History WesternAnimation / MickeyMouse

* WesternAnimation/MickeysBirthdayParty: Rare Mickey Mouse short with a Nabisco promotion at the end, made for the World Fair. First appearance of Mickey's "modern" appearance, with a bigger head and redesigned eyes. In the PublicDomain.

* Mickey's Surprise Party

* [[spoiler:''VideoGame/TwistedWonderland'' (currently the only major Disney character to appear in the main story AsHimself)]]

In 2006, Mickey received a preschool show called ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseClubhouse''. It quickly became one of his most popular and successful TV shows ever. Even after it ended in 2016, it still remains the definitive version of Mickey and his friends for a whole generation. The success of ''Clubhouse'' would pave the way for more preschool shows starring Mickey and his friends, such as 2017's ''WesternAnimation/MickeyAndTheRoadsterRacers'' (later renamed ''Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures'') and 2021's ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseFunhouse''.

* ArtEvolution: Mickey's design has changed in may ways, some subtle and some obvious, since the 1920s.

In 1999, Disney blessed Mickey with a TV revival called ''Mickey Mouse Works'', later retooled into ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' in 2001. Essentially lower-budget versions of the original cartoons, both programs went on to be big hits.

* ''Mickey Mouse Works'' / ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse''

Now in 2024, due to ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie'' and the silent versions of ''WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy''[[note]] the sound version was released in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted untill 2025[[/note]] and ''WesternAnimation/TheGallopinGaucho''[[note]]the sound version, although released on December 30, 1928, had its copyright registered in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted until 2025[[/note]] entering PublicDomain in the United States, the early version of Mickey featured in those shorts are now a PublicDomainCharacter, along with their iterations of Minnie and Pete. Note that this ''only'' applies to those versions; Mickey designs resembling his modern appearance (most notably his small eyes, his pale pinkish face and his physical "roundness" in his later appearances) are still off-limits to anyone but The Walt Disney Company. In addition, Mickey's trademark still applies; one cannot use 1928's Mickey in a misleading fashion to make it seem like a product was approved by or associated with Disney.

Now in 2024, due to ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie'' and the silent versions of ''WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy''[[note]] the sound version was released in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted untill 2025[[/note]] and ''WesternAnimation/TheGallopinGaucho''[[note]]the sound version, although released on December 30, 1928, had its copyright registered in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted until 2025[[/note]] entering PublicDomain in the United States, the early version of Mickey featured in those shorts are now a PublicDomainCharacter, along with their iterations of Minnie and Pete. Note that this ''only'' applies to those versions; Mickey designs resembling his modern appearance (most notably his small eyes, his pale pinkish face and his physical "roundness" in his later appearances) are still off-limits to anyone but The Walt Disney Company. In addition, Mickey's trademark still applies; one cannot use Steamboat Mickey in a misleading fashion to make it seem like a product was approved by or associated with Disney.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Series/TheMickeyMouseClub Made for you and me.]]''[[note]]"90 Years of Mickey Mouse" painted by Disney artist Tim Rogerson; center: Mickey's modern design; clockwise from top: ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie'', Paul Rudish's ''[[WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse2013 Mickey Mouse]]'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBandConcert'', ''Series/TheMickeyMouseClub'', WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts, ''WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy'', and ''WesternAnimation/BraveLittleTailor''.[[/note]]]]

* PublicDomainCharacter: In 2024, Mickey as a
character lost his copyright status in the United States and became free for all creative works to use and adapt — but only the earliest versions of him, not the more modern ones.

** PublicDomainCharacter: But only the earliest versions of him, not the more modern ones.

Now in 2024, due to ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie'' and the silent versions of "WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy"[[note]] the sound version was released in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted untill 2025[[/note]] and ''WesternAnimation/TheGallopinGaucho''[[note]]the sound version, although released on December 30, 1928, had its copyright registered in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted until 2025[[/note]] entering PublicDomain in the United States, the early version of Mickey featured in those shorts are now a PublicDomainCharacter, along with their iterations of Minnie and Pete. Note that this ''only'' applies to those versions; Mickey designs resembling his modern appearance (most notably his small eyes, his pale pinkish face and his physical "roundness" in his later appearances) are still off-limits to anyone but The Walt Disney Company. In addition, Mickey's trademark still applies; one cannot use Steamboat Mickey in a misleading fashion to make it seem like a product was approved by or associated with Disney.

* PublicDomainAnimation: "WesternAnimation/TheMadDoctor" is one of the very few Disney shorts to slip into the PublicDomain, although its extremely rare for it to appear in compilations (the only known time is in "Attack of the 30s Characters" from Thunderbean) due to legal fears over the usage of a copyrighted character like Mickey. As of 2024, "WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie" and "WesternAnimation/TheGallopinGaucho" copyrights have expired.

** PublicDomainCharacter: But only the earliest versions of him.

'''''[[TropeCodifier The]]'' cartoon character.'''

Now in 2024, due to ''WesternAnimation/SteamboatWillie'' and the silent versions of "WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy"[[note]] the sound version was released in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted untill 2025[[/note]] and ''WesternAnimation/TheGallopinGaucho''[[note]]the sound version, although released on December 30, 1928, had its copyright registered in 1929, so that version is still copyrighted until 2025[[/note]] entering PublicDomain in the United States, the early version of Mickey featured in those shorts are now a PublicDomainCharacter, along with their iterations of Minnie and Pete. Note that this ''only'' applies to those versions; Mickey designs resembling his modern appearance (most notably his small eyes and pale pinkish face) are still off-limits to anyone but The Walt Disney Company. In addition, Mickey's trademark still applies; one cannot use Steamboat Mickey in a misleading fashion to make it seem like a product was approved by or associated with Disney.