MANY HOPPY RETURNS: Disney Brings Back Oswald The Lucky Rabbit After Nearly 100 Years

Walt Disney's original character Oswald The Lucky Rabbit who was long forgotten after he was replaced by Mickey Mouse has made a comeback for the first time in nearly 100 years.

The character, disappeared from the screen 95 years ago when he was eclipsed by Mickey.

Now he has been brought back to life in his first cartoon in decades, says Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The film titled "Oswald The Lucky Rabbit", was released to commemorate the company's 100th anniversary on Thursday, 1st December 2022.

It was reportedly penned by American animator, voice actor and film director Eric Goldberg known for his work in "Pocahontas" and "Fantasia 2000", and was produced by two-time Emmy Award winner Dorothy McKim.

McKim said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "It has been a great pleasure to produce the first new Oswald short film from our studio since 1928, just before Disney's 100th anniversary.

"Our hand-drawn animation team - including our legendary artists Mark Henn, Randy Haycock and Eric Goldberg, as well as our wonderful team of 2D trainees - had a blast animating Oswald in the style of the time."

Goldberg added: "Oswald is such a plucky scamp. We wanted to bring Oswald back, and in the short, he literally returns to his original home, the movie screen.

"We wanted to have Oswald do all of the 'squash-and-stretch', 'rubber hose'-animation style, celebrating that first generation of Walt Disney's artists."

Oswald was reportedly introduced by Walt Disney for Universal Pictures in the short "Trolley Troubles" in 1927, after which he starred in several animated short films released to theatres from his beginnings until 1938.

A total of 27 animated Oswald shorts were produced at the Walt Disney Studio, before he was finally replaced by Mickey Mouse, who turned into one of the most beloved cartoon characters on Earth.

But in the new one-minute-long short, Oswald can be seen going to an old-fashioned cinema in an animation style that resembles the 1920s feel.

But when he enters the cinema and sits in the back, he sees his love Ortensia the cat up on the screen, after which he fights his way into it.

By the end of the film, he finally manages to share a kiss with his beloved Ortensia.

Disney revealed that they are also releasing an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Snapchat lens globally that allows users to channel the lucky rabbit using AR technology, along with the new film.