To celebrate Mickey Mouse’s birthday on November 18, the restoration of the “Partners” statue was revealed at Disneyland Resort. The statue is located in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and has been restored to its original splendour.

The restoration of the iconic statue involved a four-day operation using crushed walnut shells to gently strip the figure down to bare bronze. A number of chemicals were then applied to the bronze which was heated with a blowtorch to create a reaction that would fuse with the bronze. The statue was then coated in a polymer to protect the patina and then a thin layer of wax.

Mickey Mouse first appeared on the screen in November 18, 1928, in a short film known as “Steamboat Willie.” On November 18, Mickey Mouse’s birthday was celebrated around the world.