When Mickey’s Rival was released on this day in 1936, audiences learned that the rival for Minnie’s affections is a mouse named Mortimer. Interestingly, the slender, smooth-talking prankster mouse exhibits many more mouse characteristics than Mickey, including a pointier noise, mouse whiskers, and long teeth. Mortimer also has pupils in his eyes, a feature that Mickey and Minnie would not “see” in themselves for another few years. Despite Mortimer’s best efforts, Mickey squeaked as the object of Minnie’s affections. Decades later, Mortimer was found in more modern Disney works, including the current preschool Playhouse Disney television series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
