For the first time in 94 years, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit returns in an all-new traditional animated short from Disney Animation on YouTube!

To celebrate Disney’s upcoming 100-year anniversary, the short “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” was produced by Disney Animation’s hand-drawn animation team. Veteran animator Eric Goldberg (“Pocahontas,” “Fantasia/2000”) directed the short, with Dorothy McKim providing producing duties.

“Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” brings back the style and charm of Oswald’s appearance from the late 1920s. Presented in black and white, the short uses classic hand-drawn animation to bring back the look and feel of animation from the silent era.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is Back!

According to a statement from Disney, Goldberg said, “Oswald is such a plucky scamp. We wanted to bring Oswald back, and in the short, he literally returns to his original home, the movie screen. We wanted to have Oswald do all of the ‘squash-and-stretch,’ ‘rubber hose’-animation style, celebrating that first generation of Walt Disney’s artists.”

Producer McKim added, “On the eve of Disney’s 100th anniversary, it was such a joy to create the first new Oswald short from our studio since 1928. Our hand-drawn animation team – including our hand-drawn legends Mark Henn, Randy Haycock and Eric Goldberg, as well our wonderful team of 2D apprentices, had a ball animating in the style of Oswald’s era.”

Before Mickey Mouse, There Was Oswald

Considered Walt’s first breakout animated star, the mischievous rabbit starred in 26 short films. Universal released Oswald to audiences in 1927 with the debut short “Trolley Troubles.” Charles Mintz and George Winkler produced the project, with Walt Disney directing.

Walt and his animation team, which included Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, used sight gags and physical comedy to help tell the story. This included Oswald being able to disassemble and reshape his body parts at will. Oswald’s exaggerated reactions to the situations around him also amplified the humor.

Oswald became a hit with both the press and audiences.

Loss and Heartbreak

Due to the success of the cartoons, Disney decided to request an increase of $250 per short from Universal. Before making the trip to New York, Iwerks alerted him that Mintz was signing Disney’s animators to new contracts and removing him as their boss.

When Disney arrived in New York, Mintz offered him $500 less per short plus 50 percent of any profits. He also learned that Universal controlled the copyright to Oswald and all profits from the character. Feeling betrayed, Disney turned down the offer and as a result, lost creative control over Oswald to Universal.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is Back!

The Long Journey Back Home

In 2006, Disney CEO Bob Iger made a deal with NBC/Universal to obtain the rights to Oswald for the studio. The deal included permitting sportscaster Al Michaels to contract with NBC in exchange for the return of Oswald. Since then, Oswald has appeared in video games and merchandise, an animated short, and in Disney theme parks globally.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is Back!

In conjunction with the animated short, Disney has also launched an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Snapchat lens that allows users to channel Oswald using AR technology.


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Let’s Hear From You

Any Oswald fans out there? We’d love to hear your thoughts on Walt’s first breakout star. 

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is Back!

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