Mickey and Oswald's Epic Tales at Westfield Stratford

From November 23rd to November 25th 2012, the fascinating history of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will be on display to the UK public as part of Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales; an exciting exhibition showcasing a unique array of pieces from the collections of The Walt Disney Archives, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library and Walt Disney Imagineering.

Taking place at The Getty Images Gallery, Westfield Stratford, London, this exhibition celebrates the launch of Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, the highly anticipated sequel to the first Disney Epic Mickey video game, by looking back at the history of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and the characters and stories that inspired the game.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two sees Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit joining forces as true partners in an epic adventure to save Wasteland; an alternate world filled with 80 years of forgotten characters and theme park attractions.

From early animation drawings through to exclusive artwork from Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, the Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales exhibition brings together the wealth of history which inspired Wasteland. Artefacts will include the drawing and note given to Universal’s Carl Laemmle from Walt Disney, dated October 1, 1935, representing a rare instance prior to Disney Epic Mickey where Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit appeared together and Herb Ryman’s magnificent first pencil concept sketch of the original Disneyland park in California.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was one of Walt Disney’s earliest characters and became one of the most popular silent cartoon stars in the 1920s, appearing in 26 cartoons. However due to a contract dispute, Walt Disney sadly lost the rights to the character in 1928. This led him to create another character, Mickey Mouse, who went on to become a worldwide star.

In addition to the stunning art exhibits, there will also be the opportunity to play Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two in a bespoke gaming suite.

Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales will be a truly special exhibition, showing off the rich history of Mickey Mouse and how this continues to inspire each new generation of Disney fans and animators.