Long Lost Walt Disney Animated Film Found

A long lost film created by Walt Disney has been rediscovered. "Sleigh Bells" is a 1928 silent film featuring one of Disney's earliest creations, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It was discovered, after decades lost, in the archives of the British Film Institute.

"I don't think you can overestimate the importance, both for Disney Animation, but actually the history of animation," Justin Johnson of the BFI told the BBC.

The Oswald cartoons were owned by the films' distributor, rather than by Disney himself. When asked to produce more films for less money, Disney refused, and recreated the character as a mouse. The renamed Mickey Mouse made his debut in "Steamboat Willie" that same year.

"Sleigh Bells" will screen at the BFI this December.