(Mickey
Mouse by Lee Scott Hempson)
Gateway Theatre of Shopping hosts Mickey the True Original South African
Exhibition, joining global celebrations #Mickey90Africa
On September 18, 2018, Disney Africa
announced the local launch of the Mickey
the True Original exhibition, joining the global festivities honouring nine
decades of Mickey Mouse, his heritage, personality and status as a pop-culture
icon.
As November 18, 2018, marks 90 years since
his first appearance in Steamboat Willie
in November 1928, a series of world-wide celebrations will be taking place this
year and South Africa is no different.
The exhibition will come to life with
engaging content and events that embrace Mickey’s impact on the past, present
and future. The local festivities kick off in earnest this month, leading up to
Mickey’s 90th anniversary on November 18, 2018, and beyond. Some of these activities include an exclusive
local design project where ten highly talented South African artists applied
their own inspiration and artistic interpretation on 6-foot Mickey Mouse
statues.
Among these artists are KZN artists Lee
Scott Hempson and Welcome Danca.
(Mickey
Mouse by Welcome Danca)
Once revealed to the public, the statues
will form part of the Mickey the True
Original South African Exhibition, inspired by Mickey’s status as a ‘true
original’ and his global impact on popular culture. The exhibition will travel
to three cities and delight fans and families alike as they journey with Mickey
over the years. Featuring four sections highlighting Mickey’s innovation, his
evolution, influence on fashion and also pop culture, the exhibition is in
collaboration with Samsung and Edgars.
The art exhibition is now visiting Gateway
Theatre of Shopping, Expo Explore Court until November 11, 2018.
Samsung continues their collaboration with
Disney as they honour Mickey’s 90thanniversary nationally at all Samsung and
Edgars Stores. Entitled Unlocking the
Imagination, fans are encouraged to visit these stores, take a selfie with
a giant Mickey plush toy using their Samsung Galaxy Note9 and stand a chance to
win not only a giant Mickey plush, but also an international family trip. Visit
www.samsung.com for more information
In retailers, Edgars will be stocking a
complete collection of trendy fashion, accessories and footwear for the whole
family, inspired entirely by Mickey Mouse.
Mickey will be the central theme of an
in-store exhibition nationwide this November and December, with brand new
products, apparel, toys, as well as titles from Disney Publishing Worldwide,
including books, arts & crafts and comics
“Binding generations together more than any
other animated character, Mickey Mouse is the “True Original” who reminds
people of all ages of the benefits of laughter, optimism and hope,” says
Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney
Company Africa. “With his universal appeal and ability to emotionally connect
with generations all over the world, no other character quite occupies a
similar space in the hearts and minds of a global fan base and we are thrilled
to be sharing these local festivities.”
Mickey’s birthday is celebrated in honour
of the release of his first theatrical film, Steamboat Willie, on November 1928, at the Colony Theatre in New
York City. Since then, he has starred in more than 100 cartoons and can
currently be seen on Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303) in the Mickey Mouse cartoon series and on
Disney Junior (DStv, Channel 309) in Mickey
and the Roadster Racers.
Find Mickey
The True Original Exhibition in the Expo Explore Court (outside Sportsmans
Warehouse) running until November during trading hours. Entrance is Free.