Disney animates Oswald the Lucky Rabbit sketches The original
sketches for one of Walt Disney's earliest characters have been
animated 85 years after they were drawn. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
was created in 1927, a year before Mickey Mouse was born, and
the rabbit starred in 26 cartoons in the 1920s and 30s.
Archivists have used dozens of drawings from Disney's personal
sketchbook to create a new Oswald cartoon. Harem Scarem was
unveiled at Disney's D23 fan event and can be seen online. Walt
Disney and long-time collaborator Ub Iwerks created the rabbit
while working at Universal before he set up his own empire.
Oswald's oversized ears, big eyes and shorts bear a striking
similarity to Disney's next creation, Mickey Mouse, who was
inspired by a mouse who would visit his drawing board. However,
Disney had to relinquish control of the character when he left
Universal, aged 27. In 2006, Disney chief executive Bob Iger and
NBC Universal struck a deal to see ownership of Oswald return to
the company. He has already