Since the creation of Mickey Mouse, the character has become more than just a character for Disney. Mickey’s significance within the Walt Disney Company goes beyond entertainment - he is an asset, which is held dear within the company and has helped assert Disney's position as a globally recognised entertainment company (Puturi, 2019). Mickey's presence has been seen in various mediums, like motion pictures to live action television shows, and in diverse merchandise - all contributing to Disney's global success.
Disney Studios was founded by Walt Disney and Roy Disney in 1923 and in these early years was just a small animation studio in Los Angeles (McCann, 2023). Over the decades it evolved into a global entertainment studio, revolutionising the industry with innovative and original animations, beloved characters, and grand theme parks (McCann, 2023).
Mickey Mouse shaped fireworks at Disneyland
Nowadays, simply the silhouette of Mickey Mouse’s head and his round ears symbolises the iconic character and Disney itself. The silhouette, as a symbol, is widely seen on merchandise, in theme parks, and in the media, which shows the spread of the character’s popularity. Mickey Mouse becoming Disney's beloved mascot and trademark also shows the company's strategic vision to eventually become successful in the industry (Puturi, 2019). Since his debut in 1928, and over the next decades, Mickey's image has been developed through various mediums, shaping his status as the iconic symbol of the company's brand identity and nowadays stands as the symbol of Disney's legacy and pop culture influence.