Disney characters soon will be in the mail

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and other famous Disney friendships soon will be commemorated by the U.S. Postal Service, Zap2It.com reported Wednesday.

The stamps, from a series titled "The Art of Disney: Friendship," will be released in June 2004.

In addition to Mickey, Donald and Goofy, Mufasa and Simba from "The Lion King," Bambi and Thumper from the 1942 film "Bambi" and Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio from the 1940 film "Pinocchio" will find themselves zipping throughout the mail system as 37-cent stamps.

The "Friendship" stamps feature illustrations by Disney artist Peter Emmerich. David Pacheco from Walt Disney Art Classics was art director for the stamps.

The friendship theme is the first of three stamp panes to honor Disney. "The Art of Disney: Celebration" and "The Art of Disney: Romance" will be future themes for the series.