Mickey Mouse takes a 3-D leap

of the world?s most beloved cartoon characters will now be stepping into the 21st

He’ll still be wearing his trademark white gloves, red shorts and yellow shoes, but Mickey Mouse, one of the world’s most beloved cartoon characters will now be stepping into the 21st century by going 3-D.

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Rob Gilby, Managing director of Disney Channels UK, said that Mickey, who has been an animation icon since he was first created in 1928, will now be appearing in a computer generated format, similar to that used in Shrek and Toy Story.

"Mickey has continued to develop as an animation icon since he was first created in 1928.

He has evolved over the years as film technology advanced, initially from black and white to colour. The move to digitally-rendered 3D is the logical next step," Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.

Mickey will be appearing in a new programme, titled Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which is aimed at children between the ages of two and five, and which will also feature Mickey's friends Minnie Mouse, Daffy and Daisy Duck and Pluto.

A Disney spokesman added that though the TV series will showcase the cartoon characters in 3D, the series designs are referential to the classic drawings of the 1940s.

"This is the first television series starring Mickey and friends in 3D computer-generated animation. Although the genre is contemporary, the series designs are referential to the classic drawings of the 1940s," he said.

Mickey Mouse captured the hearts of both kids and adults alike when he first appeared in Steamboat Willie in 1928. He has since then gone on to star in over 120 cartoons, including the 1940 feature-length animation Fantasia.