Is Mickey Mouse dead?

[Werewolf]

You can go to Toys r us, Target, Walmart, etc. and find loads of Mickey and friends toys. Heck, this Christmas, Walgreens and CVS had plush Mickey and Minnie toys and Christmas decorations. Can't even remember the last time a saw a plush Bugs or Daffy anywhere.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I think "The Looney Tunes Show" has helped, but I agree his star has fallen. Boomerang is finally airing the classic Warner shorts again, so this may help as well.

Chris

[sprytel]

Then shouldn't Bugs Bunny be dead as well? Yet he's not.

Bugs is in much worse shape than Mickey. Ask someone under 25 about Bugs Bunny and you will get a lot of blank stares... but they will know all about Mickey Mouse.

[jwyblejr]

Mickey Mouse is dead. Except for Disney enthusiasts/fans, (I knew one guy like that. He is every bit like a Trekkie except it's Disney and he won't admit it), most of America, perhaps the world, know not that new short cartoons are being made. The reason why is Disney airs it's material on it's own channel and not on regular broadcast TV. Yes you can keep your product on your own channel that people pay for but you can't reel in people who don't subscribe to the channel if they don't know the show is on.

Then shouldn't Bugs Bunny be dead as well? Yet he's not.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Naw, he's not dead. He was more dead in our time than he is now. Disney is actively marketing him to preschoolers, children and teens, and he's making it into theaters. Frozen has made a boatload of money, and Mickey was out in front of the film. He's in better shape now than he's been in decades.

Chris

[johnmiic]

Mickey Mouse is dead. Except for Disney enthusiasts/fans, (I knew one guy like that. He is every bit like a Trekkie except it's Disney and he won't admit it), most of America, perhaps the world, know not that new short cartoons are being made. The reason why is Disney airs it's material on it's own channel and not on regular broadcast TV. Yes you can keep your product on your own channel that people pay for but you can't reel in people who don't subscribe to the channel if they don't know the show is on.

[Vinny0026]

I know I'm late to the dance on this one - But my twin 4 years olds love Mickey -
He is far from dead at my house. They watch him every day. I live in New york but inlaws have a house 20 mins from the parks in FL. We are lucky enough to take the kids twice a year
and they go nuts. They watch disney jr almost every day. And have a hand full of disney toys - they can pretty much name any disney character so I would have to say he is far from dead.

Frozen was a great kids movie - that short was awesome - even I loved it.
I think he is as strong as he ever was - if not stronger. IMO

With Disney Now owning Marvel, Hasbro and Star Wars - the mouse will not be going anywhere any time soon. He is here to stay. I bet we see a lot more of these newer shorts going forward.

[palitoy]

My daughter yells for me every time one of those new Mickey shorts plays on the Family channel, they're terrific. I have very little interest in the character (aside from tremendous respect for the Topolino comics) but these new shorts are funny and well done.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^It sounds evil...but I kind of understand it. If any copyright owner doesn't actively protect that copyright, they can lose it. The Mouse employees a lot of people who would be out of a job if that happened. It does look bad, but on one hand I can see it. Cease and Desist letters before litigation are much nicer than a straight lawsuit, however.

Chris

[enyawd72]

Do you have red hair? Because you obviously have no soul.

Chris

You got it backwards...the corporate demon-mouse is the one without a soul. He sues little old ladies. Shuts down daycare centers. He is evil I tell you! EVIL!

[Earth 2 Chris]

Is Mickey Mouse dead?

I wish. I absolutely hate him. Hated him as a kid. I never, ever had any desire to go to Disneyland. I thought the entire stable of Walt Disney cartoon characters were just terrible. I never found any of them the least bit funny or entertaining. Give me good old Looney Tunes any day.

Do you have red hair? Because you obviously have no soul.

But, yes, in answering the original question, Mickey is in better shape as an actual character and property than he has been in decades. I think someone at Disney woke up and decided they better make him relevant to today's kids pretty quickly. And they've done a pretty good job of doing that and NOT committing sacrilege by making him too "edgy" or "hip", like Poochie...or the New 52.

Warners recently woke up and smelled that same coffee and gave us The Looney Tunes Show.

Chris

[enyawd72]

That has got to be a first! I have never heard of anyone who actually HATED Mickey Mouse and Disney characters!

I know...I can't explain it. I just find his entire personality sickening. And that voice...makes me wanna stick hot pokers in my ears. I can't get enough of Bugs Bunny however.
And bobbait, I assure you, I do not hate puppies. Or kitties. Just that mouse. And only THAT mouse. I love Jerry.

[jwyblejr]

Let's not forget Mickey's role in the Kingdom Hearts games.

[GHVersion12]

My niece and nephew love Mickey so when they are at my house that is all that can be on tv.

[Werewolf]

From my perspective, he's in better health with the younger kids than DC or Marvel right now.

I totally agree with that.

Besides the Epic Mickey games, Mickey also has the popular Where's my Mickey tablet/smart phone game.