Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a long-lost Walt Disney cartoon and Mickey Mouse's predecessor, has been found in the national archive of the British Film Institute (BFI), according to Entertainment Weekly.
A researcher stumbled upon the 1928 cartoon film "Sleigh Bells" featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit while going through the BFI's online catalog. The film, which has since been restored by Walt Disney Animation Studios, will premiere for the first time in 87 years in London on Dec. 11.
"What a joyful treat to discover a long-lost Walt Disney film in the BFI National Archive and to be able to show Sleigh Bells to a whole new audience 87 years after it was made," Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive, said in a press release. "The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney's work in the silent period - it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career. We thank Walt Disney for working with us and are thrilled to present the world premiere of this restored version here in London at BFI Southbank."
"We're thrilled to be collaborating with the BFI National Archives in the restoration of the 'lost' Oswald short, " added Andrew Millstein, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. "The Oswald shorts are an important part of our Studios' history, and we have been working with film archives and private collectors all around the world to research the missing titles."
Oswald was invented by Walt in 1927 and "was loved for his mischievous and rebellious personality." "Sleigh Bells" was created by Disney and animator Ub Iwerks for Universal, the same team that went on to create Mickey Mouse following a contractual disagreement with the studio, according to The Huffington Post.
Watch a clip of the film featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit below:
