For tonight's open thread, I'll leave you with this article from the New York Times, revealing some of the ways that the Walt Disney Company is looking to revitalize its icon, Mickey Mouse.Over the decades, Mickey's ossified into a corporate symbol - far from his origin as the "Bart Simpson of his day," as the NYT put it. Heck, even the original Animation tour film at the then-Disney-MGM Studios gently mocked Mickey's corporate status.
I also enjoyed the reveal that the famous "Oswald for Al Michaels" deal wasn't some last-minute, face-saving throw-in, but a calculated move by Disney to regain rights for a character it needed for next year's "Epic Mickey" video game, the first step in the company's re-envisioning of the Main Mouse.
Whaddya think?
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One of the reasons that I love the Universal parks is the delicious snark that the parks' attractions sometimes offer, a fun, rebellious spirit that's missing from the Disney parks. (Like that's incompatible with "magic" somehow. Sigh.) I also like what Busch has done with the Shamu character on Twitter, as it evokes that same spirit.
Disney did it first, though, with Mickey. And I would love, love, love to see Disney recapture *that* magic!
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Mickey was a supporting Character in Kingdom Hearts games and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and House of Mouse was popular.
I think another thing to remember is some consider Mickey the alter ego of Walt, who was the creator and head of Disney. It always gives me a smile when I see him on my paycheck. A big company represented by a mouse? I love it!
Yeah, I am a little bias, but I disagree that Mickey has gone down some crazy road. He is here and better than ever! I also do not want to see him be too naughty. I really don't think he was ever a Bart Simpson.
Interesting Article though!