Uncle Walt’s first successfully merchandisable character, and the only one the animation giant let slip through his fingers. Oswald was created in 1927 by Disney and Ub Iwerks to be distributed by Universal Studios. Disney didn’t own the rights to the character and after a request for a raise was met with a 20% pay cut, he bolted. Disney went on to shorten Oswald’s ears, straighten his tail, and call him Mickey while the rabbit was left in the care of Woody Woodpecker’s future papa, Walter Lantz. "Universal Weekly," March 21, 1936.
March 24, 2016