Oswald

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was the predecessor to Mickey Mouse created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1927 for Universal Pictures before the Disney company could be founded. He was left with Universal due to a falling out with Charles Mintz, a producer for the Oswald series, leaving him stuck in obscurity until 2006 when he was successfully reacquired by Disney, returning in his biggest role as a deuteragonist in *Epic Mickey* in 2009, angered by Mickey's fame and success after he was left in the Cartoon Wasteland for ages. Despite his troubles, he's managed to make a safe haven for rejected and retired Disney creations (almost like a mirror to Mickey's Disney World), and fell in love with a cat named Ortensia. However, due to the meddlings of the Mad Doctor and an accident caused by Mickey himself, the town as nearly destroyed by the monstrous Blot and his Blotlings. Mickey was brought to the Cartoon Wasteland and was at first despised by Oswald with a burning passion. But after Mickey showed kindness and tried his best to restore the world, taking partial blame for its condition, Oswald began to lighten up to him and teamed up to help destroy the Shadow Blot and foil the Mad Doctor's evil schemes. The two had since become close friends, with Oswald even appearing in small cameos and actively cooperating with Mickey in *Epic Mickey 2*. However, in Dark Disney, when the Mouse suddenly went rogue and began to purchase every conceivable property on Earth by force, deleting those he didn't approve, and brainwashing many with his Unification Wave, Oswald had resisted and secretly formed The Underground resistance to go up against the new regime. When Max arrived to the future, Blinx introduced him to the resistance, teaming up with Oswald to sabotage the regime's operations. Through trial and error, they eventually succeeded in assaulting the castle and Oswald was able to defeat Mickey using the Final Magisword. However, when it was revealed that Black Hat was behind the Disneyverse's creation, he was killed in action while helping Primus defeat the villain's brainwashed cartoon, Steven Universe. With his death, Oswald's hopes of returning to his loved ones and the universe being restored were finally realized as Max and a handful of survivors managed to get back in time to stop Black Hat from taking off for Disney. Max later met Oswald in this period, informing him of what occurred in the dark future and how Mickey became a dictator. As gratitude, Oswald offers his friendship and says he'll be there for the boy whenever he needs him.

## Appearance and Personality

Oswald's design is very simply and fluid, depicted as a black and white rabbit with round blue shorts. In terms of personality, he originally seemed to be adventurous, creative, and in some cases mischievous in his series. However, in Epic Mickey, he returns bitter against Mickey Mouse for essentially stealing his spotlight for over a century and being forgotten by the masses of the real world. Though much of this anger was brushed to the side as his sorrow over Ortensia and his home being put in danger led him to reluctantly work with the Mouse to save them. This, however, would turn out to redeem the both of them as they slowly became best friends over the course of the game, eventually viewing each other as brothers by the time of Epic Mickey 2.

In Dark Disney, much like how he was in Epic Mickey, Oswald's back in command, this time in a large organization against Mickey, having recognized his turn to corruption over the years. Unlike before, he's far less bitter and more worried over the success of the Underground as each time they succeed, the regime bites back even harder. By the time Max arrives, he had begun to show signs of manipulation among Disney and his men per his role as double agent for the resistance. However, this also meant that he neglected to inform a majority of people what would happen to them if they were to reset the timeline as planned, which would become a point of contention in the organization. This, coupled with him sending the team on risky missions or inadvertently putting his family in danger should he ever be caught had caused him to break down multiple times. But with the right words of encouragement from Max, he lifts himself up and leads the charge against the regime one last time; this time to victory after confronting Mickey.

Although the timeline was restored and the regime was erased from history, Oswald was contacted by Max and still understood the threat of Mickey ever going rogue, taking it upon himself to keep tabs on him. It's also worth noting that thanks to this future being deleted, he's far more confident than he was during it.