Mickey Mouse first appeared in the 1928 film Steamboat Willie, where he was seen piloting a steamboat and whistling a cheery tune. The movie would immediately gain widespread acclaim and influence the direction of animation.

Almost a century later, Mickey, one of the most well-known cartoon characters ever, serves as the mascot of the Walt Disney Company. There’s no denying that Mickey has made his mark, thanks to his instantly recognizable appearance (red shorts, white gloves, absurdly large yellow shoes, and a falsetto voice), extremely successful animated outings, and much more.

Then, Disney decided to answer the age-old question: “How did Mickey Mouse come to be?” So they got to work and developed Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, a Disney+ documentary, released on Nov. 18, 2022 (Mickey’s 94th birthday), that explores the beginnings of the most well-known character in animation.

With introductions out of the way, let me just say that this documentary is incredible. As it recounts Mickey’s journey from piloting steamboats to leading a band to becoming the powerful sorcerer Yen Sid’s apprentice, it retains the charm and grace that Disney has had since the beginning. Simply put, it all proves that the creators of Mickey: The Story of a Mouse went above and beyond to convince viewers that, like it or not, Mickey is an icon that will endure for years to come.

That’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Near the end of the documentary, viewers have the opportunity to see an original Mickey Mouse short, called Mickey in a Minute. In it, while Mickey tours the halls of the Disney Animation building, he gets sucked into the poster for The Little Whirlwind, taking a trip back in time through his past performances–Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The Mickey Mouse Club, Fantasia, Brave Little Tailor, The Band Concert, Mickey’s Gala Premier, and the one that started it all, Steamboat Willie.

What more needs to be said? The short was perfect. There were many references to Mickey’s past, the traditional animation that Disney is famous for is excellent, and overall, it was an absolutely delightful experience.

So, in conclusion, Mickey: The Story of a Mouse is top-notch. The amount of love, care, and dedication that Disney put into the documentary is incredible, especially in light of the fact that they did it all so that people would understand how much of a global symbol of joy Mickey is and how, regardless of your age, you’ll never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.

10/10