Minnie Mouse is a

cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

character Character or Characters may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk * ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...

created by

The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

. As the longtime sweetheart of

Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon Character (arts), character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red sho ...

, she is an

anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...

mouse A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

with white gloves, a bow, polka-dotted dress, white

bloomers Bloomers, also called the bloomer, the Turkish dress, the American dress, or simply reform dress, are divided women's garments for the lower body. They were developed in the 19th century as a healthful and comfortable alternative to the heavy, ...

, and low-heeled shoes occasionally with ribbons on them. The ''Mickey Mouse'' comic strip story "The Gleam" (published January 19 – May 2, 1942) by

Merrill De Maris Merrill De Maris (February 26, 1898, New Jersey – December 31, 1948, Escondido, California) was an American writer who worked on Disney comic strips for King Features Syndicate. De Maris helped Floyd Gottfredson with many of his early ''Mick ...

and

Floyd Gottfredson Arthur Floyd Gottfredson (May 5, 1905July 22, 1986) was an American cartoonist best known for his defining work on the ''Mickey Mouse'' comic strip, which he worked on from 1930 until his retirement in 1975. His contribution to Mickey Mouse comi ...

first gave her full name as Minerva Mouse, although this is seldom used. Minnie is classy, calm, sassy, well-mannered, cheerful, and feminine. She is filled with love and affection, polite to all her friends, and knows her manners. The comic strip story "Mr. Slicker and the Egg Robbers" (published September 22 – December 26, 1930) introduced her father Marcus Mouse and her unnamed mother, both farmers. The same story featured photographs of Minnie's uncle Milton Mouse with his family and her grandparents Marvel Mouse and Matilda Mouse. Her best-known relatives, however, remain her uncle Mortimer Mouse (Mortimer was almost the name of Mickey) and her twin nieces, Millie and Melody Mouse, though most often a single niece, Melody, appears. In many appearances, Minnie is presented as the girlfriend of Mickey Mouse, and is best friends with

Daisy Duck Daisy Duck is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. As the girlfriend of Donald Duck, she is an anthropomorphic white duck that has large eyelashes and ruffled tail feathers around her lowest region to suggest a skirt. She is ...

, and a friend to Clarabelle Cow. In honor of her 90th anniversary, on January 22, 2018 she joined the ranks of other animated celebrities by receiving her own star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

. She was the sixth Disney character to receive this honor. Mickey Mouse,

Donald Duck Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor shirt and cap with a bow tie. Donald is known fo ...

Winnie the Pooh Winnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear and Pooh, is a fictional Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. The first collection of stories about the character w ...

Tinker Bell Tinker Bell is a fictional character from J. M. Barrie's 1904 play ''Peter Pan'' and its 1911 novelisation ''Peter and Wendy''. She has appeared in a variety of film and television adaptations of the Peter Pan stories, in particular the 1953 an ...

, and

Snow White "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as Ta ...

have already received this distinction.

History

Origins of the character

Minnie was initially created to be the love interest of

; concept art for Mickey showed a female mouse alongside him. Minnie was designed in the fashion of a

flapper Flappers were a subculture of young Western women in the 1920s who wore short skirts (knee height was considered short during that period), bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptab ...

girl. Her main outfit consisted of a short flapper girl dress that often revealed her distinctive patched

knickers Panties (in American English; also called pants, undies, or knickers in British English) are a form of women's underwear. Panties can be form-fitting or loose. Typical components include an elastic Waistline (clothing), waistband, a crotch pan ...

. In the 1929 cartoon ''

The Karnival Kid ''The Karnival Kid'' is a 1929 Mickey Mouse short animated film released by Celebrity Productions, as part of the '' Mickey Mouse'' film series. It was directed by Walt Disney and animated by Ub Iwerks, with music by Carl W. Stalling. It was ...

'', it was also revealed that she wears black stockings which were also fashionable among flapper girls. Her

shoes A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. They are often worn with a sock. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration and fashion. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture t ...

are probably her most distinctive article of clothing. For comedic effect, she wears oversized high heeled

pumps A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they ...

that are too big for her feet. Her heels often slip out of her shoes, and she even loses her shoes completely in ''

The Gallopin' Gaucho ''The Gallopin' Gaucho'' is the second short film featuring Mickey Mouse to be produced, following ''Plane Crazy'' and preceding ''Steamboat Willie''. The Disney studios completed the silent version in August 1928, but did not release it in order ...

