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On Nov. 18, 1928, the world was
introduced to a cheerful mouse
whistling "Steamboat Bill" in Disney's
Steamboat Willie. His name was Mickey.
This year, the iconic mouse turns 90 and
remains one of the most recognizable
characters ever created. "Mickey is
just so appealing in every way—in his
design, character, and stories," says
Eddie Trigueros, a storyboard artist and
director on the Mickey Mouse shorts.
Shorts Director Alonso Ramirez Ramos
credits Mickey's playfulness and childlike
wonder as two reasons why the character
continues to resonate with audiences
today. Over the years, Mickey has
transformed, changed and evolved. But
in 2013, Mickey revisited his roots in the
Mickey Mouse Disney animated shorts.
"Paul Rudish created this new iteration
of Mickey, inspired by the 1930's 'rubber-
hose' style cartoons," says Ramos, who
together with Trigueros won an Annie
Award last year for their work on the
shorts. "He wanted to give it a modern
spin without losing sight of what's been
done in the past." Ramos appreciates
this unique opportunity to create new
Mickey stories for a global audience: "I
get to deep dive into the character, and
I often find myself thinking at night,
'What is Mickey feeling?'"
MICKEY TURNS 90!
F I N A L N O T E
©Disney
©Disney
