Bob Iger isn’t the only Disney legend coming out of retirement. One of the most iconic Disney characters of all time has returned in their first role in almost 95 years!

Oswald greets his fans!

We all know and love Mickey Mouse, but before Walt Disney created Mickey, he had Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Now, Walt Disney Animation Studios has released a new animated short starring Oswald himself — the first Oswald short since 1928.

It’s been over 94 years since Disney created a cartoon starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but to celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, the animation studio decided to do just that. Disney said that this new short was “created by Disney Animation’s hand-drawn animation team to help celebrate the start of Disney 100 Years of Wonder” event.

©Disney

The new short is called “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” and was directed by animator Eric Goldberg and produced by Dorothy McKim. McKim said, “On the eve of Disney’s 100th anniversary, it was such a joy to create the first new Oswald short from our studio since 1928. Our hand-drawn animation team – including our hand-drawn legends Mark Henn, Randy Haycock, and Eric Goldberg, as well our wonderful team of 2D apprentices, had a ball animating in the style of Oswald’s era.”

©Disney

You can watch the animated short here!

Director Goldberg said, “Oswald is such a plucky scamp. We wanted to bring Oswald back, and in the short, he literally returns to his original home, the movie screen.” He went on, “We wanted to have Oswald do all of the ‘squash-and-stretch,’ ‘rubber hose’-animation style, celebrating that first generation of Walt Disney’s artists.”

Oswald plush in Disney World

According to Disney, Oswald was Walt Disney’s first “breakout animated star.” He was created in 1927 and starred in 26 short films that were created by Walt Disney and his animation team. In 1928, Disney lost creative control over Oswald. Decades later, in 2006,  Disney CEO Bob Iger made “an unprecedented deal with NBC/Universal, that included permitting sportscaster Al Michaels to contract with NBC in exchange for the return of Oswald to his original home.”

Clarabelle and Oswald!

Disney’s 100th anniversary will kick off in Disneyland on January 27th, 2023. The event will bring new nighttime shows, decorations, and merchandise to the park. On the kickoff date, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open in Disneyland as well!

©Disney

We’ll keep watching for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news!

Click here to learn more about Disney’s 100th anniversary event.

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What’s your favorite Oswald short film? Let us know in the comments.