''. When she walked or danced, the clip clop of her large pumps was usually heard clearly and often went with the rhythm of the music that was played in the background. Along with Mickey, she was redesigned in 1940. Her hat was replaced with a large bow, and bows were added to her shoes as well. Her eyes were also given more detail. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, her look and personality became more

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

. Minnie almost always wears red or pink, but in her early appearances, she could be seen wearing a combination of blue, black or green (when not depicted in black and white). Minnie's early personality is cute, playful, musical and flirtatious. She often portrays an entertainer like a dancer or a musician whose affection Mickey is trying to win. Part of the comedy of these early shorts is the varying degree of success Mickey has in wooing Minnie. Unlike later cartoons after the redesign, Minnie often becomes a

damsel in distress The damsel in distress is a recurring narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has either been kidnapped or placed in general peril. Kinship, love, or lust (or a combination of those) gives the male protagonist the motiv ...

whom Mickey tries to rescue. She is also subject to a lot of

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...

and

rubber hose animation Rubber hose animation was the first animation style that became standardized in the American animation field. The defining feature is the curving motion most things possess, resembling that of a rubber hose. While the style fell out of fashion ...

gags. Over the course of the 1930s, Minnie's and Mickey's relationship solidified and they eventually became a steady couple. Minnie was first seen in a test screening of the cartoon short ''

Plane Crazy ''Plane Crazy'' is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The cartoon, released by the Walt Disney Studios, was the first Mickey Mouse film produced, and was originally a silent film. It was given a test sc ...

''. Minnie is invited to join Mickey in the first flight of his aircraft. She accepts the invitation but not his request for a kiss in mid-flight. Mickey eventually forces Minnie into a kiss but this only results in her parachuting out of the plane. This first film depicted Minnie as somewhat resistant to the demanding affection of her potential boyfriend and capable of escaping his grasp. Their debut, however, featured the couple already familiar to each other. The next film featuring them was ''

''. The film was the second of their series to be produced, but the third to be released, and was released on December 30, 1928. We find Minnie employed at the ''Cantina Argentina'', a bar and restaurant established in the

Pampas The Pampas (from the qu, pampa, meaning "plain") are fertile South American low grasslands that cover more than and include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Córdoba; all of Uruguay; and Brazil ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. She performs the

Tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...

for Mickey the

gaucho A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...

and Black Pete the outlaw. Both flirt with her but the latter intends to abduct her while the former obliges in saving the

Damsel in Distress The damsel in distress is a recurring narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has either been kidnapped or placed in general peril. Kinship, love, or lust (or a combination of those) gives the male protagonist the motiv ...

from the

villain A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...

. All three characters acted as strangers first being introduced to each other. But it was their third cartoon that established the definitive early look and personality of both Mickey and Minnie, as well as Pete. ''

Steamboat Willie ''Steamboat Willie'' is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. It was produced in black and white by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios and was released by Pat Powers, under the name of Celeb ...

'', was the third short of the series to be produced but released first on November 18, 1928. Pete was featured as the

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the

steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...

, Mickey as a crew of one and Minnie as their single passenger. The two

mice first star in a

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

and spend most of its duration playing music to the tune of "

Turkey in the Straw "Turkey in the Straw" is an American folk song that first gained popularity in the 19th century. Early versions of the song were titled "Zip Coon", which were first published around 1834 and performed in minstrel shows, with different people c ...

Minnie's Yoo-Hoo

Her next appearance was arguably more significant. ''Mickey's Follies'' (June 26, 1929), featured the first performance of the song " Minnie's Yoo-Hoo". "The guy they call little

" for the first time addresses an audience to explain that he has "got a sweetie" who is "neither fat nor skinny" and proudly proclaims that "she's my little Minnie Mouse". Mickey then proceeds to explain his reaction to Minnie's call. The song firmly establishes Mickey and Minnie as a couple and expresses the importance Minnie holds for her male partner.

Damsel in distress

Her final appearance for the year was in ''

Wild Waves ''Wild Waves'' is a Mickey Mouse short animated film first released on December 21, 1929, as part of the ''Mickey Mouse'' film series. It was the fifteenth Mickey Mouse short to be produced, the twelfth of that year. Plot Mickey Mouse is a lif ...

