Best Cartoon - DIXIE DAYS - (1930) Van Beuren Studios

[@christopheracosta2043]

They look like Walt Disney animated this, or Ub Iwerks.

[@fromthesidelines]

That's because Mickey had become THE most popular screen cartoon character at the time- and some studios, like Van Beuren's, tried to duplicate Walt's success with similar looking charcaters. They couldn't be an outright copy, because Walt, his brother Roy, and his attorney were ready to file lawsuits aganst ANY studio that infringed on his trademarked {and copyrighted} characters.

[@aziolsen1750]

@@fromthesidelines and apparently the mouse in early Van Beuren shorts is Milton Mouse ( no not Mickey Mouse, Milton Mouse )

[@roachmorphine8018]

@@fromthesidelines You realize that style originated with Felix the cat in 1919, right? Disney copied it.

[@dtnetlurker]

The truth is Milton Mouse was an attempt to copy Felix the Cats success (Milton was before Mickey by about seven years with his debut being 1921). Disney did indeed blatantly copy Milton Mouse from the Aesop's Fables cartoons from fan art that one of the artists had done at his studio during their off time (Milton even had a girl companion Mary Mouse a.k.a. Rita Mouse). That is too much coincidence. Disney copied Milton Mouse and Mary/Rita Mouse after he lost the rights to Oswald the rabbit. Disney's Mouse was changed from Milton to add additional features like shorts and later shoes and shot to fame so quick and so fast with the better sound and animation and distribution deal that Van Beuren had little chance to defend his Mouse in an expensive court battle. It was only after Van Beuren changed Milton to add clothes that Disney sued. The Van Beuren studio barely broke even for every year they were in business and they actually lost money in their last few years. If they had actually had the money to go to court earlier when Disney copied his model, it might have been The Van Beuren corporation that had the Mouse Icon and some of the success that came with him. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are indeed a rip off and it is rock solid fact. Van Beuren's Milton Mouse was first.

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally released in March 1930.

[@laurahigby2334]

Wrong! the Answer Is Cartoonist Paul Terry

[@luizfernandocanaloficial9511]

You're the one wrong here. This cartoon was made when Paul Terry was fired from the studio.

[@williamcoppock308]

Well that was a little racist

[@LazyDaysYT]

No kidding