On May 15th, 1928, the animated short film "Plane Crazy" was released, marking the first appearance of Disney's iconic character Mickey Mouse. Although "Steamboat Willie" (released later that year) is often cited as Mickey's debut due to it being the first synchronized sound cartoon, "Plane Crazy" was actually the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be produced.

The silent short, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, follows Mickey as he attempts to build and fly his own airplane, hoping to emulate Charles Lindbergh's famous trans-Atlantic flight from the previous year. The character of Minnie Mouse also makes her first appearance in this short, portrayed as Mickey's love interest.

"Plane Crazy" showcases the mischievous and adventurous personality that would come to define Mickey Mouse. The animation style, while primitive compared to later Disney works, still manages to convey a sense of energy and humor that would become a hallmark of the studio's output.

Interestingly, the short failed to find a distributor upon its initial completion, which led Disney to shift focus to producing "Steamboat Willie" with synchronized sound, a groundbreaking innovation at the time. The success of "Steamboat Willie" led to "Plane Crazy" being released as a sound cartoon later in 1928, with Mickey's now-famous voice provided by Walt Disney himself.

The release of "Plane Crazy" on this day in 1928 marks the humble beginnings of what would eventually grow into a massive entertainment empire, with Mickey Mouse remaining one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in film history.