Culture
13:05, 19-Nov-2018
Icon of animation empire Mickey Mouse celebrates 90th birthday
Updated
12:12, 22-Nov-2018
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On Sunday, Mickey Mouse, the brainchild of cartoonist Walt Disney that eventually came to symbolize a global entertainment empire, celebrated his 90th birthday.
The iconic rodent, whose easily recognizable silhouette consists simply of a big circle and two little ones for ears, launched his celluloid career in "Steamboat Willie," at New York's Colony Theater on November 18, 1928.
Dressed in birthday costumes, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse celebrate their 90th birthday with their friends at Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai, November 18, 2018. /VCG Photo
Dressed in birthday costumes, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse celebrate their 90th birthday with their friends at Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai, November 18, 2018. /VCG Photo
In the eight-minute-long, black-and-white cartoon, Mickey pilots a steamboat and entertains his passenger, Minnie Mouse, by making musical instruments out of the menagerie on board, according to IMDB.com.
Mickey Mouse, whom the Walt Disney Co. calls its global ambassador, also starred in Disney's critically acclaimed 1942 animated film "Fantasia," and would go on to launch a franchise with "The Mickey Mouse Club," the 1950s television series that was a favorite of American baby boom kids.
His image appeared on T-shirts, lunch boxes and watches, and the telltale mouse ears are still worn by kids visiting Disney theme parks today.
Minnie Mouse poses with Mickey while being honored with the 2,627th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, US, January 22, 2018. /VCG Photo
Minnie Mouse poses with Mickey while being honored with the 2,627th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, US, January 22, 2018. /VCG Photo
To mark his birthday, Disney opened a 16,000-square-foot art exhibition in Manhattan, called "Mickey: The True Original Exhibition," featuring original art, larger-than-life photo ops and, of course, commemorative merchandise. The exhibition runs until February 10.
After all, reaching one's 90th birthday is a milestone for anyone, but especially for a mouse, which the pest control company Terminix estimates has a normal lifespan of no more than three years.
(Top Photo: Mickey Mouse celebrates his 90th birthday with fans in Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai, November 18, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Reuters
Source(s): Reuters