Michel Mouse (better known simply as Mickey Mouse) is the titular protagonist of the universe franchise of the same name, as well as the mascot of The Walt Disney Company.
Fancifully estimated as standing 2 ft. 3 in. (69 cm) and weighing 23 pounds (10 kg), Mickey rapidly rose to the pinnacle of American culture, being more widely recognized overseas than any other American icon but the U.S. flag. For over 90 years, he has signified The Walt Disney Company, animation, goodwill, fun, laughter, and most of all, Walt Disney himself. It was said by Lillian Disney, his wife, that over the years, Mickey and Walt grew together and were mirrors of each other's personality. They both started off mischievous and cheeky, but as they grew older, preferred to help others and step out of the spotlight to observe others and work their magic. President Jimmy Carter once said; "Mickey Mouse is the symbol of goodwill, surpassing all languages and cultures. When one sees Mickey Mouse, they see happiness". Mickey also shares the same birthday with his girlfriend Minnie Mouse.
Mickey served as the titular main protagonist in the classic shorts and movies from 1928 to 1953 before having his role passed on to Donald Duck and only appeared in the commercials, but he served as the host for The Mickey Mouse Club, and one of the main hosts in the Walt Disney anthology series before returning as the main protagonist in 1983. He later served as a background character in most of the series and commercials, then returned to television as the titular character when starring in the Mickey Mouse Works series and Disney's House of Mouse, as well as all the movie specials he appeared in. He then appeared as the titular protagonist in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the Mickey Mouse TV series shorts, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers/Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures and Mickey Mouse Funhouse, and one of the two main protagonists (alongside Genie) in the Disney World franchise.
Mickey's three-circle silhouette serves as the logo for most of Disney's subsidiaries, save for the ones that don't carry the 'Disney' or 'Walt Disney' label. Andy Warhol's portrait The Art of Mickey Mouse used Warhol's famous pop art techniques on the classic mouse. Mickey is often cited as the world's most beloved cartoon character.
Most would not consider Mickey a cartoon icon to be a hero but he has played a major role as a hero in many franchises, including the Kingdom Hearts video game series. He is seen as a hero in the Disney Theme Park nighttime show Fantasmic!. In the show, he takes on many of Disney's most infamous villains with a few fellow heroes helping him.
He is voiced by the late founder of Disney and his creator Walt Disney, the late Clarence Nash for only one short, which was also originally the first voice of Donald Duck, and the late James MacDonald in 1947 in the old Classic shorts. Later on, he is voiced by Les Perkins in the specials, the late Wayne Allwine from 1977 to 2009, and currently by Bret Iwan through the rest of the series and Chris Diamantopoulos also voices him in the new animated shorts and the 2023 hybrid short film Once Upon a Studio.
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