OSWALD RETURNS TO DISNEY!

Actually, this news is almost a year old. But I wanted to share with you the tale of the licensing issues for Disney's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

After Walt Disney's Alice Comedies had become stale, he and Ub Iwerks created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for Universal's animation producer, Charles Lantz. Disney and Iwerks quit after Lantz suggested a 20% budget cut despite the series high ratings. Disney made 26 Oswald cartoons in 1927 and 1928 and then lost the rights to his character. Lantz continued on to make over 150 more cartoons and Disney and Iwerks went on to create their biggest success, Mickey Mouse.

In February of 2006, the rights to the 26 Disney Oswald cartoons were bought back by Disney from ABC Sportcaster Al Michaels who wanted to break his ABC contract to join John Madden on NBC.

It has now been revealed that all 26 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons will be released in a 2-disc DVD package as part of the Walt Disney Legacy Collection Wave Two! More info here.

But while we wait for the DVDs, here is the fist Oswald cartoon from 1927, called Trolley Troubles.