Mickey Mouse IDs
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Logo descriptions by rsmith09
Photos by David Gerstein
Video captures by biryanifan.
Editions by rsmith09
Background: After Walt Disney lost the rights to his star character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, he created Mickey Mouse as a new series, which became the first cartoon series with sound. The series ran from 1928-1942 and from 1947-1953. They were distributed by Celebrity Productions (1928-30), Columbia Pictures (1930-32), United Artists (1932-37) and RKO Radio Pictures (1937-53). Disney's own Buena Vista Distribution company reissued older cartoons after 1953.
NOTE: The DVD releases of these cartoons contain either recreations of the original titles or reissue titles from the 1930s and 1940s. Only originals are allowed on this page.
1st Logo
(November 18, 1928-1930, 2013)
Photos by David Gerstein
Video captures by biryanifan.
Editions by rsmith09
Background: After Walt Disney lost the rights to his star character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, he created Mickey Mouse as a new series, which became the first cartoon series with sound. The series ran from 1928-1942 and from 1947-1953. They were distributed by Celebrity Productions (1928-30), Columbia Pictures (1930-32), United Artists (1932-37) and RKO Radio Pictures (1937-53). Disney's own Buena Vista Distribution company reissued older cartoons after 1953.
NOTE: The DVD releases of these cartoons contain either recreations of the original titles or reissue titles from the 1930s and 1940s. Only originals are allowed on this page.
1st Logo
(November 18, 1928-1930, 2013)
Opening Title: On a grey background, the words "DISNEY CARTOONS present A" are at the top of the screen. The words "MICKEY MOUSE" are below them in a cartoonish font, and the words "SOUND CARTOON" below them. In the middle is the cartoon's title. Below the title is the phrase "A WALT DISNEY COMIC by UB IWERKS". Below that is the phrase "Recorded by Powers' CINEPHONE System" with "CINEPHONE" in its logo font. The copyright date is at the very bottom. On either side of the words are Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse respectively. Once the card fades out, the title remains on screen for a few more seconds before fading out completely.
4th Logo
(December 17, 1932-1933)
1st screen: We see the head of Mickey Mouse on a sunburst background in the center of the screen. Later cartoons have the head closer up.
5th Logo
(1933-April 13, 1935)
1st screen: Same as the 3rd logo, only there is no animation.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing score of the cartoon.
Availability: Very common. Appears on DVD releases of several mid to late 1930s Mickey cartoons, though a small number have them plastered by reissue titles, like The Band Concert, Mickey's Garden, On Ice, Moving Day, Mickey's Circus and Donald And Pluto. The titles for The Band Concert are kept at the Library of Congress. The earliest cartoon to survive with these titles is Mickey's Fire Brigade. The last cartoon to use these titles is Mickey's Amateurs.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
Opening Title Variants:
- The logo may be colorized on some TV prints.
- On early 1930s reissue prints from Columbia Pictures, the card was redrawn with "DISNEY CARTOONS present A" replaced by "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION presents".
- On current prints of The Karnival Kid, because the copyright notice is out of view, a new copyright ischyroned in bewteeen "A WALT DISNEY COMIC" and the Cinephone notice.
- On Get a Horse!, the words "by Ub Iwerks" are removed and the copyright is dated MMXIII.
Closing Title: On a grey background, a circle with the words "THE END" is placed in the middle of the screen. The words "MICKEY MOUSE" are above the logo and "A WALT DISNEY COMIC" is on the bottom. Mickey and Minnie are leaning against the logo.
Closing Title Variant: The words "SOUND CARTOON" are below "MICKEY MOUSE" on Steamboat Willie.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The designs of Mickey and Minnie don't exactly look like the designs we know and love. In the redrawn version, they're greatly off model and look more like possums.
Music/Sounds: Either the cartoon's opening/closing score or silence.
Availability: Uncommon. Appears on the Mickey Mouse in Black And White DVD sets. Also appears on the new short Get a Horse!.
Scare Factor: Minimum. The designs of Mickey and Minnie look weird, but otherwise, it's cute. Low to medium for the redrawn version.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The designs of Mickey and Minnie don't exactly look like the designs we know and love. In the redrawn version, they're greatly off model and look more like possums.
Music/Sounds: Either the cartoon's opening/closing score or silence.
Availability: Uncommon. Appears on the Mickey Mouse in Black And White DVD sets. Also appears on the new short Get a Horse!.
Scare Factor: Minimum. The designs of Mickey and Minnie look weird, but otherwise, it's cute. Low to medium for the redrawn version.