'', carried by a wave into the sea. She panics and seems to start drowning. Mickey uses a row boat to rescue her and return her to the shore but Minnie is still visibly shaken from the experience. Mickey starts singing the tune of "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep", a maritime ballad, in an apparent effort to cheer her up. Minnie cheers up and the short ends. This is the second time Minnie is placed in danger and then saved by her new boyfriend. It wouldn't be the last. In fact, this was the case with her next appearance in '' The Cactus Kid'' (May 10, 1930). As the title implies the short was intended as a

Western movie The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

parody, but it is considered to be more or less a remake of ''The Gallopin' Gaucho'' set in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

instead of

. Minnie was again cast as the local tavern dancer who is abducted by Peg-Leg Pedro ( Black Pete in his first appearance with a peg-leg). Mickey again comes to the rescue. The short is considered significant for being the last short featuring Mickey and Minnie to be animated by

Ub Iwerks Ubbe Ert Iwwerks (March 24, 1901 – July 7, 1971), known as Ub Iwerks ( ), was an American animator, cartoonist, character designer, inventor, and special effects technician. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Iwerks grew up with a contentiou ...

. ''

The Shindig ''The Shindig'' is a Mickey Mouse short animated film first released on July 11, 1930, as part of the '' Mickey Mouse'' film series. It was the twentieth Mickey Mouse short to be produced, the fifth of that year. The cartoon's cast includes Mic ...

'' (July 11, 1930) featured Minnie joining Mickey, Horace, and Clarabelle in a barn dance. Among them, Clarabelle seems to be the actual star of the short. Director

Burt Gillett Burton F. Gillett (October 15, 1891 – December 28, 1971) was a Film director, director of animation, animated films. He is noted for his Silly Symphonies work for Walt Disney Pictures, Disney, particularly the 1932 short film ''Flowers and Tree ...

turned in another enjoyable entry in the series, proving that production could go on without Iwerks. This was arguably the first time Minnie was upstaged by a female co-star. In '' The Fire Fighters'' (June 20, 1930), Minnie is trapped in a hotel during a fire. She spends the duration of the short in mortal peril but is rescued by firefighters under Chief Mickey Mouse. Horace Horsecollar is among the firefighters. An unnamed cow in the background is possibly Clarabelle making a cameo. The music of the short was, appropriately, the tune of "

There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight "A Hot Time in the Old Town", also titled as "There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight", is an American popular song, copyrighted and perhaps composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz with lyrics by Joe Hayden. Metz was the band leader of th ...

". The next entry in the series is considered curious: ''

The Gorilla Mystery ''The Gorilla Mystery'' is a 1930 Mickey Mouse animated film produced by Walt Disney for Columbia Pictures, as part of the '' Mickey Mouse'' film series. It was the twenty-second Mickey Mouse short to be produced, the seventh of that year. The ...

'' (October 1, 1930). The short starts with Beppo the Gorilla escaping from a zoo. Mickey learns of it and panics. He phones Minnie to warn her about the dangerous gorilla wandering about. Minnie is unconcerned and plays tunes on her piano for Mickey to hear over the phone and know she is not afraid. Her tunes are interrupted by her scream and Mickey rushes to her house to save her. Meanwhile, Beppo has wrapped up Minnie in rope and holds her hostage. Mickey confronts the gorilla and once again rescues the damsel in distress.

Introduction of a pet

Vintage Minnie Mouse Character Watch With Plastic Statue by U

Characters in costume including Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck marching in North End Christmas Parade (23669329491)

In '' The Picnic'' (1930), Minnie introduces her boyfriend to her new pet dog, Rover. This is actually

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of trans-Neptunian object, bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the S ...

making his first appearance as an individual character. Two unnamed bloodhound guard dogs strikingly similar to him had previously appeared in '' The Chain Gang'' (August 18, 1930) which featured Mickey incarcerated in prison without Minnie at his side. Otherwise the short features a typical picnic excursion harassed by forest animals and brought to a premature end by a sudden rain. The final appearance of Minnie during the year was '' Pioneer Days'' (November 20, 1930). The short featured Minnie and her mate as pioneer settlers heading to the

American Old West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

driving a

covered wagon The covered wagon or prairie wagon, historically also referred to as an ambulance or prairie schooner, was a vehicle usually made out of wood and canvas that was used for transportation, prominently in 19th-century America. With roots in the he ...

in a

wagon train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...

. They are unsurprisingly attacked by Native Americans on their way, this was a stock plot of

s at the time. While their fellows are either subjected to

scalping Scalping is the act of cutting or tearing a part of the human scalp, with hair attached, from the head, and generally occurred in warfare with the scalp being a trophy. Scalp-taking is considered part of the broader cultural practice of the tak ...

or running for their lives, Minnie is captured by the attackers. Mickey attempts to rescue her only to be captured himself. In a reversal of their usual roles, Minnie escapes her captors and rescues her mate. They then dress as soldiers of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. Their mere appearance proves sufficient to have the entire tribe running for the hills. The Mouse couple stands triumphant at the end. The short has been criticized for its unflattering depiction of Native Americans as rather bestial predators. The finale has been edited out in recent viewings for depicting the "braves" submitting to cowardice. In several shorts, comics and TV shows, Minnie owns a black and white kitten named Figaro, who had originated in the Disney animated feature ''

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

''.

