Long-Lost Walt Disney Cartoon Found in Britain: Meet Mickey Mouse's Predecessor, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Sleigh Bells was originally released in 1928

Mickey Mouse might be the most famous cartoon character Walt Disney created, but he wasn't the first.

That honor belongs to his predecessor, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit! Long-lost footage of the boisterous bunny was recently rediscovered thanks to The BFI National Archive and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and while we'd seen glimpses of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit before, we now get to watch him in action in Walt Disney animated film, Sleigh Bells.

Per the BFI, Oswald was invented by Walt in 1927 and "was loved for his mischievous and rebellious personality." Sleigh Bells, the approximately 6-minute clip starring Oswald, was released in 1928. The animation in the film was done by the Disney mastermind and UB Iwerks, the same dream team who went on to create and animated Mickey Mouse.

"What a joyful treat to discover a long-lost Walt Disney film in the BFI National Archive and to be able to show Sleigh Bells to  a whole new audience 87 years after it was made," said Robin Baker, Head Curator, BFI National Archive. "The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney's work in the silent period–it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career."

Andrew Millstein, President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, which oversaw the restoration, agreed, adding, "The Oswald shorts are an important part of our Studios' history, and we have been working with film archives and private collectors all around the world to research the missing titles."

READ: 37 unanswered questions from Disney movies

You can watch Sleigh Bells starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit at BFI.org.uk.

On another note, we rank the top 9 former Disney stars of all time in the video below.