What Makes Mickey Mouse Famous?

 

There's one considerable thing I kept in mind for a long time, and that's how impactful cartoon characters can be. 

Today I'm coming back talking about one of the most recognizable fictional characters ever made, Mickey Mouse. A few months ago I mainly talked about his evolutionary designs and different styles throughout his nearly century run. It was fun but as of now, what made him actually famous? 

When I was a kid I always found Mickey and his friends to be likeable characters, nothing more, nothing else. 

When I was a teen, I related to Bugs's more relaxed, witty and smart nature, his cartoons were more fun and the character had alot more personality.

Now I freely understood why Mickey Mouse had more importance than Bugs, it's mostly the marketing, and the simple appeal.

He's also more easy to draw than Bugs is, which is why so many people think he's a global icon. Anyone could pull off a little sketch and still resemble the mouse we all know and identify.

He's the symbol of "childhood" but so as over hundreds of other characters. But I can understand. He is the mascot of Disney and the animated films mostly the classics, were part of people's childhoods. I was that kid who adored watching Disney Jr. every morning so it makes total sense.

I think it has to also do with the classic 2D traditional style that influenced so many animators. 

You could do more with just a simple and sweet character but Mickey was just the all-around trendsetter, and anyone can relate to his good nature. 

When it comes to the other supporting cast that Mickey Mouse is most known for is Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, but what was always weird to me was his girlfriend that looks nearly identical to him, still managed to be quite memorable and timeless enough even though I sometimes forget Minnie exists.

So the real reason is this, what started off as a simple little rodent with a likeable personality became famous for what he is today? Well from what I gathered, when Steamboat Willie was released it became the first synchronized sound cartoon ever to be made. He became a hit and later throughout the midst of the late 20s-early 30s, he became more popular and attainable by audiences. This set off a new course of other animation studios to do the same, like Warner Bros, MGM and so much more. 

Now in my opinion, Disney especially their shorts weren't always an influence. What started was a rabbit named Oswald, but somehow for stupid reasons, Universal stole the character and that's when Disney came up with a mouse and it all started from there. Another case was the impact of Bugs Bunny who reinvented the wheel of animation for a more comedic, witty and slapstick approach to the medium. 

If you agree with my overall facts then good for you because if you want to check out my post about Mickey's experimental but interesting designs from 1928 to today click this link.

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