No matter the generation, when people are asked about movies from their childhood, they think about animation. Animated films are by far the most popular genre with children, and as many know,
the most popular producer of animated films is the Walt Disney Company, or simply Disney for short.
From humble beginnings, Disney has become the most important animation studio in the world. The company is known for pioneering different techniques in animation and has been crucial in establishing a distinct genre just for animated films. Disney is responsible for creating some of the most relatable, endearing, and classic characters that many still love to this day.
1. Mickey Mouse, Assorted Short Films
According to Time magazine, Mickey Mouse is one of the most popular and recognizable movie characters in the world.
Claire Suddath writes, “His ears are still one of the most famous cultural icons of the 20th and 21st centuries. He has posed for photographs with every U.S. President since Harry Truman, save one (Lyndon Johnson never visited a Disney theme park). Disney claims that Mickey had a 98 percent awareness rate among children between ages 3-11 worldwide.”
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2. Peter Pan, “Peter Pan” (1953)
Like Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan is a universally known Disney character that brings people back to their childhoods.
Peter Pan is so popular that graduate students at the University of Florida did a study on him.
The graduate students found, “Both children and adults, male and female, find themselves associating with this Peter Pan icon … he is actively portrayed as a lovable boy and a symbol of the younger years where adult responsibilities had not yet taken over. He is used as an icon of the freedom of childhood, and even commercialized for children.”
3. Cinderella, “Cinderella” (1950)
Cinderella is undeniably a classic Disney icon. She fits distinctly into the Disney princess mold and the symbol of the missing shoe is oft repeated throughout cinema and literature.
In fact, up until “Frozen” was released, Cinderella was the most popular Disney princess, raking in $2.5 million in memorabilia sales in a one year span from 2013-2014 on eBay according to analytics company Terapeak.
4. Pinocchio, “Pinocchio” (1940)
Pinocchio is well-known around the world for his growing nose whenever he tells a lie. What many do not know however, is that the story of Pinocchio did not originate with Walt Disney, but was
adapted from an Italian novel released in 1883 called “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” Discovery.com says.
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5. Robin Hood, “Robin Hood” (1973)
The Disney character of Robin Hood has taken on a life of its own after the movie’s release. Not only is it a beloved children’s movie, but someone who, like the fictional Robin Hood, steals from the rich and gives to the poor is now called a “Robin Hood.”
This proliferation into modern day culture reaffirms how Robin Hood is such an iconic Disney character.
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