Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an animated cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal Pictures. Here are some key points about this character:
- Creation and Early History: Oswald was first introduced in 1927 in the cartoon short film "Trolley Troubles," which was distributed by Universal. The character was conceived as a replacement for Alice Comedies, which Disney had been producing.
- Design: Oswald has a distinctive design with long ears, a black body, white face, and a mischievous personality. His original design was quite different from the Mickey Mouse we know today, featuring more angular shapes and a more mischievous demeanor.
- Disney's Loss: After a dispute over contract terms with Universal in 1928, Disney lost the rights to Oswald. This led to the creation of Mickey Mouse. However, Disney did retain the rights to the original Oswald cartoons he produced.
- Subsequent Development: After Disney, Universal continued to produce Oswald cartoons, but the character underwent several redesigns. Charles Mintz, who had taken over the production, and later Walter Lantz, oversaw Oswald's evolution, making him more in line with the evolving animation styles of the time.
- Return to Disney: In a surprising turn of events in 2006, Disney CEO Bob Iger negotiated a trade with NBCUniversal to regain the rights to Oswald. This trade involved a contract dispute over sports announcer Al Michaels.
- Modern Appearances: Since regaining the rights, Disney has reintroduced Oswald in various media, including video games like "Epic Mickey," theme park attractions, and merchandise. Oswald also appears in the Disney Channel series "House of Mouse" and has had cameo roles in other Disney productions.
- Legacy: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is considered the precursor to Mickey Mouse and holds a special place in animation history as one of Disney's earliest creations. His story also highlights the challenges and triumphs of early animation studios.
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