Oswald

A cartoon featuring the first Disney character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, is to be screened next month for the first time in 87 years. A restored print of “Sleigh Bells” (1928) will have its world premiere at the BFI in London.

The BFI says the re-discovery of the “long-lost” six-minute film in its archive is a “joyful treat”. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was invented by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal in 1927 before they went on to create Mickey Mouse.

The only surviving print of Sleigh Bells was preserved in the BFI National Archive and was “re-discovered” by a researcher browsing its online catalogue.