During the years of the Great Depression, Mickey Mouse emerged as a character who brought hope and belief in resilience into the homes of American people and symbolised the spirit of the average American trying to get through challenging times (Tatham, 2019). The popularity of Mickey Mouse during the Great Depression can be attributed to multiple factors. Mickey Mouse cartoons provided an escape for audiences who were struggling with the harsh reality of economic hardship of the time. Through whimsical narratives and fantastical settings, these cartoons offered a break from daily life anxiety (Tatham, 2019). However, the fantasy elements of Mickey Mouse cartoons also involved warnings about the rules of the world (Mollet, 2017) and served as commentary on real world issues of the time (Tatham, 2019). ​Mickey Mouse symbolised working-class values and celebrated the resilience and ingenuity of average Americans at the time in cartoons such as Mickey's Follies (1929) and The Fire Fighters (1930) (Tatham, 2019). In his adventures, Mickey showed the importance of hard work, self-reliance, and resourcefulness, serving as reassurance that the American dream was still attainable (Mollet, 2017). Setting Mickey Mouse in the average American’s daily life also brought appeal to him as a relatable character, as movie theatres would usually be frequented by working-class people (Tatham, 2019).
Mickey In The Fire Fighters (1930)
During times of war the cartoons also served as a medium to convey messages to the people at home about how to aid war efforts in cartoons such as Food Will Win The War (1942) and Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line (1942), which were commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and the War Production Board (Mollet, 2017). Beyond this, Mickey Mouse cartoons were also able to express political and social commentary on serious issues of the time by disguising it with seemingly playful characters and colourful settings, which would not be censored like the live-action features of the time trying to do the same (Mollet, 2017).
Mickey Mouse and the animated shorts of the Great Depression era played a large role in shaping American culture and identity. Even though the years of the Great Depression were filled with economic struggle and hardship, Mickey Mouse cartoons set the beginning stages of the Golden Age of animation (Tatham, 2019) and, going beyond entertainment, Mickey Mouse was on his way to become a staple cultural icon beyond the animation world.