How Mickey Mouse’s costumes have changed through the years
Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly one of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time. Created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, the character has been featured in countless animated films, television shows, merchandise and at in-person events.
As Mickey has evolved over the years, so too has his physical appearance. It’s the most obvious when it comes to the actual costumes worn by people to portray Mickey Mouse. It wasn’t long after Mickey first appeared on screen that people wanted him to appear in person.
If you look back at 1931, Mickey in person looked a bit scary. The design was based on the plushes that were created for the character. He had a.long nose with small round ears and a painted-on smile. The costumes remained fairly much the same through the years.
Embed from Getty Images1931 – Mickey Mouse, Jack Rabbit et la grenouille Frog, are photographed at the Industry Show in London, UK on February 14, 1931. (Photo by KEYSTONE-FRANCE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1933 – Mickey and Minnie Mouse and toy soldiers. A dress rehearsal of the Woolwich Searchlight Tattoo for the next month held tattoo. (Grand Depot Barracks Woolwich / London)
In 1950, the Ice Capades created costumes for Mickey for a segment they performed.
1955: Opening Day at Disneyland.
And in 1955, with the opening of Disneyland, those Ice Capades costumes were used in the parks to represent Mickey. Due to the need for ice skaters to have a wide field of vision, the heads of these costumes had large viewpoints around the face, but were not attractive.
During the next few years the Disney Legend John Hench redesigned the costume to add a little more detail and bring the cartoon-like quality. While the Ice Capades costumes were built to be looked at a distance, now the costumes needed to be appreciated up close. Soon, Hench found smaller people to wear the costume.
Walt Disney turned to to animator Bill Justice to designthe first true character costume, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum.
In 1962, Justice revamped the Mickey costume to feature movable arms and a more proportioned head to body ratio. This new and improved Official Host of Disneyland even traveled to New York City in 1962 to appear live on stage in a special Radio City Music Hall show entitled Disneyland, U.S.A.
Costume experimentation took place over the years. In the late 1980s, his head became rounder and the eyes smaller, eliminating thick outlines. Lighter material was used on the costumes as well.
In 2006, special articulated head was added allowing Mickey to blink and move his mouth. And in 2013, Mickey Mouse actually talked with guests when they would meet him.
Here’s a fruther look at Mickey through the years:
Embed from Getty Images1966 – Walt Disney died at the age of 65. He rode proudly January 1, 1966 as Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade with a character he made a household name, Mickey Mouse. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1968 -Mickey Mouse at the 40Th Anniversary at Disneyland (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1972 – Blind children recognize a Mickey Mouse by touch at the Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, 1972. (Photo by Spencer Grant/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1975 – Hundreds of children and their parents were guests at the World Premiere of the Walt Disney production of the Australian Made movie “Ride a Wild Pony” at the State Theatre. Walt Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Tigger and Mary Poppins were outside the theatre to shake hands with the children before the show. (Photo by Grant Peterson/Fairfax Media via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1977 – What Is This Mickey Mouse? Katharine Hill, 16 months, isn’t too sure what to make of Mickey Mouse, who dropped by her room at Children’s Hospital to say hello. Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy, a singer and a dancer visited the kids at Children’s as part of a day-long series of appearances in Denver (Denver Post via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1978 – Mickey Mouse enjoys a free ride given by a Standard Chartered Bank staff during the annual Rickshaw Derby at Victoria Park.
Embed from Getty Images1979 — Ben Crenshaw and George Burns pose with trophies and Mickey Mouse at conclusion of Walt Disney World National Team Championship. (Photo by PGA of America via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1980 — The Boys Choir of Harlem visits Epcot Center and stands with Mickey Mouse at Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 1980. (Photo by Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1982 — Denver Bronco quarterback Craig Morton gets some tips on how the game with the Los Angeles Rams will go from Disney characters Mickey Mouse and Goofy at Disneyland. (Photo By Damian Strohmeyer/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1985 – American comedian and television personality Jay Leno goofs around with Disney characters Minnie and Mickey Mouse at an unspecified event (Photo by Robert R McElroy/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1990 — Disney CEO Michael Eisener poses with Mickey Mouse during a 1990 Burbank, California, photo session. From 1984 to 2004 Eisner ran The Walt Disney Company as Chief Executive Officer. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1996 — Buzz Calkins celebrates with Mickey Mouse after winning the Indy 200 Indy Racing League IRL race at Walt Disney World Speedway Speedway. (Photo by Brian Cleary/Getty Images)
2013 – Mickey Mouse during a parade at Walt Disney World. (Photo by Steve Liebman)
2022 – Mickey Mouse at Mickey’s Merry Very Christmas Party.
2023 – Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse wearing platinum costumes for the Disney100.
