Mickey Mouse Rollar Skates
Dublin Core
Title
Mickey Mouse Rollar Skates
Subject
Disney Mickey Mouse
Description
This is a pair of plastic roller skates with mickey mouse face modelled onto the toe of each skate.Genuine Disney peripheral produced in 1995. This pair of Disney's roller skates combines entertainment, sports and interactive elements. In terms of design, it adopts the classic red and blue colour scheme, and the most striking feature is the two large Mickey mouse heads on the toe of the skate, silently proclaiming Disney's sovereignty.As a pre-owned item, the skates show signs of previous use. This unique piece of Disney history offers a nostalgic look back at the popular Mickey Mouse merchandise from the 1990s.
Mickey Mouse is one of Disney's earliest and most influential iconic characters. Mickey was the official mascot of Disneyland when it opened in 1955, and was used in a variety of brand promotions including toys, merchandise, and television shows from the 1960s onwards. These roller skates with Mickey mouse on them were produced in 1995, during the Disney Renaissance. After a downturn in the 1970s and 1980s with the death of founder Walt Disney and poor box office for some productions, Disney once again established its dominance in the animation industry after a new CEO came in to reform the company.
At this time Disney was in close communication with theatre, particularly Broadway musicals. Under the circumstances, British musicals were favoured locally and as a result local musicals saw a downturn, a change that put many young talents out of work, while at the same time Disney began adapting animation into musicals, with the first classic animated adaptation of the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast being a huge success, proving the potential of Disney's storytelling and music on the stage. Meanwhile the period saw Disney produce 10 of the most profitable feature films of all time, all of which were critically acclaimed in the form of multiple Oscars.Disney expanded its reach through worldwide distribution and marketing and developed a wide range of spin-off merchandise.
The 1990s was also a golden age for the Disney toy market, a period that saw the explosive growth of the Disney toy brand, which was closely linked to the expansion of its films, television programmes and theme parks. These toys attracted a large number of household consumers, especially in the children's market, through the branding effect of the films, creating a strong consumer drive. Category expansion and innovation were also notable features of Disney's toy market during this period, which was no longer limited to traditional character figurines, but promoted more interactive toy formats.
Disney increased its licensing efforts to the toy industry in the 1990s, with many well-known toy companies licensing Disney characters to produce merchandise related to films and television programmes, all of which contributed to the global spread of Disney characters.Mickey, one of the earliest and most successful movie stars, transferred his character image (often the face) itself to a A large amount of merchandising has been standard practice for Disney, and Ben Crawford argues that this synergistic integration of character and merchandise has fuelled the cultural industry and led to positive protection of intellectual property.
As a commodity that interacts with children, roller skates fulfil its need for utility first and foremost.Disney has released a number of Mickey-themed roller skates, including single and double rows, designed primarily for children of different ages and skating levels. Double-row roller skates have a much longer history, with a base design in the 1880s. Mickey-themed double-row roller skates are usually launched as beginner models for children, dating back as far as the 1970s and 1980s for Disney-licensed merchandise. Disney's Mickey-themed single-row skates, on the other hand, have only been gaining popularity since the 1990s. These skates are made of durable plastic, and the double-row skate design with four wheels distributed in the front and back rows provides high stability, which is good for beginners to maintain balance and is more suitable for children under the age of six. Its size is adjustable, which is to adapt to the child's growth faster. The bottom of the shoe has three gears to adjust the speed, which fully meets the different individual requirements of the user.
As a vintage item from the 1990s, although the surface of the shoe has been somewhat worn and discoloured due to time and signs of use, it bears witness to the popularity of Disney brand peripherals in the 1990s. As a vintage item produced nearly 30 years ago, it represents the importance of the Disney brand in children's culture during that period. A peripheral item produced in a specific year, its value rises over time, making it quite a collectible item for fans of retro style who are also Disney enthusiasts. The same product found on eBay is valued at 24.99dollar, showing that the market demand is always there. And as a pair of roller skates that can be used, it still meets the needs of the modern child who combines fun and exercise, and that use value is part of its collector's value.
Most importantly, these Mickey Mouse skates show how Disney influenced children's culture in the 1990's. The popularity of the Disney films led to sales of character-related toys, and Disney character graphics began to appear widely in children's lives, making the brand almost a part of their daily lives. Through these toys, Disney not only satisfied children's entertainment needs, but also profoundly shaped children's cultural perceptions and consumption habits at the time, making Disney a global symbol of children's culture. As Marty Sklar said, ‘Industry has lost credibility with the public, the government has lost credibility, but people still have faith in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Works cited :
Bryan, P.C.(2024) ‘The Disney animation renaissance: Behind the glass at the Florida studio By Mary E.Lescher, University of Illinois Press. 2023’, Journal of American culture (Malden, Mass.), 47(2), pp. 166–166. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jacc.13547.
Jenkins, E. (2014）Special Affects: Cinema, Animation and the Translation of Consumer Culture. 1st edn. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748695485.
Parkes, C. (2001) ‘Seizing firm control of the Mouse: BRAND RENOVATION: Consumer products used to be an accessory to the Disney brand. Now they are central to its reinvention, writes: London edition’, The Financial times (London ed.).
Wallace, M. (1985) ‘Mickey Mouse History: Portraying the Past at Disney World’, Radical history review, 1985(32), pp. 33–57. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1215/01636545-1985-32-33.
