Plane Crazy

About the production

This was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever produced, created in secrecy while Disney still had his Oswald the Lucky Rabbit contract with Universal. The animation was primarily done by Ub Iwerks, who reportedly animated over 700 drawings per day to complete the film. Originally produced as a silent cartoon, it was later re-released on March 17, 1929, with synchronized sound after the success of 'Steamboat Willie'. The cartoon was completed in May 1928 but failed to find a distributor initially, leading Disney to shelve it until after Mickey's official debut.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Released around 1928, Plane Crazy emerged while exhibitors were still defining how longer narratives could hold nickelodeon audiences.

Why this film matters

Reference works on 1928 cinema cite Plane Crazy when tracing genre habits, studio economics, or regional production patterns of the period.

Making of

The creation of 'Plane Crazy' was born from desperation after Walt Disney lost the rights to his successful Oswald the Lucky Rabbit character to Universal Studios. Disney, along with his key animator Ub Iwerks, worked in secret to create a new character - Mickey Mouse - in their small garage studio. Iwerks was the primary animator on the project, using a new animation technique that allowed for smoother, more fluid movement than previous cartoons. The production was incredibly rushed, with Iwerks sometimes working 18-hour days to complete the animation. The initial test screening at the Fox Dome Theater in Hollywood received a lukewarm response, and distributors weren't interested in a silent cartoon in an era when sound was taking over. Disney shelved the film and instead focused on creating 'Steamboat Willie' with synchronized sound, which became Mickey's official debut. After Mickey's explosive success, Disney returned to 'Plane Crazy' and added a soundtrack, re-releasing it to capitalize on the character's popularity.

What critics said

Audience surveys from 1928 are scarce; reception for Plane Crazy must be inferred from reissue patterns and how often programmers still book it.

Did you know?

• This was actually the FIRST Mickey Mouse cartoon produced, but the THIRD released, due to initial distributor rejection
• The cartoon was inspired by Charles Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic flight in 1927, which captivated the nation
• Ub Iwerks animated the entire short in just TWO weeks, working at an incredible pace
• Mickey Mouse's appearance in this film differs from his later look - he has longer ears, no gloves, and more rat-like features
• The cow character that appears would later evolve into Clarabelle Cow in the Disney universe
• Originally screened without sound at a theater on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood to test audience reaction
• The plane Mickey builds has 'Minnie' painted on the side, showing his romantic intentions from the start
• This was one of the last cartoons to feature Mickey without his iconic white gloves
• The cartoon's failure to find a distributor initially nearly bankrupted Walt Disney
• When re-released with sound, Disney added synchronized music, sound effects, and even made Mickey speak a few words

Visual style

As an animated short, 'Plane Crazy' utilized the standard animation techniques of the late 1920s but with notable innovations in fluidity and character expression. The cartoon employed traditional cel animation on paper, with Ub Iwerks pioneering a more streamlined approach to character movement that allowed for smoother transitions between poses. The camera work was relatively static, typical of the era, but featured dynamic compositions that emphasized the aerial sequences. The use of perspective shots during the flying scenes was particularly impressive for its time, creating a sense of height and movement. The black and white animation made strong use of contrast and silhouettes, especially in the crash sequence. When sound was added in 1929, the visual timing was adjusted to match the musical beats and sound effects, creating a more cohesive audiovisual experience that set new standards for animated synchronization.

Innovations

'Plane Crazy' pioneered several technical innovations that would influence animation for decades. Ub Iwerks developed a faster animation technique that allowed for more frames per second than typical cartoons of the era, resulting in smoother character movement. The cartoon featured some of the first examples of complex aerial perspective in animation, with innovative techniques to show height and distance. The sound synchronization added in 1929 was particularly groundbreaking, featuring perfectly timed musical cues and sound effects that enhanced rather than distracted from the visual comedy. The character animation demonstrated more sophisticated emotional expression than earlier cartoons, with Mickey showing a wider range of feelings from excitement to frustration to romance. The cartoon also experimented with more complex gags that required precise timing between visual elements, a technique that would become a hallmark of Disney animation. The production process itself was innovative, with Disney and Iwerks developing more efficient workflows that allowed for higher quality animation on a tight budget.

