The Picnic | 1930 | Animation Short

Title: The Picnic | 1930 | Animation Short Director: Burt Gillett Studio: Walt Disney Productions Starring: Mickey Mouse (voice by Walt Disney), Minnie Mouse (voice by Marcellite Garner), Rover (voice by Lee Millar) Based on: Original animated screenplay Release Date: October 9 1930 Runtime: 7 minutes 2 seconds Format: Black and white animated short with synchronized sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation Comedy --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Mickey arrives to pick up Minnie 00:01:00 Rover tied to the car 00:02:00 Picnic setup and gramophone music 00:03:00 Woodland creatures raid food 00:04:00 Mickey and Minnie dance 00:05:00 Storm cloud and rain 00:06:00 Escape and return home --- Summary: The Picnic is a 1930 American animated short in the Mickey Mouse film series in which Mickey Mouse takes Minnie Mouse on a countryside picnic accompanied by her pet dog Rover, an early version of Pluto. Along the way, Rover chases rabbits, dragging Mickey’s car, and at the picnic site, local animals pilfer the couple’s food while Mickey and Minnie dance to music. When a sudden rainstorm disrupts their outing, the trio hastily pack up and drive home, with Rover’s tail comically acting as a windshield wiper. The short blends slapstick gags and musical sequences typical of early sound cartoons, illustrating the challenges of outdoor leisure and the comic interplay between characters and nature. --- Background: Directed by Burt Gillett and produced by Walt Disney, The Picnic was released by Columbia Pictures as part of the ongoing Mickey Mouse series. It is notable for featuring the first appearance of a bloodhound named Rover, a precursor to the character later named Pluto. --- Trivia: The dog “Rover” in this short represents an early version of Pluto before the character was officially named in 1931’s The Moose Hunt. The Picnic was the twenty-third Mickey Mouse short produced and the eighth released in 1930. The cartoon includes synchronized music and light romantic elements as Mickey and Minnie dance during their picnic. The short entered the public domain in the United States on January 1 2026. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: October 9 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Walt Disney Productions / Columbia Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #ThePicnic1930 #MickeyMouse #DisneyAnimation #ClassicCartoon #PublicDomain