Why is Mickey Mouse still so Popular?

The continuing drive for Mickey Mouse Toys
, cartoons and DVDs appears to go unabated, it's worth taking a look back to the beginning and see where Mickey actually came from. Many of you will know that Steamboat Willie was one of the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons, and we should have a brief look at it here.

When released in 1928, and featuring synchronized sound for the first time, it was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon published. Steamboat Willie premiered in that great city of New York. The success was immediate.

Walt Disney and other Iwerks responsible for the writing and directing the film, which was a parody of Buster Keaton movie steamboat Bill Junior. A Disney animator, Wilfred Jackson was responsible for putting the music together. Turkey in the Straw And Steamboat Bill proved to be some of the most popular songs.

There has been much controversy surrounding the copyright of the film, but more recent evidence suggests Steamboat Willie may actually be in the public domain. The film was voted number 13 out of the 50 greatest cartoons of all time, and was selected for preservation in the United States film Registry.

The film has not missed the eye of the censors in the past, and has been subjected to the scissors. Swinging a cat around Mickey's head and using a goose as a set of bagpipes filed to impress the censor.

The Walt Disney treasures DVD also featured the Steamboat Willie movie. The Steamboat Willie film was also included on the DVD title Vintage Mickey, a collection of black-and-white cartoons.

It's hardly surprising that Mickey Mouse now features in video games. Steamboat Willie also provided the basis for the first level of the video game Mickey Mania:The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse. The game was released on the Super Nintendo, Sega CD and Sony PlayStation consoles.

Kingdom Hearts I I, a Disney game, uses a Steamboat Willie inspired world with period characters.

How a 1920s cartoon has spawned such a huge market for Mickey Mouse Toys and games is beyond me. If you go for a quick online search you will be a mayonnaise at the amount of Mickey Mouse related paraphernalia exists. Available items include video games, DVDs, pajamas, jewelry, and plenty of board games. You'll find Mickey Mouse Gifts
for everyone. The up session people have with Mickey Mouse fails to diminish.

To think that Mickey Mouse is as successful as he is, 80 years after his first film, is quite astounding. Quite amazing!.