2nd Logo
(1930-July 18, 1932)
Opening Title: On a light grey background, the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP. presents WALT DISNEY'S MICKEY MOUSE in" are on top (the words are outlined in black; "MICKEY MOUSE" is in the same font as in the last logo). The cartoon's title in written on a chalkboard in the middle of the screen. Sound and copyright information is below on either side of the screen. Mickey and Minnie Mouse are on both sides of the screen holding up the chalkboard, with Mickey holding a piece of chalk in his right hand (indicating he wrote the title). Like the last logo, the title remains onscreen for a few seconds while the rest of the card faded out.
(1930-July 18, 1932)
Opening Title: On a light grey background, the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP. presents WALT DISNEY'S MICKEY MOUSE in" are on top (the words are outlined in black; "MICKEY MOUSE" is in the same font as in the last logo). The cartoon's title in written on a chalkboard in the middle of the screen. Sound and copyright information is below on either side of the screen. Mickey and Minnie Mouse are on both sides of the screen holding up the chalkboard, with Mickey holding a piece of chalk in his right hand (indicating he wrote the title). Like the last logo, the title remains onscreen for a few seconds while the rest of the card faded out.
Opening Title Variant: The first cartoons with these titles have the background darker, the top words don't have a black outline and the cartoon's title is written less professionally (for humorous effect). Also, the cartoon's title fades out with the rest of the card.
Closing Title: On a grey background, a circle with the words "THE END" is placed in the middle of the screen. The words "WALT DISNEY'S MICKEY MOUSE" are above the logo and "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP." is on the bottom with the small words "LICENSED UNDER BRAY-HURD PATENTS" just below that. Mickey and Minnie are on either side of the logo with their names captioned below them.
Closing Title Variant: The first cartoons with this logo contain a slightly modified version of the closing title from the previous logo.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: "WALT DISNEY'S" is slightly off-center on the closing title. The early closing title features the older designs rather than the refined designs featured in the actual cartoons.
Music/Sounds: An arrangement of Mickey's theme song "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo". Some cartoons on the Mickey Mouse in Black And White: Volume 1 DVD set plaster the original music with the title music from Mickey's Nightmare. RKO reissue prints keep the original music.
Availability: Extremely rare. The logo is plastered on reissue prints on television and by false recreations on DVD releases. The original titles for Pioneer Days are seen on international prints of Mickey Mouse In Black And White: Volume 1. The original titles for The Castaway were seen on The Disney Channel in the 1980s, with all Columbia references cropped. The last cartoon to use these titles was Mickey In Arabia.
Scare Factor: None.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: "WALT DISNEY'S" is slightly off-center on the closing title. The early closing title features the older designs rather than the refined designs featured in the actual cartoons.
Music/Sounds: An arrangement of Mickey's theme song "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo". Some cartoons on the Mickey Mouse in Black And White: Volume 1 DVD set plaster the original music with the title music from Mickey's Nightmare. RKO reissue prints keep the original music.
Availability: Extremely rare. The logo is plastered on reissue prints on television and by false recreations on DVD releases. The original titles for Pioneer Days are seen on international prints of Mickey Mouse In Black And White: Volume 1. The original titles for The Castaway were seen on The Disney Channel in the 1980s, with all Columbia references cropped. The last cartoon to use these titles was Mickey In Arabia.
Scare Factor: None.
3rd Logo
(August 13-November 12, 1932)
1st screen: On a dark screen, we see the head of Mickey Mouse zooming up from the center of the screen. The screen gets brighter until the head zooms up to a comfortable distance with a sunburst twirling behind it. After a few seconds, a bright flash and smoke clouds appear to illustrate an explosion. It then cuts right to the second screen.
(August 13-November 12, 1932)
1st screen: On a dark screen, we see the head of Mickey Mouse zooming up from the center of the screen. The screen gets brighter until the head zooms up to a comfortable distance with a sunburst twirling behind it. After a few seconds, a bright flash and smoke clouds appear to illustrate an explosion. It then cuts right to the second screen.
2nd screen: On a theater stage with a curtain covered with stars are Mickey and Minnie Mouse holding up a chalkboard with the cartoons title on it. Above the title is "JOSEPH M. SCHENCK presents WALT DISNEY'S MICKEY MOUSE" and below it is "A UNITED ARTISTS PICTURE". Below it all is the MPPDA symbol and the sound/copyright information. The cartoon's title also remains on screen for a few seconds after the rest of the card fades out.
