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Disney's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit animations |
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| Through
a series of whimsical adventures, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
navigates a world filled with challenges, always maintaining
a steadfast determination to overcome obstacles with a mischievous
charm. His personality is a blend of wit, courage, and an
unwavering belief in the power of luck and perseverance. Oswald,
a character often overshadowed by his successor Mickey Mouse,
boasts a fascinating history intertwined with the rise of
Walt Disney Studios. Debuting in 1927, Oswald wasn't just
Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks' first creation, but also a breakout
star for Universal Pictures. The feisty little rabbit, born
from the desire to move away from cat-centric cartoons, charmed
audiences with his silent slapstick antics in over two dozen
short films, all produced by Winkler for Universal Pictures,
and directed by Walt Disney. However, a contractual dispute
with Charles Mintz, who controlled the rights to Oswald, left
Disney in a precarious position. Unwilling to relinquish his
creation entirely, Disney used the experience as a springboard.
He and Iwerks tweaked Oswald's design, resulting in the birth
of Mickey Mouse in 1928. While Oswald continued appearing
in cartoons produced by Walter Lantz Productions until 1938,
his popularity eventually waned. Oswald's legacy, however,
extends far beyond his initial success. He not only represents
a pivotal moment in Disney's career, but also serves as a
testament to the studio's early animation techniques and storytelling.
The character's rights eventually returned to Disney in 2003. |
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# |
Title |
Released1 |
Length2 |
Sound3 |
Animation |
Photography |
Status |
Scene |
|
1 |
Poor
Papa
 |
11
June 1927;
6 Aug. 1928 |
5.12 |
2017 |
Ub Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rudolf Ising
Rollin C. Hamilton
Ben Clopton
Norman Blackburn |
Rudolf
Ising |
Extant,
prev. lost |
|
|
2 |
Trolley Troubles
|
4
July 1927;
5 Sept. 1927 |
5.54 |
23
Nov. 1931 |
Ub Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Ben Clopton
Norman Blackburn |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
3 |
Oh Teacher !
|
19
July 1927;
19 Sept. 1927 |
6.02 |
1
Feb. 1932 |
Ub Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Norman Blackburn
Ben Clopton |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
4 |
The Mechanical Cow
|
3
Oct. 1927 |
6:03 |
4
Jan. 1932 |
Ub Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Ben Clopton
Norman Blackburn
Paul J. Smith |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
5 |
Great Guns!
|
17
Oct. 1927 |
6:42 |
29
Feb. 1932 |
Walt Disney,
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Norman Blackburn
Ben Clopton
Paul J. Smith |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
6 |
All Wet
|
31 Oct. 1927 |
6.38 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Ubbe Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Norman Blackburn
Ben Clopton
Paul J. Smith
|
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
7 |
The Ocean Hop
|
14 Nov. 1927 |
6.04 |
1932;
11 Dec. 2007 |
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
8 |
The Banker's Daughter
|
28 Nov. 1927 |
5.00 |
|
Ubbe
Iwerks
Isadore Freleng |
Mike Marcus |
Lost; sketches survive |
|
|
9 |
Empty Socks
|
12
Dec. 1927 |
5.30 |
2017 |
Ubbe Iwerks
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Prev. only 25 second sequence remained; found 2014 almost
complete (4:29 mins) |
|
|
10 |
Rickety Gin
|
26 Dec. 1927 |
6:00 |
|
Ubbe
Iwerks
Isadore Freleng |
Mike Marcus |
Lost; sketches survive |
|
|
11 |
Harem Scarem
|
5 Dec. 1927;
9 Jan. 1928 |
6:00 |
|
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Lost; sketches survive |
|
|
12 |
Neck ‘n Neck
|
23 Jan. 1928 |
5:00 |
|
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Prev. lost; 2-min version found 2018 |
|
|
13 |
The Ol’ Swimmin' 'Ole
|
6 Feb. 1928 |
6:00 |
|
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Prev.
lost; found 2016, almost complete
|
|
|
14 |
Africa Before Dark
|
20 Feb. 1928 |
5:47 |
13
June 2015 |
Ubbe Iwerks |
Mike Marcus |
Prev. lost; found 2015 |
|
|
15 |
Rival Romeos
|
5 May 1928 |
6.18 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Ubbe Iwerks |
|
Extant |
|
|
16 |
Bright Lights
|
13
Mar. 1928;
19 Mar. 1928 |
7:33 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
17 |
Sagebrush Sadie
|
2 Apr. 1928 |
5:00 |
|
Ubbe
Iwerks
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Lost; some sketches survive |
|
|
18 |
Ride 'Em Plow Boy
|
16 Apr. 1928 |
6.00 |
|
Ubbe
Iwerks
Isadore Freleng
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Lost; some sketches survive |
|
|
19 |
Ozzie of the Mounted
|
30
Apr. 1928 |
5:04 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Ub Iwerks
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton
Ben Clopton
Les Clark |
Mike Marcus |
Extant; almost complete |
|
|
20 |
Hungry Hoboes
|
14 May 1928 |
5.21 |
2 Sep. 2010 |
Hugh Harman |
Mike Marcus |
Extant; prev. lost, found 2011 |
|
|
21 |
Sky Scrappers
|
11 June 1928;
23 Sept. 1928 |
5.28 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
|
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
22 |
Oh What a Knight
|
28
May 1928 |
5:42 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
|
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
23 |
The Fox Chase
|
25 June 1928 |
5.16 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
24 |
Tall Timber
|
9 July 1928 |
7.33 |
11 Dec. 2007 |
Hugh Harman
Rollin C. Hamilton |
Mike Marcus |
Extant |
|
|
25 |
Sleigh Bells
|
23
July 1928 |
6.00 |
12
Dec. 2015 |
|
Mike Marcus |
Extant; prev. lost, found 2015 |
|
|
27 |
High Up
|
6
Aug. 1928 |
8:20 |
|
Rudolf
Ising
Rollin C. Hamilton |
|
Extant;
prev. lost; found 2017 |
|
|
28 |
Hot Dog
|
20 Aug. 1928 |
5.00 |
|
|
Mike Marcus |
Lost;
storyboard sketches survive |
|
|
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Notes
1. A second date is when the short was released officially.
2. minutes, approximate
3. date of re-release with sound |
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Sources:
1. Agence France-Presse in Oslo. Lost 1927 Disney Christmas
film found in Norway. The Guardian, 11 December 2014.
2. David A. Bossert. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search
for the Lost Disney Cartoons. Los Angeles: Disney Editions,
2019.
3. Mark Brown. Lost 1928 Walt Disney film uncovered in British
Film Institute archive . The Guardian, 3 November
2015
4. Jeff Lenburg. The encyclopedia of animated cartoons.
New York: Facts On File, 2009.
5. Lost Disney film found in the BFI National Archive. British
Film Institute, 3 November 2015.
6. Lost Disney 'Oswald' film found in Japan. BBC,
15 November 2018.
7. Mickey and Oswald Take Center Stage For a Magically Orchestrated
Evening. Disney Insider. 10 June 2015.
8. Pinocchio [DVD Blu-ray release]. Disney, 2017.
9. Graham Webb. The Animated Film Encyclopedia, 2nd
edn. Jefferson, NC; London: McFarland & Company, Inc.,
Publishers, 2011.
10. Walt Disney Treasures, The Adventures of Oswald the
Lucky Rabbit [DVD]. Walt Disney Video, 2007.
11. Jennifer Wolfe. Disney Restores 'Hungry Hobos' for Telluride.
Animation World Network, 5 September 2012..
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