Mickey Mouse is one of Disney's earliest and most influential iconic characters. Mickey was the official mascot of Disneyland when it opened in 1955, and was used in a variety of brand promotions including toys, merchandise, and television shows from the 1960s onwards. These roller skates with Mickey mouse on them were produced in 1995, during the Disney Renaissance. After a downturn in the 1970s and 1980s with the death of founder Walt Disney and poor box office for some productions, Disney once again established its dominance in the animation industry after a new CEO came in to reform the company.
At this time Disney was in close communication with theatre, particularly Broadway musicals. Under the circumstances, British musicals were favoured locally and as a result local musicals saw a downturn, a change that put many young talents out of work, while at the same time Disney began adapting animation into musicals, with the first classic animated adaptation of the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast being a huge success, proving the potential of Disney's storytelling and music on the stage. Meanwhile the period saw Disney produce 10 of the most profitable feature films of all time, all of which were critically acclaimed in the form of multiple Oscars.Disney expanded its reach through worldwide distribution and marketing and developed a wide range of spin-off merchandise.
The 1990s was also a golden age for the Disney toy market, a period that saw the explosive growth of the Disney toy brand, which was closely linked to the expansion of its films, television programmes and theme parks. These toys attracted a large number of household consumers, especially in the children's market, through the branding effect of the films, creating a strong consumer drive. Category expansion and innovation were also notable features of Disney's toy market during this period, which was no longer limited to traditional character figurines, but promoted more interactive toy formats.
Disney increased its licensing efforts to the toy industry in the 1990s, with many well-known toy companies licensing Disney characters to produce merchandise related to films and television programmes, all of which contributed to the global spread of Disney characters.Mickey, one of the earliest and most successful movie stars, transferred his character image (often the face) itself to a A large amount of merchandising has been standard practice for Disney, and Ben Crawford argues that this synergistic integration of character and merchandise has fuelled the cultural industry and led to positive protection of intellectual property.
As a commodity that interacts with children, roller skates fulfil its need for utility first and foremost.Disney has released a number of Mickey-themed roller skates, including single and double rows, designed primarily for children of different ages and skating levels. Double-row roller skates have a much longer history, with a base design in the 1880s. Mickey-themed double-row roller skates are usually launched as beginner models for children, dating back as far as the 1970s and 1980s for Disney-licensed merchandise. Disney's Mickey-themed single-row skates, on the other hand, have only been gaining popularity since the 1990s. These skates are made of durable plastic, and the double-row skate design with four wheels distributed in the front and back rows provides high stability, which is good for beginners to maintain balance and is more suitable for children under the age of six. Its size is adjustable, which is to adapt to the child's growth faster. The bottom of the shoe has three gears to adjust the speed, which fully meets the different individual requirements of the user.
As a vintage item from the 1990s, although the surface of the shoe has been somewhat worn and discoloured due to time and signs of use, it bears witness to the popularity of Disney brand peripherals in the 1990s. As a vintage item produced nearly 30 years ago, it represents the importance of the Disney brand in children's culture during that period. A peripheral item produced in a specific year, its value rises over time, making it quite a collectible item for fans of retro style who are also Disney enthusiasts. The same product found on eBay is valued at 24.99dollar, showing that the market demand is always there. And as a pair of roller skates that can be used, it still meets the needs of the modern child who combines fun and exercise, and that use value is part of its collector's value.
Most importantly, these Mickey Mouse skates show how Disney influenced children's culture in the 1990's. The popularity of the Disney films led to sales of character-related toys, and Disney character graphics began to appear widely in children's lives, making the brand almost a part of their daily lives. Through these toys, Disney not only satisfied children's entertainment needs, but also profoundly shaped children's cultural perceptions and consumption habits at the time, making Disney a global symbol of children's culture. As Marty Sklar said, ‘Industry has lost credibility with the public, the government has lost credibility, but people still have faith in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Works cited :
Bryan, P.C.(2024) ‘The Disney animation renaissance: Behind the glass at the Florida studio By Mary E.Lescher, University of Illinois Press. 2023’, Journal of American culture (Malden, Mass.), 47(2), pp. 166–166. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jacc.13547.
Jenkins, E. (2014）Special Affects: Cinema, Animation and the Translation of Consumer Culture. 1st edn. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748695485.
Parkes, C. (2001) ‘Seizing firm control of the Mouse: BRAND RENOVATION: Consumer products used to be an accessory to the Disney brand. Now they are central to its reinvention, writes: London edition’, The Financial times (London ed.).
Wallace, M. (1985) ‘Mickey Mouse History: Portraying the Past at Disney World’, Radical history review, 1985(32), pp. 33–57. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1215/01636545-1985-32-33.
Creator
Walt Disney Company
Source
Disney Mickey Mouse
Date
1995
Contributor
Disney
Rights
Copyright © Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.
Format
The length and width of the shoe are 170mm × 110mm.
Language
English
Type
toy
Identifier
BDCM31570
Coverage
Primarily the United States, and the United Kingdom representing the European market.
Files
Collection
Citation
Walt Disney Company, “Mickey Mouse Rollar Skates,” Archival Encounters: Digital Exhibitions form the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, accessed January 21, 2025, https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/archivalencounters/items/show/53.