Closing Title: On the same stage background, Mickey and Minnie hold up a black circle reading "THE END". Above it is "WALT DISNEY'S MICKEY MOUSE" and below it is "A UNITED ARTISTS PICTURE".
Closing Title Variant: On the first cartoons with this logo, the phrase "LICENSED UNDER BRAY-HURD PATENTS" appears below.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The zooming of the Mickey head looks unprofessional and you can see the shines of light blend in with the head.This makes the thing look fake.
Music/Sounds: On the first screen is a slide-whistle sound as the head zooms up followed by a long chord and a "crash" sound with the explosion. The second screen features an arrangement of "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is a cheap recreation. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact.
Scare Factor: Medium to high with the first screen. Mickey's head zooming up from a dark background and then "exploding" could frighten some viewers. Low for those used to it.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The zooming of the Mickey head looks unprofessional and you can see the shines of light blend in with the head.This makes the thing look fake.
Music/Sounds: On the first screen is a slide-whistle sound as the head zooms up followed by a long chord and a "crash" sound with the explosion. The second screen features an arrangement of "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is a cheap recreation. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact.
Scare Factor: Medium to high with the first screen. Mickey's head zooming up from a dark background and then "exploding" could frighten some viewers. Low for those used to it.
4th Logo
(December 17, 1932-1933)
1st screen: We see the head of Mickey Mouse on a sunburst background in the center of the screen. Later cartoons have the head closer up.
2nd screen: Same as the 3rd logo, except the cartoon's title usually zooms up to the center of the screen after the card fades out.
Variant: On 1970s reissues of black-and-white Mickey cartoons, the sunburst background was modified and has a smooth gradient texture. The second screen is modified to be open matte, with Mickey and Minnie smaller.
Closing Title: Same as the 3rd logo.
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The head looks kind of weird.
Music/Sounds: A majestic horn fanfare, followed by "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is a cheap recreation. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact. The larger headshot appears before Columbia cartoons on DVD releases, even though they didn't have a head shot to begin with.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
Music/Sounds: A majestic horn fanfare, followed by "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is a cheap recreation. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact. The larger headshot appears before Columbia cartoons on DVD releases, even though they didn't have a head shot to begin with.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
5th Logo
(1933-April 13, 1935)
1st screen: Same as the 3rd logo, only there is no animation.
2nd screen: Mickey and Minnie's designs have been slightly updated, there are no stars on the curtain, the text is in a slightly different font and the card now crossfades to a black background with the title closer up.
Closing Title: An updated version of the 3rd logo, except the phrase "Recorded by RCA Victor 'HIGH FIDELITY' Sound System" is seen. A copyright notice may appear below.
Variants:
- The first cartoons with this logo have the second and closing titles from the 3rd logo.
- A version without United Artists references were used on mid to late 1930s reissue prints (probably before RKO became Disney's distributor).
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The crossfade to the larger title looks cheap.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing score of the cartoon.
Availability: Extinct. These aren't seen on DVD prints or other current prints. The last cartoon to use this logo was Mickey's Kangaroo, the last Mickey Mouse cartoon in black and white.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing score of the cartoon.
Availability: Extinct. These aren't seen on DVD prints or other current prints. The last cartoon to use this logo was Mickey's Kangaroo, the last Mickey Mouse cartoon in black and white.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
6th Logo
(February 23, 1935-April 17, 1937)
1st screen: A new Mickey head is placed in front of a yellow sunburst.
2nd screen: On a grey background is the phrase "A WALT DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE in TECHNICOLOR". Below it is "UNITED ARTISTS PICTURE", followed by the MPPDA symbol and copyright information. The screen then crossfades into the cartoon's title.
Closing Title: In a yellow circle outline is the phrase "A WALT DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE" followed by a line with "THE END" below it. On the very bottom is "Recorded by R.C.A. Victor 'HIGH FIDELITY' Sound System" followed by "in TECHNICOLOR".
Variant: On The Band Concert, the phrase is "JOSEPH M. SCHENCK presents a WALT DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE in TECHNICOLOR".
FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The sunburst background looks unrealistic.
Availability: Very common. Appears on DVD releases of several mid to late 1930s Mickey cartoons, though a small number have them plastered by reissue titles, like The Band Concert, Mickey's Garden, On Ice, Moving Day, Mickey's Circus and Donald And Pluto. The titles for The Band Concert are kept at the Library of Congress. The earliest cartoon to survive with these titles is Mickey's Fire Brigade. The last cartoon to use these titles is Mickey's Amateurs.
Scare Factor: Minimum.