Waning years

During the second half of the 1930s, Minnie did not appear as often in Mickey cartoons. This was mainly due to the growth in popularity of Mickey's new sidekicks,

Goofy Goofy is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. He is a tall, Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic dog who typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled f ...

, and

, whose appearances in Mickey cartoons had more or less replaced Minnie's role. Minnie's appearances in Mickey cartoons thus became less numerous, but she did have a few major roles in some Pluto and Figaro cartoons during the 1940s. Minnie made a sort of comeback in the 1980s when she was re-introduced in ''

Mickey's Christmas Carol ''Mickey's Christmas Carol'' is a 1983 American animated family comedy-drama featurette directed and produced by Burny Mattinson. The cartoon is an adaptation of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol'', and stars Scrooge McDuck as ...

'' and then got her own starring role in ''

Totally Minnie ''Totally Minnie'' is a 1988 musical television special on NBC hosted by Suzanne Somers and starring Minnie Mouse. It was the first film to feature Minnie Mouse in the lead role, and, until the premiere of ''Mickey Mouse Works'' in 1999, this was ...

''.

Contemporary appearances

*She starred in a 1988 musical television special on NBC called ''

,'' it was the first film to feature Minnie in a lead role. She also appeared in a line of merchandise called Minnie 'n Me in the 1990s. On September 18, 1990, the CD ''Minnie 'n Me: Songs Just For Girls'' was released. *Minnie's return to animation came in ''

'' (October 20, 1983). She was cast as Mrs. Cratchit. As with most Disney characters, she was given a small cameo in ''

Who Framed Roger Rabbit ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' is a 1988 American live-action/animated comedy mystery film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Frank Marshall and Robert Watts, and loosely adapted by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman from Gary K. Wolf's 1 ...

'' (1988) but doesn't have any lines in the latter movie, despite her voice actress being listed in the end credits. *Minnie Mouse makes an appearance in every episode of ''

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ''Mickey Mouse Clubhouse'' is an American interactive computer-animated children's television series which aired from May 5, 2006, to November 6, 2016 on the Disney Channel. Produced by Disney Television Animation, it is the first computer-a ...

''. *Minnie runs a neighborhood in '' Disney's Toontown Online'' called Minnie's Melodyland. This is a powerful area with access to Toontown Central, The Brrrgh, and Donald's Dreamland. *Minnie is available to sign autographs and take pictures throughout the day in various locations at the different Disney Resort Theme Parks around the world. She also appears in all of the daily parades that take place at the Disney resorts. *In the 2013 ''

'' television series, Minnie was restored to her classic 1930s look with the flowered bowler hat and

flapper girl Flappers were a subculture of young Western women in the 1920s who wore short skirts (knee height was considered short during that period), bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptab ...

outfit. Minnie also gained more character quirks, and like the older cartoons, was subject to more slapstick and rubber hose cartoon gags. *On June 22, 2017, it was announced that Minnie, alongside

"Weird Al" Yankovic Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, actor and author. He is best known for creating comedy songs that make light of pop culture and often parody specifi ...

Zoe Saldana Zoe (also ZOE, Zoë, Zoé, etc.) can refer to: *ζωή (''zōḗ''), the Ancient Greek word for "life" People * Zoe (name), including list of persons and fictional characters with the name Film and television * ''Zoe'' (film) * ZOE Broadcast ...

, and

Lin-Manuel Miranda Lin-Manuel Miranda (; born January 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, actor, playwright and filmmaker. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals ''Hamilton'' (2015) and ''In the Heights'' (2005), and the soundtracks for the Disney animate ...

, would be receiving her own star on the

in 2018. *In December 2019, both Minnie and Mickey served as special co-hosts of ''

Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Art * ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...

'' for two weeks during Disney's Secret Santa Giveaway while Vanna White served as the main host during

Pat Sajak Pat Sajak ( , born Patrick Leonard ; born October 26, 1946) is an American television personality and game show host. He is best known as the host of the American television game show ''Wheel of Fortune'', a position he has held since 1981. Fo ...

's absence.

Television

In ''

Mickey Mouse Works ''Mickey Mouse Works'' (also known as ''Disney's Mickey Mouse Works'' or simply ''Mouse Works'') is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends in a series of animate ...

