Hidden Mickey
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A Hidden Mickey is a subtle formation of a three circles that may be perceived as the silhouette of the head and ears of Mickey Mouse. Hidden Mickeys refer to a range of possibilities from a more complete representation of Mickey Mouse (such as Mickey mixed in with a crowd or in the background), or a representation of another character (such as the huge hidden Jafar at the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Africa in the Animal Kingdom), and is found in various Disney media, such as animated films, TV series, or the Disney theme parks.[1] Mickeys may be painted, made up of objects (such as rocks, or three plates on a table), or be references such as someone wearing Mickey Mouse Club ears in a painting.
Hidden Mickeys are slipped into animation cels in many Disney animated classics, hidden in architecture and attractions in Disney parks and resorts, and studio buildings and many other Disney related features.
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[edit] History
Hidden Mickeys started out as inside jokes among the Walt Disney Imagineers. The first published sighting of a Hidden Mickey was made by Arlen Miller, who wrote an article on Hidden Mickeys for WDW's Eyes and Ears (a Cast Member weekly publication) in 1989. The article listed Hidden Mickeys found in the Disney theme parks. Months later the author was contacted by Disney News for more information, and the resulting article made the news of Hidden Mickeys spread worldwide.[2]
[edit] A "real" Hidden Mickey
A true Hidden Mickey is one that is not meant to be seen immediately, and is usually placed purposefully by a Disney Imagineer or artist in a context that would not normally contain Mickey Mouse. When the shape of Mickey Mouse is used as an obvious part of the design, such as Mickey ears on the top of lampposts, it is considered decorative. Additionally, formations of the iconic head and ears have been spotted in nature or even on animals, but they are also not Hidden Mickeys. The general rule is: "Not associated with Disney, not a Hidden Mickey."[2]
[edit] Locations
Although approximately 600 Hidden Mickeys have been recorded,[1] the Walt Disney Company has never compiled a complete list of all the "known" or "deliberate" Mickeys (whether created by an Imagineer or a Disney Cast Member), so there is no way to confirm or disprove every single Mickey sighting.[2] However, various websites and books list locations of Hidden Mickeys, and usually allow Disney fans to add, dispute, and/or prove the existence of such sightings.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Sponagle, Michele (November 25, 2006). "Exposing hidden world of Mickey Mouse". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/FloridaTravel/article/122444. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
