Ortensia the Cat to make first U.S. appearance at Disneyland Resort

[TP2000]

Ortensia debuted in the lost Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon "The Banker's daughter" in 1927.
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She managed to appear in various Oswald cartoons during the "Disney Oswald Era" and "Universal Oswald Era". Her only notable appearance when Disney owned Oswald was "Oh What A Knight".



As the 1930s progressed, she slowly started disappearing in later Oswald Cartoons during Universal's ownership.. When Universal decided to redesign Oswald to look much cuter and more realistic. He was given a few different love interest that were rabbits.

Ortensia was also the replacement to Oswald's previous love interest the Rabbit. However she remained unnamed until Epic Mickey was in development where she was given an official name to match the first names such as Mickey/Minnie or Donald/Daisy.

Epic Mickey served as a major reintroduction to both Oswald and Ortensia to the next generation. With Epic Mickey 2 giving her a more prominent role.


She wouldn't make her Disney Parks debut until 2018 at Disneyland Paris' Fandaze Celebration where they created a special show dedicated to Oswald.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why @brb1006 is such an invaluable asset to this community! I knew as I typed that she would come along and offer up a well researched and knowledgeable reply.

Thank you so much, it helps immensely. I'm now fully on board the Ortensia train!

Also, I love that little show they did for her in Paris. The flapper outfits are fabulous, and it's a really fun era that I wish Disney parks would lean more into. Flappers and 1920's American Jazz are perfect for an upbeat theme park vibe, but we rarely see it in the parks.

She's basically the original Minnie Mouse. Unlike Mickey and Minnie, they have their own bunny children which they had alot over the years.

Oh, my. That took an unexpected and fun turn there at the end, didn't it?!

That's an element of the Oswald backstory I had no idea about, but I'm glad to hear he got out into the world and, um, flourished.

 

[brb1006]

As for Oswald's original love interest Francine Cottontail (once again her real name is censored on this site). She was later changed to Oswald's sister and Ortensia became Oswald's new love interest. She was even planned to appear in the original Epic Mickey game complete with concept art.

 

[brb1006]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why @brb1006 is such an invaluable asset to this community! I knew as I typed that she would come along and offer up a well researched and knowledgeable reply.

Thank you so much, it helps immensely. I'm now fully on board the Ortensia train!

Also, I love that little show they did for her in Paris. The flapper outfits are fabulous, and it's a really fun era that I wish Disney parks would lean more into. Flappers and 1920's American Jazz are perfect for an upbeat theme park vibe, but we rarely see it in the parks.



Oh, my. That took an unexpected and fun turn there at the end, didn't it?!

That's an element of the Oswald backstory I had no idea about, but I'm glad to hear he got out into the world and, um, flourished.

If you're more curious, Oswald and Ortensia has over 430 Bunny Children!

BTW: I'm a boy @TP2000, but you're holly welcome!

 

[TP2000]

If you're more curious, Oswald and Ortensia has over 430 Bunny Children!

My, my, my, I had no idea Oswald had been so busy! No wonder we rarely see him.

BTW: I'm a boy @TP2000, but you're holly welcome!

Oh, pardon me! Your Marie avatar threw me off course.

 

[brb1006]

On the topic of Oswald and Ortensia, I'm surprised Disney hadn't thought on revisiting The Gremlins after the release of Epic Mickey which also reintroduced Gremlin Gus and the other Gremlins.

For those unfamiliar, the Gremlins was the brainchild of Disney and Roald Dahl (pre-Charlie and Chocolate Factory) that was planned as a film during WWII that remained unproduced.

Despite the film never getting made, they managed to star in a few comic stories on a few Disney Magazine during the 1940s and even appeared on a few locations inside WED Enterprises/Walt Disney Imagineering (as seen in the Disney+ docuseries "The Imagineering Story") and a few stuffed animals.

While Oswald and his girlfriend are still acknowledge by Disney after the low sales of Epic Mickey 2. I wish The Gremlins might gain similar treatment in the future. Maybe the film idea could be revisited for a Disney+ Original Movie or a feature film (considering Disney had been revisiting on adapting "The Snow Queen" for decades which evolved into "Frozen".) Maybe someday those characters might get some representation at the Disney Parks in the future... hopefully.

 

[brb1006]

My, my, my, I had no idea Oswald had been so busy! No wonder we rarely see him.



Oh, pardon me! Your Marie avatar threw me off course.

It's okay, Marie has been my all-time favorite Disney Character since I was a little boy.

 

[brb1006]

 

[TsWade2]

I'm so glad we got Ortensia for the first time at DCA. Unfortunately, I might not make to meet her. But very happy that we finally got her.

 

[brb1006]

 

[truecoat]

And who, may I ask, is Ortensia The Cat?

Oswald's even more obscure lady friend?

I can drop obscure Disney cultural references into conversations with the best of 'em, from Herbie Goes Bananas to The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes to Celebrity Sports Center to Midget Autopia to the Kaiser Aluminum Hall of Fame.

But Ortensia The Cat? That's a new one.

How about a Kurt Russell-era Medfield College mini-land in DCA. Complete with a Now You See Him, Now You Don't dark ride and Worlds Strongest Man show.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Finally got to meet Ortensia - kept missing her meet sets but finally got there at the right time thanks to some helpful CM's. She was ADORABLE! Super cute girly ala Minnie or Daisy but also played to her kitty side by pawing at the decorations as she arrived. Even people who were disappointed that Oswald stepped away and she stepped in quickly changed their minds upon seeing how cute she was! Heard a lot of comments in line "oh she's so cute!" (along with "who is she?" lol).