'', she finally appeared in her own segments. Occasionally, she starred in ''Maestro Minnie'' shorts, in which she conducts an orchestra of living instruments that she usually has to tame. In ''

House of Mouse ''Disney's House of Mouse'' (or simply ''House of Mouse'') is an American Animation, animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation that originally aired for three seasons on ABC and Toon Disney from January 13, 2001, to ...

'', Minnie is in charge of running the nightclub, while Mickey primarily serves as the host. In one episode of House of Mouse, "Clarabelle's Big Secret", Minnie reveals that she has gone to the movies with Mortimer Mouse, although it is not a date. She appears in two children's shows on

Disney Junior Disney Junior is an American pay television network owned by the Walt Disney Television (part of Disney General Entertainment Content) unit of The Walt Disney Company through Disney Branded Television. Aimed mainly at children two to seven yea ...

: the full-length educational ''

'' and the spin-off series of shorts ''

Minnie's Bow-Toons ''Minnie's Bow-Toons'' is an American animated children's television series from Disney Television Animation. The series aired from November 14, 2011 to January 22, 2016, on Disney Junior, as a short-form series targeted at younger women as we ...

'', where she runs a " bow-tique" selling bows like the ones she and Daisy wear. In season 2 of ''Bow-Toons'', she displays high physical strength and balance at least twice, able to balance her entire bodyweight in a 1-finger

handstand __NOTOC__ A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand, the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder- ...

. In the 2013 ''

'' television series and its 2020 spinoff ''

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse ''The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse'' is an American animated streaming television series produced by Disney Television Animation for Disney+. The series is a continuation and revival of the Emmy Award-winning 2013 ''Mickey Mouse'' shorts, uses ...

'', she exhibits the ability to survive her head coming off and doing a 360 degree flip and re-attaching itself, which can happen when she feels surprised. In 2017, as part of the launch of ''

Mickey and the Roadster Racers ''Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures'' is an American CGI-animated preschool television series that was broadcast on Disney Junior. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series is the successor to ''Mickey Mouse Clubhouse''. Originally ...

'', Minnie's Happy Helpers adventures appear in the second half of every new episode.

Minnie as a queen and princess

Minnie has had several appearances as a princess throughout the ages, including the ''

'' short films '' Ye Olden Days'' (1933) and ''

Brave Little Tailor ''Brave Little Tailor'' is a 1938 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is an adaptation of the fairy tale ''The Valiant Little Tailor'' with Mickey Mouse in the title role. It wa ...

'' (1938).

''Kingdom Hearts'' series

Minnie appears in the ''

Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games developed and published by Square Enix (originally by Square (video game company), Square). It is a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company and is under the leadership of Tetsuya ...

'' game series as the queen of Disney Castle, with Mickey serving as the king and her husband. She, at the suggestion of a letter left by the missing King, sends

and

on their mission to find Mickey and the Keyblade Master, Sora. During ''

Kingdom Hearts II is a 2005 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios, Buena Vista Games for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The game is a sequel to ''Kingdom Hearts (video game), King ...

'', when Pete's tampering of the past causes the Heartless to appear in Disney Castle, Minnie is forced to fall back to the library until Sora and company arrive. While Donald and Goofy head out to get the other residents to safety, Sora serves as the Queen's bodyguard to get her to the Cornerstone of Light. During this time, Minnie shows powers as a sorceress of white magic, casting a holy light on the Heartless that attack. In the prequel ''

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. The game was relea ...

'', she oversees the annually held Dream Festival in Disney Town, where Pete causes mischief until she banishes him to another dimension as punishment. She appears in '' Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' in a role mirroring that in the film '' Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers'', where she is referred to as Princess Minnie and rules a world called the Country of the Musketeers. By this, it is inferred that she, not Mickey, is the rightful ruler of Disney Castle, which is why he leaves her in charge. She makes a brief appearance in ''

Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth installment in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and serves as a conclusion of the ...

'', welcoming Mickey, Donald and Goofy back to Disney Castle.

''Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers''

In the 2004

direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

film '' Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers'', Minnie plays the role of the princess of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, who continually daydreams about her true love, Mickey. She is also the only monarch getting in the way of the plans of Pete, who cannot take over the kingdom if he cannot get rid of her. For this particular film, Minnie is drawn with hair bangs, which do not appear in any later cartoons.

