zpostcode
Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft
Aug 16, 2026 11:39 AM

  

Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft1

  Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 11, 2026 •History Walt Disney’s most famous creation debuted as, well, kind of a menace. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on May 15, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, two of the most recognizable figures in animation history and the darlings of Disney, made their first appearance...

  .eb-448-paywall-overlay { position: relative; background: white; border: 2px solid #93c5fd; border-radius: 16px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0px #bfdbfe; width: 100%; overflow: hidden; } .eb-448-paywall-overlay-padding { padding: 40px 48px; } .eb-448-paywall-simple { border: 2px solid #93c5fd; } .eb-448-decorative-left-simple, .eb-448-decorative-right-simple { position: absolute; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); } .eb-448-decorative-left-simple { left: 0px; transform: translateY(-50%) scaleX(-1); } .eb-448-paywall-simple .eb-448-decorative-right-simple { right: 0; } .eb-448-paywall-content { position: relative; z-index: 15; } .eb-448-header-section { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 8px; } .eb-448-features { display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 32px; font-size: 14px; color: #525252; } .eb-448-features-simple { color: #6b6b6b; } .eb-448-feature-free-trial { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; color: black; } .eb-448-feature-secondary { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; } .eb-448-feature { font-weight: 600; } .eb-448-feature.simple { font-weight: 400; } .eb-448-feature.bold { color: balck; font-weight: 700; } .eb-448-feature.blue { color: #14599d; } .eb-448-divider { color: #cbd5e0; font-weight: 300; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text { color: #525252; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text-simple { font-weight: 400; color: #6b6b6b; } .eb-448-decorative-left { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; height: 100%; z-index: -1; } .eb-448-decorative-right { position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; height: 100%; } .eb-448-decorative-image { height: 100%; } .eb-448-decorative-mobile { width: 100%; display: none; img { width: 100%; } } @media (max-width: 672px) { .eb-448-features { gap: 8px; font-size: 12px; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text { font-size: 12px; } .eb-448-decorative-left, .eb-448-decorative-right { display: none; } .eb-448-decorative-mobile { display: flex; } .eb-448-paywall-overlay-padding { padding: 20px 24px; } .eb-448-features-simple { flex-direction: column; } .eb-448-feature-free-trial .eb-448-divider { display: none; } .eb-448-thistle-icon { filter: blur(2px); } }

  

Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft2

  Discover the world with Britannica Subscribe to Continue Reading Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content Unsubscribe Anytime!

  Explore Subscriptions

  

Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft3

  

Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft4

  

Today in History—May 15: Mickey Mouse’s weird first draft5

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
Rama Navami
  Rama Navami Hindu festival Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rama-Navami Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rama-Navami Also known as: Ram Navami, Ram Navmi Written by Charles Preston Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica. Charles Preston Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject...
Mount Sidley
  Mount Sidley volcano, Antarctica Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Sidley Give...
Scramble for Africa
  Scramble for Africa African history Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Scramble-for-Africa Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Scramble-for-Africa Also known as: Partition of Africa Written by Rebecca M. Kulik Rebecca M. Kulik contributes articles on the social sciences and humanities to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Rebecca M. Kulik Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia...
paloma
  paloma alcoholic beverage Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/paloma Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/paloma Also known as: lazy man’s margarita Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors...
Information Recommendation
moidams of the Ahom dynasty
  moidams of the Ahom dynasty Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/moidams-of-the-Ahom-dynasty Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/moidams-of-the-Ahom-dynasty Written by Shabnam Dohutia Shabnam Dohutia is executive editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. Having worked in various editorial positions at Oxford University Press and Pearson, Shabnam has almost two decades’ experience in content... Shabnam Dohutia Fact-checked...
Charlie Sheen
  Charlie Sheen American actor Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charlie-Sheen Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charlie-Sheen Also known as: Carlos Irwin Estévez Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in...
Borscht Belt
  Borscht Belt area, New York, United States Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Borscht-Belt Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Borscht-Belt Also known as: Jewish Catskills, Yiddish Alps Written by Jordana Rosenfeld Jordana Rosenfeld is a copy editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Jordana Rosenfeld Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors...
Meisner technique
  Meisner technique acting Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/art/Meisner-technique Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/art/Meisner-technique Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive...
Jesus Christ Superstar
  Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera by Lloyd Webber and Rice Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-rock-opera-by-Lloyd-Webber-and-Rice Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-rock-opera-by-Lloyd-Webber-and-Rice Written by Thad King Thad King was an editor at Encyclopædia Britannica for 15 years. Thad King Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject...
Whorfian hypothesis
  Whorfian hypothesis linguistics Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Whorfian-hypothesis Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Whorfian-hypothesis Also known as: Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, Whorf hypothesis, linguistic relativity Written by Teagan Wolter Teagan Wolter is Associate Editor of Anthropology at Encyclopædia Britannica. Teagan Wolter Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee...
John F. Hartwig
  John F. Hartwig American chemist Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-F-Hartwig Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-F-Hartwig Written by Erik Gregersen Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on...
Roblox
  Roblox electronic gaming platform Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roblox Give...