Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was one of the first animated cartoon characters made by Walt Disney for Universal Studios between 1927 and 1928, then produced by Charles Mintz and Walter Lantz from 1928 until 1938.

The Walt Disney era
After the Alice Comedies, Disney's second animated series (after the Laugh-o-Grams) folded in 1927, Carl Laemmle approached Disney and requested a new, all-animated series featuring a rabbit. Disney and Ub Iwerks created a new character entitled "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit". The first Oswald cartoon, Poor Papa, was poorly received by Charles Mintz and demanded a better, younger version of Oswald. The next cartoon, Trolley Troubles, was well received, and the series officially launched.

In 1928, with the series going strong, Disney demanded a raise from Mintz, which he refused. Mintz instead told Disney that he was going to cut the budget, and if Disney did not agree to the cut, Mintz would take over Oswald for himself. Disney refused, and most of Disney's employees left for Mintz. Only Ub Iwerks remained, and the two secretly planned out a cartoon featuring their new character, Mickey Mouse.

Return to Disney
In 2006, the Disney company got back the rights to Oswald, through a trade with sportscaster Al Michaels.

Role in Epic Mickey
Oswald will be one of the main characters in the upcoming Nintendo Wii game Epic Mickey. In the game, he will be the ruler of the forgotten world where forgotten Disney creations reside. That is untill a young Mickey Mouse accidently spills paint thinner on the world and inevertably creates The Phantom Blot, thus toppling Ozzy off of his throne and causing him to be jeaulos of his half-brother and seeking to destroy him.