''Wizards of Mickey''

In the fantasy comic series ''

Wizards of Mickey ''Wizards of Mickey'' is an Italian fantasy comic saga that began in October 2006. It was created by The Walt Disney Company Italy. The first series, ''Wizards of Mickey'', was published in ten parts in ''Topolino'' #2654-2663 (Oct-Dec 2006). T ...

'', Minnie is the sorceress princess of the kingdom of Dolmen whose people have been turned to stone, leading her to seek a magical Crystal to restore them. In her quest, she partners with her friends Daisy and Clarabelle as team Diamond Moon and eventually meets up with Mickey, the Supreme Sorcerer of Dolmen, and his group.

Voice

Minnie was first voiced by

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

, who was also the original voice of Mickey Mouse. Marjorie Ralston, a Disney inker who joined the animation team as Disney's thirteenth employee, voiced her in the 1929 short ''Wild Waves'', but did not further pursue the role out of shyness. Then, from 1930 until 1939, Minnie was voiced by

Marcellite Garner Edna Marcellite Garner ( ; July 3, 1910 – July 26, 1993) was an American artist and voice actress. She is most remembered as the first regular voice of Minnie Mouse during her time working at Walt Disney Productions and has been partially c ...

. Then from 1941 to 1942, and on the radio program, ''

The Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air ''The Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air'' was a 1938 musical-variety radio series for children, sponsored by Pepsodent and heard on NBC on Sunday afternoons, featuring Mickey Mouse and other characters from Walt Disney cartoons. There were a total o ...

'', she was voiced by

Thelma Boardman Thelma Boardman (born Thelma Joyce Hubbard, October 31, 1909 – April 21, 1978) was an American voice actress and writer best known for her work with the Walt Disney Studios, particularly as the voice actress for Minnie Mouse from 1937–1938 ...

. Shirley Reed voiced Minnie in ''Two-Gun Mickey'' expect the end. Following this, from 1944 to 1952,

Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford (February 17, 1900 – November 30, 1998) was an American actress of leading roles in silent films, whose career lasted from that era into the television era. Early years Clifford was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the daughter ...

provided the character's voice.

Janet Waldo Janet Waldo (born Jeanette Marie Waldo; February 4, 1919 – June 12, 2016) was an American radio and voice actress. In animation, she voiced Judy Jetson in various Hanna-Barbera media, Nancy in ''Shazzan'', Penelope Pitstop, Princess from '' B ...

voiced Minnie in the 1974 Disneyland record album, ''An Adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol, Performed by The Walt Disney Players''. Minnie would go without any spoken dialogue until 1986, when Russi Taylor inherited the role, which she performed until her death in 2019 (her husband,

Wayne Allwine Wayne Anthony Allwine (February 7, 1947 – May 18, 2009) was an American voice actor, sound effects editor and foley artist for The Walt Disney Company. He is best remembered as the 3rd official voice of Mickey Mouse. He is the longest-tenured ...

, voiced Mickey from 1977 until his death in 2009); Taylor's voice is used in various TV series and theme parks via archival and posthumous dialogue.

Kaitlyn Robrock Kaitlyn Robrock ( , born December 30, 1983) is an American voice actress best known as the current voice of Minnie Mouse for Disney, Felicia Sundew in ''Amphibia'', Tommy on the television series '' Mr. Pickles'' and ''Momma Named Me Sheriff'' ...

officially took over as the new voice of Minnie, beginning with the ''

Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures ''Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures'' is an American CGI-animated preschool television series that was broadcast on Disney Junior. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series is the successor to ''Mickey Mouse Clubhouse''. Originally air ...

'' episode “Mickey’s Roommate/Minnie’s Bow-tel!”. Robrock continues voicing Minnie in ''

'' on

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...

and onward.

Appearances in cartoon shorts

*''

'' (1928) *''

The Barn Dance ''The Barn Dance'' is a Mickey Mouse short animated film first released on March 15, 1929, as part of the ''Mickey Mouse'' film series; it was the first of twelve shorts released during that year. It was directed by Walt Disney with Ub Iwerks as ...

'' (1929) *'' When the Cat's Away'' (1929) *'' The Plowboy'' (1929) *''

'' (1929) *''

Mickey's Follies ''Mickey's Follies'' is a Mickey Mouse short animated film first released on August 28, 1929, as part of the ''Mickey Mouse (film series), Mickey Mouse'' film series. It was directed by Ub Iwerks and Wilfred Jackson, with music by Carl Stalling. ...

'' (1929) *''

Mickey's Choo-Choo ''Mickey's Choo-Choo'' is a 1929 Mickey Mouse short animated film released by Celebrity Pictures, as part of the '' Mickey Mouse'' film series. Ub Iwerks was the animator. It was the eleventh Mickey Mouse short to be produced, the eighth of th ...

