Minnie Mouse is the lifelong sweetheart of Mickey Mouse, debuting alongside him in Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928. She is known for her sweet and stylish disposition and iconic polka-dotted dress and bow. Minnie is an editor for Minnie’s Cartoon Country Living magazine and enjoys singing, dancing, baking, quilting, painting, and gardening.[1][2]
She has become one of the most recognizable characters in the world since her revitalization in the 1980s and has been lauded as a fashion icon, appearing at New York Fashion Week and the Fashion Awards in Los Angeles. In 2018, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate her 96th anniversary.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Live Appearances[]
Minnie Mouse has taken to the streets of New York City several times as a costumed character prior to her balloon debut. She appeared throughout the 70s and early 80s in the Wonderful World of Disney unit on the Disney Wagon (1971, 1974, 1976) and Disney Castle (1977-1980) floats.
She would return periodically on floats that celebrated the anniversaries and openings of Disney Parks including the Tencennial Celebration (1981), Disneyland Celebration (1984-1985), Mickey’s LiMOUSEine (1989), and the Ship of Dreams (2005). Since 2021, Minnie has appeared as Captain Minnie Mouse on the Disney Cruise Line floats.
Minnie Mouse Balloon (2024-present)[]
Minnie Mouse made her debut as a giant balloon in the 2024 Parade as she approached her 96th anniversary. The balloon was a “Macy’s Studios dream for quite some time”[3] and was reported on heavily in the media at the time of its announcement, including an exclusive report from USA Today.[3][4]
The balloon features Minnie, at 60 feet long, striking a pose and dazzling New York City in her signature dress and high-heels. It was designed by Disney’s director of character art Jeff Shelly, whose parade balloon artwork was included on a number of items sold in Mickey and Minnie Shops at 200 Macy’s locations nationwide. The balloon and mini-shops are part of a holiday collaboration between Disney and Macy’s that celebrated the Minnie Mouse balloon's debut and the brand’s history together; the shop in Macy’s Herald Square features an AR experience that allows guests to see themselves as official Balloon Handlers.[5]
References[]
- ↑ Foster, Tom. "Top Ten Things You May Not Know About Minnie Mouse." Celebrations. January 8, 2018.
- ↑ Mickey Mouse & Friends | Official Disney Site. Mickey.Disney.Go.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wellington Radel, Felicia. "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup will include Minnie Mouse — finally." USA Today. October 17, 2024.
- ↑ Notable news outlets that covered the balloon's debut included PIX11, NBC, and Fox Business.
- ↑ Macy's, Inc. "Macy's and Disney Celebrate Magic and Legacy with a New Holiday Collaboration and the Balloon Debut of Minnie Mouse at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade." MacysInc.com. October 17, 2024.