Did Walt Disney create Mickey Mouse in the 1928 short, Steamboat Willie? Mickey Mouse was created by Ubbe Eert “Ub” Iwerks. Although he is considered a cocreator, Walt stated Ub created the famous Disney character. Ub even animated Mickey Mouse’s first official cartoon, Steamboat Willie.

Ub was forgotten because he was simply too shy to promote himself. I say that Steamboat Willie was Mickey Mouse’s official debut because the character first appeared in Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho several months prior. These animated shorts didn’t do well because Mickey came across as a jerk rather than the lovable character we know him as today. Disney heavily revised the character for Steamboat Willie and Mickey’s legacy was born.

So, it turns out that the understanding that Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse is — well, not entirely true…