'' (1929) *''

'' (1929) *'' The Cactus Kid'' (1930) *'' The Fire Fighters'' (1930) *''

'' (1930) *''

'' (1930) *'' The Picnic'' (1930) *'' Pioneer Days'' (1930) *'' The Birthday Party'' (1931) *'' Traffic Troubles'' (1931) *'' The Delivery Boy'' (1931) *'' Mickey Steps Out'' (1931) *'' Blue Rhythm'' (1931) *'' The Barnyard Broadcast'' (1931) *'' The Beach Party'' (1931) *'' Mickey Cuts Up'' (1931) *''

Mickey's Orphans ''Mickey's Orphans'' is a 1931 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Columbia Pictures. The cartoon takes place during Christmas time and stars Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto, who take in a group ...

'' (1931) *''

The Grocery Boy ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie and ended in 1953 with '' The Simpl ...

'' (1932) *''

Barnyard Olympics ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie and ended in 1953 with '' The Simpl ...

'' (1932) *''

Mickey's Revue ''Mickey's Revue'' is a 1932 Walt Disney cartoon, directed by Wilfred Jackson, which features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow performing a song and dance show. The film was delivered to Columbia Pictures on M ...

'' (1932) *''

Musical Farmer ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Ste ...

'' (1932) *'' Mickey in Arabia'' (1932) *''

Mickey's Nightmare ''Mickey's Nightmare'' is a 1932 Walt Disney short black and white cartoon starring Mickey Mouse and Pluto. It was the 44th Mickey Mouse short, and the eighth of that year. The plot incorporates elements from Disney's first Oswald the Lucky Rabb ...

'' (1932) *''

The Whoopee Party ''The Whoopee Party'' is a Mickey Mouse short animated film first released on September 17, 1932. It was the 46th Mickey Mouse short, and the tenth of that year. Plot Mickey Mouse and friends have a party in which Minnie Mouse is playing the p ...

'' (1932) *'' Touchdown Mickey'' (1932) *'' The Wayward Canary'' (1932) *'' The Klondike Kid'' (1932) *''

Building a Building ''Building a Building'' is a 1933 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Production and released by United Artists. A remake of the 1928 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film ''Sky Scrappers'', the cartoon depicts Mickey Mouse working at a ...

'' (1933) *'' Mickey's Pal Pluto'' (1933) *'' Mickey's Mellerdrammer'' (1933) *'' Ye Olden Days'' (1933) *''

The Mail Pilot This is a list of animated short films produced by Walt Disney and Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1921 to the present. This includes films produced at the Laugh-O-Gram Studio which Disney founded in 1921 as well as the animation studio now ...

'' (1933) *''

Mickey's Mechanical Man ''Mickey's Mechanical Man'' is a 1933 animated short cartoon created by Walt Disney. It was the 57th Mickey Mouse short film, and the seventh of that year. Plot Mickey finds out about a new boxing match involving "Kongo the Killer". So what Micke ...

'' (1933) *''

Mickey's Gala Premier ''Mickey's Gala Premier'' is a Walt Disney cartoon produced in 1933, directed by Burt Gillett, and featuring parodies of several famous Hollywood film actors from the 1930s. It was the 58th Mickey Mouse short film, and the eighth of that year. So ...

'' (1933) *''

Puppy Love Puppy love, also known as a crush, is an informal term for feelings of romantic love, often felt during childhood and early adolescence. It is an infatuation usually developed by someone's looks and attractiveness at first sight. Such feelings f ...

'' (1933) *'' The Steeplechase'' (1933) *''

The Pet Store ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie and ended in 1953 with '' The Simp ...

'' (1933) *''

Shanghaied Shanghaied may refer to: *Shanghaiing, or forced conscription * ''Shanghaied'' (1915 film), a film starring Charlie Chaplin * ''Shanghaied'' (1927 film), a 1927 American silent film * ''Shanghaied'' (1934 film), an animated short film starring Mi ...

'' (1934) *'' Camping Out'' (1934) *'' Mickey's Steamroller'' (1934) *''

Two-Gun Mickey ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie and ended in 1953 with '' The Simpl ...

'' (1934) *'' On Ice'' (1935) *''

Mickey's Rival ''Mickey's Rival'' is a 1936 Mickey Mouse short film. It was directed by Wilfred Jackson and produced by Walt Disney. It introduces the character of Mortimer Mouse. It was the 84th Mickey Mouse short film to be released, the fifth of that year. ...

