Pictorial magazine in 1933 (via The Cinemaholic), Walt explained: ‘In private life, Mickey is married to Minnie. What it really amounts to is that Minnie is, for screen purposes, his leading lady. If the story calls for a romantic courtship, then Minnie is the girl; but when the story requires a married couple, then they appear as man and wife. In the studio we have decided that they are married already.’” (From HITCcom.)
Minnie’s Star
On January 22, 2018, Minnie Mouse was presented her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her role in animated films and her lifetime contribution as a prominent fashion influencer.
Minnie’s star is located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California.
On that Monday in January, Katy Perry, another fashion icon, also attended the ceremony in Los Angeles, honoring Minnie with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It only took 90 years for Minnie to get that star! Better late than never, right?
Trivia
First Films
Plane Crazy (1928), The Galloping Gaucho (1928)
Original Name
Minerva Mouse.
Parents
Walter Elias and Lillian Mouse (who are in reality Walt and Lillian Disney, the creators), but Minnie’s Mouse father is listed as Marcus Mouse.
Spouse
Michael Theodore Mouse (aka Mickey)
As we know, Minnie Mouse is a Fashionista who wears beautiful clothes and knows her style. She always “looks good.” If you feel like you need to spruce up a little, click here and check out the perfect way get in shape.
Academy Awards – Walt Disney
In 1932 Walt Disney got two Oscars: One was an Honorary Academy Award for creating Mickey Mouse and the other Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) for the film Flowers and Trees. After that, there was no stopping hime, because Walt Disney went on to receive 59 nominations and take home 26 Oscars. That’s more than any other individual ever has, and most of them were in categories like Best Animated Short.
Just so you know.
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Resources
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Walt Disney, https://www.emmys.com/bios/walt-disney
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InStyle
Here’s Who Has the Most Oscars Ever, by Jonathan Borge, Updated April 19, 2021, https://www.instyle.com/news/who-has-the-most-oscars
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HITC
No, Mickey and Minnie Are Not Twins – Walt Disney, by Filiz Mustafa, June 28, 2021, https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/06/28/are-mickey-and-minnie-mouse-twins/
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NewsHub
Mickey ad Minnie Mouse’s Marriage in Trouble After Shock Disney World Proposal, by Jaime Ensor, April 8, 2018, https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/08/mickey-and-minnie-mouse-s-marriage-in-trouble-after-shock-disney-world-proposal.html
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National Today
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday, November 18, 2021,
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday – November 18
Minnie Mouse’s Birthday – November 18
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Reuters
After 90 year wait, Minnie Mouse gets her Hollywood Moment, Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Sebastien Malo and Reuters Television; Editing by Tom Brown, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-minniemouse-star/after-90-year-wait-minnie-mouse-gets-her-hollywood-moment-idUSKBN1FB2ZW
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Showbiz CheatSheet
Which Disney Characters Have Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?, Matthew Trzcinski, Published on March 23,, 2020, https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/which-disney-characters-have-stars-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame.html/
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St. Louis Post Dispatch
17 Fictional Characters with Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lee Digital Content Center, November 18, 2020
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The Disney Wiki
Minnie Mouse, https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Minnie_Mouse
The Disney Wiki
Marcus Mouse, https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Marcus_Mouse
The Disney Wiki
Mortimer Mouse (Minnie’s Uncle), https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Mortimer_Mouse_(Minnie%27s_Uncle)
The Disney Wiki
Marshal and Matilda Mouse,
https://scrooge-mcduck.fandom.com/wiki/Marshal_Mouse
The Disney Wiki
Millie and Melody Mouse,
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Millie_and_Melody_Mouse
The Disney Wiki
List of Academy Awards for Walt Disney, https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Academy_Awards_for_Walt_Disney
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TIME
Here’s Who Has Won the Most Oscars Ever, by Mahita Gajanan, Updated February 25, 2019 12:12 AM ET | Originally Published February 14, 2018 11:28 AM EST, https://time.com/5148660/who-has-won-the-most-oscars/
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WPTV – West Palm Beach
Mickey and Minnie Mouse turn 91 years old on Monday, CNN Newsourse, November 18, 2019, https://www.wptv.com/news/local-news/water-cooler/mickey-and-minnie-mouse-turn-91-on-monday
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All images used in this post were found on Pixabay.com.
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