1001 toons you must watch

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Nov 1919

Feline Follies (Pat Sullivan Studios)

Release date: 09 Nov 1919 | Running time: 00:04:15

Black and white

Long before Mickey or Bugs, one clever black cat paved the way for animated stardom. This cartoon is considered to be the birth of Felix the Cat.

May 1928

Plane Crazy (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 15 May 1928 | Running time: 00:05:56

Black and white Short film

The first cartoon ever animated with Mickey Mouse.

Nov 1928

Steamboat Willie (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 18 Nov 1928 | Running time: 00:07:47

Black and white Short film

This one is a "must see". It's the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be released to the public, and its success marked the star's first official appearance.

Dec 1928

The Gallopin' Gaucho (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 30 Dec 1928 | Running time: 00:06:29

Black and white Short film

Mickey's Forgotten Second Outing. It demonstrates the evolution of Mickey Mouse's personality, from mischievous and rough to more polished and friendly in later cartoons.

Dec 1929

The Haunted House (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 02 Dec 1929 | Running time: 00:06:49

Black and white

This early Mickey Mouse short blended comedy and horror in a way that was both funny and unsettling

Jul 1932

Flowers and Trees (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 30 Jul 1932 | Running time: 00:07:48

Short film Technicolor

As the first cartoon made in the three-strip Technicolor process, Flowers and Trees proved that color could enhance storytelling and captivate audiences. Its success encouraged studios to transition from black-and-white to color animation. Also, it earned the first Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1932.

Jan 1933

The Mad Doctor (Walt Disney Studio)

Release date: 20 Jan 1933 | Running time: 00:06:52

Black and white

The Mad Doctor is one of the darkest and most unusual entries in the classic Mickey Mouse series.

Jul 1933

Popeye the Sailor (Fleischer Studios)

Release date: 14 Jul 1933 | Running time: 00:07:37

Black and white

Still Packs a Punch! Only on-screen appearance where Betty Boop and Popeye share the same cartoon. It remains a unique crossover moment in animation history.

Aug 1934

Poor Cinderella (Fleischer Studios)

Release date: 03 Aug 1934 | Running time: 00:10:35

Cinecolor Color Classics

First in the series of Fleischer's Color classics. It used Cinecolor as Walt Disney held an exclusive contract with Technicolor for its superior three-color process.