High Up: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Disney-Winkler, 1928)

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "High Up," the final Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon produced by Walt Disney for Universal Studios under Winkler Pictures, released on August 6, 1928—nearly a century ago—offering a poignant glimpse into early animation history. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, at a circus where Peg-Leg Pete, as a barker, showcases Ortensia as a shimmy dancer. When Pete’s jaw locks from excessive talking, Oswald helps by smashing it with a hammer, sending Pete’s dentures flying onto a bench, where a hippo lady sits, triggering a comedic bite on her tail. Nearby, a giraffe eats a “sword sandwich,” and a jock lifts a ton of weight, but Oswald outdoes him, tossing it aside. The cartoon escalates into a circus chase when Pete kidnaps Ortensia, leading Oswald on a high-wire rescue, filled with slapstick gags, including a hippo’s teeth chomping antics, all set against simple, whimsical backgrounds typical of the era. Long considered lost, this short was rediscovered in 2017, marking Disney’s last Oswald effort before losing the character to Charles Mintz and Winkler Pictures, and creating Mickey Mouse. A lively window into 1920s animation’s golden age, this preserved gem—directed by Walt Disney, with animation by Rudy Ising and Rollin Hamilton—grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a circus classic frozen in time.