Music

The original 1928 version was completely silent, relying on live musical accompaniment in theaters. When re-released with sound on March 17, 1929, Disney added a synchronized soundtrack featuring musical arrangements by Carl Stalling, who would become Disney's first musical director. The soundtrack included popular songs of the era adapted for the cartoon's mood, along with original musical cues that matched the on-screen action. Sound effects were carefully synchronized to enhance the comedy - the sputtering engine, the whoosh of wind, the crash sounds, and even Mickey's few spoken words. The music used a jazz-influenced style typical of late 1920s animation, with bouncy, energetic melodies that complemented the cartoon's playful tone. The sound version also included Mickey's first spoken words, though his dialogue was minimal, primarily consisting of excited exclamations during the flying sequence.

Famous quotes

Mickey: 'Hot dog!' (during the flying sequence)

Mickey: 'Whoa!' (as the plane goes out of control)

Minnie: 'Oh, Mickey!' (expressing both fear and admiration)

Mickey: 'I'll take you for a ride, Minnie!' (his romantic proposition)

Theater cards: 'Mickey Mouse in Plane Crazy'

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence where Mickey enthusiastically builds his airplane, using various objects including a bathtub and a car engine
• The takeoff scene where Mickey struggles to get the plane airborne, eventually succeeding with Minnie aboard
• The infamous scene where Mickey's pants fly off during the chaotic flight, forcing him to use a cow's tail as a substitute
• The romantic moment where Mickey attempts to kiss Minnie while flying, leading to near-disaster
• The spectacular crash sequence where the plane spirals down and lands in a tree, with both characters emerging comically unharmed
• The final scene where Mickey finally wins Minnie's affection with his persistence, ending with a triumphant kiss

What audiences thought

Initial audience reaction to the silent version of 'Plane Crazy' was lukewarm at best, contributing to Disney's difficulty in finding a distributor. The test screening at the Fox Dome Theater reportedly drew only polite applause, with audiences more interested in the new sound films being shown. However, after Mickey Mouse became a sensation following 'Steamboat Willie', audiences enthusiastically received the sound-enhanced version of 'Plane Crazy' in 1929. Theater reports from the era indicate that the cartoon drew laughter and applause, particularly for the scene where Mickey loses his pants. Children especially responded to Mickey's charm and the cartoon's physical comedy. The short became a popular feature in theater programs alongside other Mickey Mouse adventures, helping to cement Mickey's status as a beloved character. Contemporary audiences viewing the cartoon today often express surprise at Mickey's more mischievous and slightly edgier personality compared to his later, more sanitized image.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight
• The aviation craze of the late 1920s
• Silent film comedy traditions
• Felix the Cat cartoons
• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
• Harold Lloyd comedy films
• Buster Keaton's physical comedy

This film influenced

• Steamboat Willie
• The Gallopin' Gaucho
• All subsequent Mickey Mouse cartoons
• Silly Symphonies series
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• All Disney animated features

Film restoration

The film has been preserved and restored by The Walt Disney Company and is part of their permanent archive. Both the original silent version and the sound re-release have been digitally restored and are available in high quality. The cartoon was included in the Walt Disney Treasures DVD collection 'Mickey Mouse in Black and White' (2001) and has been periodically released on various Disney compilation releases. The preservation status is excellent, with no known lost footage or deterioration issues.

Where to watch

• Disney+ streaming service
• Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White DVD collection
• Various Disney compilation DVD releases
• Disney's official YouTube channel (occasionally featured)
• The Internet Archive (public domain status varies by region)
• Classic animation streaming services specializing in early cartoons