Do you recognize this rabbit? Source of image: online version of the Omaha World-Herald article quoted and cited below.
The story of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is one of entrepreneurial resilience. Walt Disney was duped out of his legal rights to Oswald. Instead of fighting it out in court, or giving in to discouragement, he shortened Oswald’s ears and transformed him into a mouse with a new name.
(p. 2E) LOS ANGELES (AP) – One of Walt Disney’s oldest drawings is seeing the light of day after being locked away for nearly 40 years.
A rough 1928 image of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the wacky predecessor to Mickey Mouse, was brought out of the Walt Disney Co. archive this week and showcased at an event unveiling “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” an upcoming action-adventure game for the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that allows players to control both Mickey and Oswald.
The mischievous Oswald was co-created by Disney before Mickey, but he was lost in a 1928 contract dispute with Universal Studios. Oswald hopped back to Disney in 2006 when CEO Bob Iger brokered a deal that sent sportscaster Al Michaels to Universal-NBC. Oswald’s first appearance since his return came in 2010’s “Epic Mickey” as the ruler of a forgotten realm.
For the full story, see:
DERRIK J. LANG. “Disney image displayed for first time in 40 years.” Omaha World-Herald (Sun., March 18, 2012): 2E.