Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Mouse cartoon to be filmed was "Plane Crazy" in the summer of 1928, but it was produced as a silent and held back from release. The first Mickey Mouse film with a synchronized soundtrack, "Steamboat Willie", reached the screen that fall and became a major hit, eclipsing Oswald. "Plane Crazy" was later given its own synchronized soundtrack and released on March 17, 1929. Mintz, meanwhile, opened his own studio consisting primarily of former Disney employees, where he continued to produce Oswald cartoons, among them the first Oswald with sound, "Hen Fruit" (1929). While things were going in Mintz's favor, animators
Chris Columbus, Jr. Chris Columbus, Jr. Chris Columbus, Jr. is a short animated film by Walter Lantz Productions, starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It is loosely based on the historic events leading to Christopher Columbus' sailing to the lands that were later named America. It is also among the few cartoons where Oswald plays a character other than himself. Chris Columbus, Jr. (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit) is one of few individuals who believe the world is round. But most people elsewhere insist it is flat, and that they find him delusional. To prove them wrong, Chris plans to sail to India by going