While there's a multitude of exceptional Mickey Mouse cartoons worth watching, there are some among them that should be counted as essential viewing. Walt Disney's iconic mascot, Mickey Mouse has been a part of the entertainment industry for 95 years, and he's appeared in many iconic shorts as part of his career. He is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and iconic characters ever created. Thanks to his cheerful personality and stylish design, Mickey Mouse is one of the most popular cartoon characters in history.
Since his first appearance in animation in 1928, Mickey Mouse has appeared in more than 130 movies, comics, cartoons, and video games. Many of his cartoons have seen him get up to all sorts of mischief and have been highly acclaimed by both critics and audiences. Mickey Mouse has appeared in many cartoons, but there are a few that any true Disney fan should watch at least once if they enjoy the adventures of the mischievous mouse.
Mickey Mouse Was Walt Disney's Second Attempt At An Icon: This Character Was First
Mickey Mouse has been the face of Disney for decades, with it even known as the Mouse House. However, before him, there was another animated mascot.
10 Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
A Fun Retelling of a Classic Dickens Story
There have been many adaptations of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, including this classic cartoon which puts Mickey and the others in the roles of the characters from A Chirstmas Carol. In this 1983 film, Mickey takes on the role of Bob Cratchit, who works for his greedy boss Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Scrooge McDuck. Scrooge is a cranky and stingy business duck who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, played by Goofy; thanks to visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, Scrooge finally learns the true meaning of Christmas.
Critics and viewers enjoyed Mickey's Christmas Carol and its 100% perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes is a reflection of this. It's viewed as a great way to introduce a younger audience to Dickens' stories. Mickey's Christmas Carol is a masterful blend of Disney animation and Christmas festivity, proving a great short film to watch over the holiday season. Not only that, but it stays true to the essence of the original story in a way that doesn't ruin any of the classic Disney heroes.
9 The Band Concert (1935)
The First Mickey Mouse Cartoon in Color
In this 1935 cartoon, Mickey serves as the conductor of a band performing a concert in a park. What starts as a successful concert turns into chaos as Donald Duck tries to take center stage with his music. Mickey tries to salvage the concert as a tornado threatens to ruin the entire show. This was the 72nd Mickey Mouse cartoon released by Walt Disney Studios. But what makes this cartoon special is that this is the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be produced in color animation. Since its release, The Band Concert has often been regarded as one of Disney's most acclaimed short films.
8 The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
Brings Classic Disney Characters into the 16th Century
In this adaptation of Mark Twain's acclaimed novel, Mickey plays an impoverished pauper and a wealthy prince who, upon a chance meeting, discover they are identical in looks. Deciding to switch places, the two Mickeys soon find themselves in trouble as they discover a plan by the evil Captain Pete to take the throne for himself In The Prince and the Pauper. This short film is a humorous and entertaining adaptation of the 1881 novel and the cartoon was praised for the animation and how its historical setting honored the original story. Plus, it has a strong message of friendship and strength that has stood the test of time. The use of two Mickeys rather than just one adds even more to its charm.
7 Lend a Paw (1941)
The Only Mickey Mouse Cartoon to Ever Win an Academy Award
As any Disney watcher knows, Mickey Mouse has a canine companion named Pluto. In this short film, Pluto becomes a hero and saves a little kitten. But his pride later turns to jealousy when Mickey adopts the kitten and Pluto strives to get rid of it.
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, this cartoon offers viewers an interesting view of the right and wrong choices one can make in life. In this case, Pluto makes the right choice, and he's duly rewarded by his master. This cartoon also holds the honor of being the only Mickey Mouse cartoon to ever win an Academy Award, winning Best Short Subject in 1941.
6 Mickey and the Beanstalk (1947)
An Entertaining Adaptation of a Classic Fairy Tale
Another twist to a classic fairy tale, Mickey and the Beanstalk, sees Mickey, Donald, and Goofy living in Happy Valley Village, which is slowly dying of famine after their magical singing harp is stolen by a greedy giant. After Mickey acquires some magic beans, they grow into a giant beanstalk and the trio is carried off into the sky. Soon, they find themselves on a rescue mission as they try to escape the hungry giant and return the harp to Happy Valley.