'' (1936) *'' Hawaiian Holiday'' (1937) *'' Boat Builders'' (1938) *''

'' (1938) *'' The Fox Hunt'' (1938, cameo) *''

Mickey's Surprise Party ''Mickey's Surprise Party'' is a 1939 American animated short film directed by Hamilton Luske, produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Nabisco. It was the 105th short in the ''Mickey Mouse'' film series to be released, and the sec ...

'' (1939, in a commercial short) *''

The Little Whirlwind ''The Little Whirlwind'' is a 1941 animated short subject, part of the ''Mickey Mouse'' series, produced by Walt Disney for Walt Disney Productions. The short was released by RKO Radio Pictures on February 14, 1941. The film was directed by Riley ...

'' (1941) *''

The Nifty Nineties ''The Nifty Nineties'' is an animated short film produced in Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released to theaters on June 20, 1941 by RKO Radio Pictures. The animated short was directed by Riley Thomson and animated by Ward Kimball, Wa ...

'' (1941) *''

The Art of Skiing ''The Art of Skiing'' is a Goofy cartoon made by Walt Disney Productions in 1941. It has historical significance as the first cartoon to use the now-famous Goofy holler, as well as the short that led to the "How to..." series, beginning with '' ...

'' (1941, in a Goofy short) *''

Mickey's Birthday Party ''Mickey's Birthday Party'' is a 1942 American animated short film directed by Riley Thomson, produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The 114th short to feature Mickey Mouse, it was released on February 7, 1942. ...

'' (1942) *''Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line'' (1942, in a Pluto short) *''First Aiders'' (1944, in a Pluto short) *''Bath Day'' (1946, in a Figaro short) *''Figaro and Frankie'' (1947, in a Figaro short) *'' Mickey's Delayed Date'' (1947) *''Pluto's Sweater'' (1949, in a Pluto short) *''Pluto and the Gopher'' (1950, in a Pluto short) *''

Crazy Over Daisy Crazy Over Daisy is a Donald Duck animated short film which was originally released on March 18, 1950. Produced by Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and RKO Radio Pictures, the short featured Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Chip n' Dale. ...

'' (1950, cameo in a Donald Duck short) *'' Pluto's Christmas Tree'' (1952) *''

'' (1983, non-speaking appearance) *''

Runaway Brain ''Runaway Brain'' is a 1995 American animated comedy- horror short film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, the short centers on Mickey attempting to earn money to pay for an anniversary gift for Mi ...

'' (1995) *''

Get a Horse! ''Get a Horse!'' is a 2013 American animated comedy short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Lauren MacMullan. Combining black-and-white hand-drawn animation and color computer animation, the short features the charac ...

'' (2013)

Television appearances

*''

Walt Disney anthology television series The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 to the present. The p ...

'' (1954–2008) **''

'' (1988) **''

Mickey's 60th Birthday ''Mickey's 60th Birthday'' is a 1988 American live-action/animated television special broadcast on ''The Magical World of Disney'' on November 13, 1988 on NBC. As the title suggests, it was produced for the 60th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse ...

'' (1988) *''

The Mickey Mouse Club ''The Mickey Mouse Club'' is an American variety television show that aired intermittently from 1955 to 1996 and returned to social media in 2017. Created by Walt Disney and produced by Walt Disney Productions, the program was first televised fo ...

'' (1955–1959; 1977–1979; 1989–1994) *''

'' (1999–2000) *''

'' (2001–2003) *''

'' (2006–2016) **''

'' (2011–present) *''

'' (2013–2019) *''

'' (2017–2021) *'' Mickey's 90th Spectacular'' (2018) *''

'' (2020–present) *''

Mickey Mouse Funhouse ''Mickey Mouse Funhouse'' is an American CGI-animated children's television series created by Phil Weinstein and Thomas Hart and is the successor to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures. The series debuted with a special on ...

'' (2021–present) * '' Mickey's Tale of Two Witches'' (2021) * ''

Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas ''Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas'' is a musical Christmas television special that premiered on December 2, 2021 on Disney Junior at 7:00 pm. It is the second spinoff special of '' Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures'', though it isn't offi ...

'' (2021)

References

External links

*
Minnie Mouse
on

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

{{Authority control Mickey Mouse Disney animated characters Disney comics characters Disney core universe characters Female characters in animation Female characters in comics Fictional characters from Calisota Fictional dancers Anthropomorphic mice and rats Fictional singers Film characters introduced in 1928 Comics characters introduced in 1930 Flappers Animated characters introduced in 1928