Disney and his remaining staff continued the production of the Mickey series , and he was able to eventually find a number of animators to replace Iwerks . As the Great Depression progressed and Felix the Cat faded from the movie screen , Mickey 's popularity would rise , and by 1932 The Mickey Mouse Club would have one million members . At the 5th Academy Awards in 1932 , Mickey received his first Academy Award nomination , received for '' Mickey 's Orphans '' ( 1931 ) . Walt Disney also received an honorary Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse . Despite being eclipsed by the '' Silly Symphony '' short the '' Three Little Pigs '' in 1933 , Mickey still maintained great popularity among theater audiences too , until 1935 , when polls showed that Popeye was more popular than Mickey . By 1934 , Mickey merchandise had earned $ 600,000.00 a year . In 1935 , Disney began to phase out the Mickey Mouse Clubs , due to administration problems
5th Academy Awards
5th Academy Awards
Mickey Mouse