G’day, mate! It was on this day in 1948 that Mickey Down Under was released, featuring Mickey and Pluto in Australia struggling with an uncooperative boomerang that seems to have a mind of its own. When Mickey grabs a large egg, he quickly learns that it belongs to a protective mother emu which, although never mentioned in the film, is named Esther.
Walt Disney enjoyed showcasing other nationalities in his films, even if animated. In fact, in the mid ’40s, Walt hoped that after the war he might make goodwill pictures based on Europe and Australia and featuring the music and local color as he had done with his South American films.
