Amazing & Magical Facts About Mickey Mouse

Did you know that today is Mickey Mouse’s birthday? We’re celebrating with our favourite facts about everybody’s favourite mouse. Plus, how our small name labels can make a big difference!

Our Favourite Facts About An Amazing Mouse!

Today is Mickey Mouse’s 94^th birthday. Did you know that…

• Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks created Mickey Mouse in 1928. While on the train back to Hollywood, Disney was inspired by a pet mouse he’d had as a child and asked Iwerks to create a design. Walt Disney liked the name “Mortimer Mouse” but Lillian, his wife, suggested “Mickey” sounded better. Mickey’s official full name is “Michael Theodore Mouse”.
• Disney thought four fingers was “too many for a mouse” and would look like “a bunch of bananas”. This is why Mickey has three fingers and a thumb on each hand. Disney’s decision saved millions of dollars because there was (slightly) less Mickey to animate in each drawing! At six minutes long, each film involved making about 45,000 drawings and cost $2,500.
• Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho failed to find distribution so Disney and Iwerks’ third film – Steamboat Willie – became Mickey’s big debut. The film was released on 18^th November 1928, which is why today is Mickey's birthday (shared with his co-stars Minnie Mouse and Pete).
• Mickey has appeared in around 130 animated short films, 8 feature films, and 10 TV series.
• Steamboat Willie was the first Mickey film to feature sound but Mickey didn’t speak until his ninth film – The Karnival Kid (23^rd May 1929). Mickey was one of the first animated characters to speak and his first words were: “Hot Dogs!”
• Mickey first appeared in colour in a special film created for the 1932 Academy Awards. His first colour film was The Band Concert (23^rd February 1935). His first feature length film was Fantasia (13^th November 1940). Ten Mickey films received Oscar nominations; Lend A Paw won Best Animated Short Film in 1942.
• Mickey first appeared on television on 3^rd October 1955. His musical discography includes a 1979 disco album, which achieved double platinum status. In 1978, on his 50^th birthday, Mickey became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Mickey’s ears are perfect circles; hiding his likeness in Disney properties has become a Disney tradition. Imagineers have added over 1,000 “Hidden Mickeys” to Disney’s theme parks, while others have been scattered throughout Disney films and video games.
• Some people protest in American elections by entering their own candidates. Mickey’s name has appeared on ballot papers every decade since the New York mayoral race of 1932.
• According to Disney, Mickey’s official height is 2 foot 3 inches (68.58 centimetres).

Small Name Labels That Make A Big Difference

Like Mickey Mouse, Stikins ® labels are small but mighty! Although just 30 by 15mm high, our name labels have made a big difference to parents, schools, and care homes across the UK.

• We chose a size suitable for wash-care labels because most Stikins ® name labels end up on school uniform. However, they also fit neatly and discretely onto school uniform, kit, and personal belongings. As multipurpose stick on name labels, Stikins help to get EVERYTHING labelled in seconds.
• We offer one or two lines of text with up to 22 characters per line. The black print against a bright white background ensures that the personalisation is easy to read for kids (and adults) of all ages. You can add a name, contact information, room number, or a short message.
• Stikins ® labels make it super easy for items to be returned, so parents don’t have to replace (often expensive) items that are usually less than a year old.
• Our school fundraising scheme allows schools and children’s groups to earn commission every time parents order name labels.
• Stikins ® name labels provide a helping hand in nursing and residential care homes. These homes rely on shared spaces and facilities where items can go missing. Stikins ® labels make it easy for items to be returned, saving staff time and giving peace of mind to relatives and their families.

You can order online anytime or by phone during office hours. We offer packs of 30, 60, 90, or 120 name labels. Orders are posted out same or next working day; delivery is free and uses Royal Mail’s first class service.

Schools can join our fundraising scheme online. We also offer special discounts to nursing and care homes ordering on behalf of residents.