The cartoon was released as part of the Fun and Fancy Free anthology film. It was narrated by comedian Edgar Bergen and is considered a fun and exciting adaptation of the original fairy tale. In later years, Mickey and the Beanstalk has been reintroduced to fans through games and re-releases.
5 Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
One of the First Cartoons to Combine Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as a Comedy Trio
As seen in multiple cartoons, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy have held down many different jobs together. In Lonesome Ghosts, they are exterminators who have been called to a haunted house to remove four mischievous ghosts. What they don't know, is that they've been called over by the spirits themselves who enjoy playing pranks on the trio.
Mickey Mouse is an iconic character, but when partnered with Donald Duck and Goofy, their adventures are even more entertaining, as is the case here. Lonesome Ghosts was one of the first cartoons to combine the three friends and merge their characteristics in a comedic manner. It deftly combined comedy and horror together and made the most of the character dynamics shared by the trio, making it a classic Disney animation and a standard-setting Mickey Mouse short.
4 Brave Little Tailor (1938)
A Short That Shows Mickey As the Valiant Hero
As Mickey finds out in Brave Little Tailor, stretching out the truth can be dangerous. After misunderstanding a question about killing giants, Mickey is appointed as "Royal High Killer of Giants" and is sent out on a quest to slay a giant in exchange for the hand of Princess Minnie. Mickey finds himself over his head on his quest to kill the giant. The cartoon received high praise for its bright colors, comedic scriptwriting, and its ability to add a unique twist on a fairytale. Mickey portrays the unlikely hero, an aspect in stories that proved popular in later years, and portrays themes of strength and courage. It is considered one of Disney's best cartoons of that era, being nominated for the Best Animated Short Film Oscar in 1939.
3 Orphan's Benefit (1934)
The First Cartoon Where Mickey and Donald Appeared Together
Donald Duck is Mickey's best friend, but that hasn't stopped him from wanting some attention for himself. In Orphan's Benefit, Mickey is hosting an orphan's benefit concert and Donald is reciting poems for the audience. But no matter how hard he tries, the orphans won't stop heckling him, finally causing the devious duck to lose his temper with hilarious consequences.
This cartoon is famous for being the first in which Mickey Mouse appeared with Donald Duck. It later received a color remake in 1941 which proved just as successful as the original. Mickey hosted the orphan's benefit, but arguably, Donald was the one who benefited the most, as his appearance in both cartoons increased his popularity and he would later star in movies of his own.
2 The Karnival Kid (1929)
The First Cartoon Where Mickey Mouse Speaks
Mickey's sweetheart is Minnie and, as this early short shows, he'll do anything to make her happy. At a carnival, Mickey is working as a hot dog vendor; when Minnie comes to buy one, the hot dog gets scared and runs away, leading Mickey to have to chase it. Later, Mickey tries to serenade Minnie with a guitar performance, but things don't go according to plan. The Karnival Kid is a cartoon to watch as it was the first time Mickey Mouse actually spoke in any of his shorts. His first spoken words were "Hot dogs! Hot dogs!" which he said while he was working. This served as groundbreaking in the early years of cartoon animation and the words were rightfully later used as Mickey Mouse's catchphrase.
1 Steamboat Willie (1929)
The Cartoon That Propelled Mickey Mouse to Fame
This was the cartoon short that officially started it all for Mickey Mouse. In Steamboat Willie, Mickey works as a deckhand on a steamboat under the command of Captain Pete. What follows is an accident-filled adventure as Mickey causes as much chaos as possible while trying to help Minnie and escape from Captain Pete's wrath. This is arguably Mickey's most iconic cartoon short. It was one of the first cartoons of the 20th century to combine animation and sound and synchronize them together. It was released to high acclaim and introduced the world to the iconic mouse, making Steamboat Willie an essential Mickey Mouse short that any true Disney fan needs to watch.
