4 ms·

Disney spent the last decade or so growing their business (through large acquisitions) to where Mickey is now just small fraction of their worth. So they likel

Disney spent the last decade or so growing their business (through large acquisitions) to where Mickey is now just small fraction of their worth. So they likely don't really care anymore. Plus it's only the old, old design of Mickey, not the current version they have been using for awhile that looks more normal to most people these days.

gostsamo 3y ago
They trademarked everything they could about him, so it is still a valuable part of the portfolio.
ssgodderidge 3y ago
While Mickey may represent a small portion of revenue, it (he?) accounts for a large portion of the Disney brand. It's one of the most recognizable cartoons of all time
- libraryatnight 3y ago
  When I was a kid Mickey had transcended movie character, he was like the Santa of the Disney world. the M.C. The spirit of Walt in some ways. I think I'd seen maybe one special or fantasia with him actually starring, and even that was after I knew him. My nephews have seen less of him and yet he's still something of a magic benevolent being to them. He represents so much more than a character, I think in a time when they're expanding portfolios they NEED to keep Mickey to stay Disney if they want to - and imo they should want to.
furyofantares 3y ago
I was shocked to learn my 7yo daughter associates Disney with Mickey and Minnie. She's watched like one Mickey cartoon on Disney+, and she's seen way more Disney stuff than that. Never been to Disneyland. But somehow to her, Disney === Mickey/Minnie. Branding is wild stuff.
- jl6 3y ago
  Mickey’s silhouette is still used in various Disney logos, so it’s not too wild a connection to make.
  - JKCalhoun 3y ago
    (It's the ears.)
- chrisco255 3y ago
  Grew up in the 90s and Mickey was not a significant character in their movies that decade and the old Mickey cartoons were rarely shown. Mario became more famous than Mickey by then, but the mouse logo is ubiquitous, and most people had at least seen Fantasia or clips of the old cartoons.
  - thaumasiotes 3y ago
    > Mickey was not a significant character in their movies that decade and the old Mickey cartoons were rarely shown. My grandparents had several tapes of Disney cartoons; they don't have to be broadcast for people to be familiar with them.
- paulddraper 3y ago
  It's the ads. https://www.google.com/search?q=disney&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?q=disney&tbm=isch
- Popeyes 3y ago
  Mickey Mouse clubhouse? Lots of Disney branding still has him. Just asked my 6yr old who the most famous Disney Character is.
- runarberg 3y ago
  Where I grew up Donald Duck magazines were super popular (this was during Don Rosa so they were quite good as well). I got a magazine delivered weekly. I remember being a kid and always skipping the Micky Mouse stories as they were always really boring. First I would read all the Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck stories, then I would read the weird stories (like Goofy [but only if it didn’t involve Micky], Chip ‘n’ Dale or even the Big Bad Wolf), and only if I had nothing else to do, I would first re-read the Donald and Scrooge stories and then finally read Micky. Growing up I never understood what the big deal was around Micky, objectively the worst of the Disney characters.
98codes 3y ago
> So they likely don't really care anymore. I don't think that's possible.
lazycouchpotato 3y ago
There's a video by Corridor Crew that goes over exactly what you mentioned. https://youtu.be/u2dIvUAd5QE https://youtu.be/u2dIvUAd5QE
- SirMaster 3y ago
  Yeah, What I wrote came from that really. I should have mentioned it. I mean it's a compelling breakdown IMO.
glimshe 3y ago
And that's exactly why long copyrights stifle innovation and encourage rent seeking and stagnation. As soon as they saw the deadline approaching, they started creating new content (which arguably hasn't been that good, but that's another problem)
mcmoor 3y ago
I feel like by this point, Mickey is already useless as copyright, but rather as trademark. Will this be how Disney use Mickey in the future?
phpisthebest 3y ago
Disney also spent the last decade making enemies of at least 50% of the power base in Washington to the chances of them getting any favorable treatment in government is slim to none

gostsamo 3y ago

They trademarked everything they could about him, so it is still a valuable part of the portfolio.

ssgodderidge 3y ago

While Mickey may represent a small portion of revenue, it (he?) accounts for a large portion of the Disney brand. It's one of the most recognizable cartoons of all time

libraryatnight 3y ago
When I was a kid Mickey had transcended movie character, he was like the Santa of the Disney world. the M.C. The spirit of Walt in some ways. I think I'd seen maybe one special or fantasia with him actually starring, and even that was after I knew him. My nephews have seen less of him and yet he's still something of a magic benevolent being to them. He represents so much more than a character, I think in a time when they're expanding portfolios they NEED to keep Mickey to stay Disney if they want to - and imo they should want to.

furyofantares 3y ago

I was shocked to learn my 7yo daughter associates Disney with Mickey and Minnie. She's watched like one Mickey cartoon on Disney+, and she's seen way more Disney stuff than that. Never been to Disneyland. But somehow to her, Disney === Mickey/Minnie. Branding is wild stuff.

jl6 3y ago
Mickey’s silhouette is still used in various Disney logos, so it’s not too wild a connection to make.
- JKCalhoun 3y ago
  (It's the ears.)
chrisco255 3y ago
Grew up in the 90s and Mickey was not a significant character in their movies that decade and the old Mickey cartoons were rarely shown. Mario became more famous than Mickey by then, but the mouse logo is ubiquitous, and most people had at least seen Fantasia or clips of the old cartoons.
- thaumasiotes 3y ago
  > Mickey was not a significant character in their movies that decade and the old Mickey cartoons were rarely shown. My grandparents had several tapes of Disney cartoons; they don't have to be broadcast for people to be familiar with them.
paulddraper 3y ago
It's the ads. https://www.google.com/search?q=disney&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?q=disney&tbm=isch
Popeyes 3y ago
Mickey Mouse clubhouse? Lots of Disney branding still has him. Just asked my 6yr old who the most famous Disney Character is.
runarberg 3y ago
Where I grew up Donald Duck magazines were super popular (this was during Don Rosa so they were quite good as well). I got a magazine delivered weekly. I remember being a kid and always skipping the Micky Mouse stories as they were always really boring. First I would read all the Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck stories, then I would read the weird stories (like Goofy [but only if it didn’t involve Micky], Chip ‘n’ Dale or even the Big Bad Wolf), and only if I had nothing else to do, I would first re-read the Donald and Scrooge stories and then finally read Micky. Growing up I never understood what the big deal was around Micky, objectively the worst of the Disney characters.

98codes 3y ago

> So they likely don't really care anymore. I don't think that's possible.

lazycouchpotato 3y ago

There's a video by Corridor Crew that goes over exactly what you mentioned. https://youtu.be/u2dIvUAd5QE https://youtu.be/u2dIvUAd5QE

SirMaster 3y ago
Yeah, What I wrote came from that really. I should have mentioned it. I mean it's a compelling breakdown IMO.

glimshe 3y ago

And that's exactly why long copyrights stifle innovation and encourage rent seeking and stagnation. As soon as they saw the deadline approaching, they started creating new content (which arguably hasn't been that good, but that's another problem)

mcmoor 3y ago

I feel like by this point, Mickey is already useless as copyright, but rather as trademark. Will this be how Disney use Mickey in the future?

phpisthebest 3y ago

Disney also spent the last decade making enemies of at least 50% of the power base in Washington to the chances of them getting any favorable treatment in government is slim to none