Dubbed the original Mickey Mouse, Oswald was the main character of the 1920 cartoon Harem Scarem created by Walt Disney when he worked as an animator for Universal before launching his own Disney Empire. In total, 26 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons were produced for Universal in the 1920s and '30s with Disney and Ub Iwerks, who was Walt Disney's long-time collaborator. Harem Scarem was Universal's first-ever cartoon series. The friendly rabbit's oversized ears, big, friendly eyes and red shorts were clear precursors to the future Mickey Mouse that would become one of the most recognised animated figures in history.

However, Walt lost the right to Oswald when he ended his contract with Universal. On the train back to his California home, Walt was sending telegrams to his brother and came up with the idea of Mickey Mouse. For more than six decades, the Disney Company would flourish, but Walt Disney never lived to see Oswald come back into the fold.

In 2006, Disney CEO Bob Iger would change Disney history by bringing Oswald back though the Al Michaels Trade.