Mickey Mouse: Interesting facts about the world's favourite cartoon character

Mickey Mouse is so much more than just an all-time favourite Disney character. A household name, a friend to children across the world, and an inspiration for fancy-dress parties — Mickey's world is probably the most popular birthday party theme through the ages.

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Mickey Mouse recently turned 91. And while we all hold him close to our hearts, do we really know him that well? Here are a few lesser-known facts about this iconic Mouse that will probably make you love him even more.

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Lesser-known facts about Mickey Mouse

1. Mickey was the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 18, 1978, in honour of his 50^th anniversary
2. In 1932 Walt Disney received a special Academy Award for creation of Mickey Mouse
3. Mickey Mouse has different names around the world. For example, he is known as Mi Lao Shu in China, Musse Pigg in Sweden and Topolino in Italy
4. Walt Disney’s original name for Mickey Mouse was Mortimer. However, his wife Lillian Disney felt that it did not work for the character Walt had created and hence, she was the one that suggested the name Mickey Mouse
5. The first person to give Mickey Mouse his voice was none other than the creator himself, Walt Disney
6. To mark Mickey Mouse’s 60^th birthday, the Disney character was given a place in the Smithsonian Institution. In 1988, Walt Disney Studios donated six original animation drawings from Steamboat Willie to the National Museum of American History
7. Mickey Mouse presented the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in the year 1988 and another in 2003
8. Mickey Mouse first appeared on the Indian television in the 90s on Doordarshan during Disney hour
9. In the year 1955, Mickey made his television debut in The Mickey Mouse Club television show
10. Mickey Mouse has met every US president since Truman apart from Lyndon B. Johnson. Obama once jokingly referred to Mickey Mouse as “The world leader who has bigger ears than me.”

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