plane crazy 1928 usa the first mickey mouse cartoon to be
produced by walt disney productions and the third to be
released. the theatrical short marks the creation of mickey
mouse, minnie mouse, and clarabelle cow. a silent version was
previewed on may 15, 1928 in los angeles, but it failed to pick
up a distributor. after producing a second cartoon, “the
gallopin’ gaucho”, which also wasn’t released until later the
following year, disney produced a third cartoon, “steamboat
willie”, which was released on november 18, 1928. after the
success of “steamboat willie”, disney officially released “plane
crazy”with sound on march 17, 1929. this leads to some ambiguity
as to which is the first mickey mouse cartoon, as “plane crazy”
was the first to be produced and while “steamboat willie” was
the first to be released. the walt disney company considers
“steamboat willie” to be the debut of mickey mouse.