Mickey Mouse: The Story of a Mouse on Disney + The Disney Documentary

Disney + has released the first trailer and the key art of MICKEY mouse: the story of a mouse, produced by Disney Original Documentary. The announcement came straight from Anaheim's D23 Expo, which officially kicked off The Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary celebrations.

This documentary will debut worldwide on Disney + on November 18, Mickey's birthday. MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSE is directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Malmberg (Marwencol) and produced by Academy Award® winner Morgan Neville (Mister Rogers: An Extraordinary Neighbor) alongside Meghan Walsh and Chris Shellen. The filmmakers on the documentary include executive producer Caitrin Rogers, editors Jake Hostetter and Aaron Wickenden, cinematographer Antonio Cisneros, sound designer Lawrence Everson and composer Daniel Wohl. The feature had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival and was also screened at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the Newport Summer Film Series and several other festivals.

One of the most beloved characters in the world, Mickey Mouse is considered a symbol of childhood joy and innocence virtually all over the world. Conceived at a difficult time in Walt Disney's promising career, Mickey Mouse was an instant hit after appearing in Steamboat Willie, the first animated short with synchronized sound in history. Over the course of the following decades, the character evolved into radically different versions of himself, reflecting the extraordinary career of his creator and the radical social changes in the nation that this character has come to represent. Director Jeff Malmberg and Academy Award-winning producer Morgan Neville (who previously collaborated on Mister Rogers: An Extraordinary Neighbor) examine the cultural significance of this animation character that has been around for nearly 100 years. The documentary also contains an exclusive animated short, Mickey in a Minute, created by the legendary traditional animation team of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

"Ninety-four years ago, Walt Disney created a mouse that would become one of the most beloved characters in the world," said Marjon Javadi, vice president of Disney Original Documentary. “We are thrilled that viewers can see Mickey Mouse as they have never seen him before. Our award-winning team of filmmakers explores Mickey's journey over the years, reminding us why he made such an impact on us. ”

MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSE features legendary Disney animators Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn and Randy Haycock, as well as animator and Disney Legend Floyd Norman. Also featured in the documentary are art historian Carmenita Higginbotham, Walt Disney Archives director Rebecca Cline and archivist Kevin Kern. With interviews and exclusive archival footage, the feature examines the persistent artistic and cultural importance, as well as controversy, that characterize this animated character that has been around for nearly 100 years. The documentary features a brand new short film Mickey in a Minute, made in traditional animation by Walt Disney Animation Studios and chronicles the animation process undertaken by Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn and Randy Haycock to make the short film.

“Mickey Mouse is a symbol that we see every day of our lives,” says director Jeff Malmberg. “We all know Mickey Mouse, but the character has different meanings for each person. We were convinced that Mickey Mouse needed a documentary that was cheerful but also honest. I am delighted that Disney has allowed us to examine so thoroughly the evolutions and meanings of the most famous mouse in the world ”.

Jeff Malmberg is a documentary maker: his debut feature, Marwencol, has won more than two dozen awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW. It was recently selected for The Criterion Channel and was included in the Cinema Eye Decade Films as one of the best 20 documentaries of the last 10 years. Malmberg received the Guggenheim Fellowship for his second feature, Entertainment, which was nominated for a Critics' Choice for Best Documentary. Malmberg edited Morgan Neville's documentary Mister Rogers: An Extraordinary Neighbor, which was distributed by Focus Features. Most recently, he was nominated for a GRAMMY® for co-directing and editing Shangri-La, a four-episode Showtime series dedicated to Rick Rubin and the creative process.

Jeff Malmberg is the director of MICKEY MOUSE: THE STORY OF A MOUSE, produced by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville via his production company, Tremolo Productions. The documentary is also produced by Chris Shellen and Meghan Walsh. Caitrin Rogers is the executive producer. Marjon Javadi is vice president of Originals for Documentaries and Docuseries for Disney Branded Television / Disney Original Documentary.

Disney Original Documentary previously announced its upcoming Goodbye Yellowbrick Road projects: The Final Elton John Performances and The Years That Made His Legend, Madu, If These Walls Could Sing, an as-yet untitled Jim Henson film, and the documentary short selected for the Academy Award® shortlist Sophie and the Baron.