Specter Slams Lack of Credit for Epic Mickey Team

Renowned game developer Warren Specter is retiring from the industry after over four decades. However, before he exits, Specter wants to give credit where it's due - specifically to his team behind Epic Mickey for bringing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back to Disney.

The character was created by Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks in 1928 but was taken away from Disney after a business deal gone sour. In 2003, the development document for Epic Mickey led Disney's then-president Bob Iger to regain the rights to Oswald in exchange for sportscaster Al Michaels.

Specter notes that Epic Mickey, released in 2010, marked Oswald's first appearance on a Disney project since his departure. The game also introduced Ortensia, Oswald's love interest, and gave Oswald a voice for the first time in a Disney story. The sequel, Epic Mickey: The Power of Two, further fleshed out Oswald's character.

Specter expressed frustration that his team is often overlooked when discussing Oswald's return to Disney. He cited the recent D23 preview of Oswald's miniseries on Disney+ as an example, stating that people are giving too much credit to the new show and not enough to Epic Mickey for its role in bringing Oswald back.