About Minnie Mouse

Mickey Mouse may be the most famous mouse in the world, but his companion Minnie Mouse comes in at a close second. Whether she is beside in him in classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, walking around a Disney theme park, or displayed over female memorabilia, Minnie Mouse will always remain a staple in pop culture history.

History

Minnie debuted in the same cartoon that Mickey Mouse also debuted in. It was titled "Plane Crazy" and was released in May of 1928. This cartoon featured Mickey, who tries to get Minnie to ride in a plane with her and eventually kiss her. She would star in other short cartoons, but one of her most famous cartoons is the first to feature sound, titled "Steamboat Willie." "Steamboat Willie" starred Minnie alongside Mickey, and the two characters propelled to stardom along with the Disney company.

Identification

Minnie is designed a lot like Mickey, but she has female features. The most distinct of these is the large pink bowtie between the two large mouse ears on her head. Minnie also has long eyebrows, red lips, and is often wearing a pink or purple dress. Minnie introduced two pets to the Disney world, the famous dog Pluto and her cat Figaro.

Significance

While Mickey is seen as the "King" of the Disney Empire, Minnie is often referred to as the "Queen." She and Mickey often end parades at Disney theme parks, and they are the hosts for several Disney on Ice shows. Minnie has had her own line of merchandise and some of her own cartoon shorts throughout the years. Minnie is also cast as the Queen of the Disney castle in the popular video game series "Kingdom Hearts." In this game she uses incredible powers to defeat evil spirits and help rescue Mickey Mouse.

Considerations

Minnie's real name is actually Minerva Mouse. The name Minerva is rarely mentioned, but it does get referenced quite a bit in comic strips and early cartoons. Other than Mickey, Minnie's mouse family has been extended to feature nieces, uncles, a sister, and her father, Marcus Mouse.

Misconceptions

Throughout the history of Disney cartoons, there has been a lot of speculation to whether Minnie and Mickey Mouse are actually married. Mickey has never tried to be with anybody else, and often they are referred to as a married couple. Walt Disney himself stated that in his mind they will always be a married couple and have continually been smitten with each other, even in current adaptations like Disney's Clubhouse and Disney's House of Mouse.

Resources

• Disney History: Minnie Mouse