Is Mickey Mouse more popular in the United States then Donald Duck is?
Posted by speedsterlw@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 201 comments
Pretty much as what the title says. When growing up in the Netherlands, Donald Duck was by car the most popular comic book character/comic book series with only Suske and Wiske coming close in comic book series popularity. So I always made the assumption that Mickey Mouse is the mascot because of historical reasons. Today however I found out Donald Duck is not as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, so it got me wondering what is most popular in the United States, between Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck?
Successful-Pie4237@reddit
Donald duck was used in a political cartoon in the 40s to drive hatred for the Nazis and increase the sale of war bonds. In the cartoon Donald was portrayed as a Nazi. It's one of the greatest political cartoons of all time but portraying your beloved character as a Nazi isn't going to drive his popularity in the ways you want.
This has nothing to do with why Mickey is more popular, I just thought it was interesting.
zoppaTheDim@reddit
Honestly, at this point neither is that popular.
I’d say Mickey was more popular in the forties and fifties, but Donald grew in popularity and was more popular in the seventies.
Today, most kids have never seen the original cartoons. They know Disney as a brand.
Groundbreaking_Bus90@reddit
Mickey cartoons are still being made and older ones are re-run.
ShesGotaChicken2Ride@reddit
Yes
Imightbeafanofthis@reddit
Theoretically it's Mickey Mouse, but in reality it's probably Homer Simpson.
LuckyInfluence901@reddit
By car
VoodooYouDoSoWell@reddit
Which one is most famous by train in Europe?
LuckyInfluence901@reddit
Goofy
idiot-prodigy@reddit
They are both ubiquitous in USA, but Mickey Mouse is the face of Disney so he is more popular.
This is like asking who is more well known, Superman or Batman?
Professional-Pungo@reddit
Well they are basically the same friend group.
but Mickey is the main character, so yes
TheMuffler42069@reddit
Yea but I don’t like how controlling Mickey is. Donald is way more emotionally intelligent and relatable. Donald 4 ever.
ZombieAladdin@reddit
Walt felt the same way, really: he preferred Donald Duck stories over Mickey Mouse stories because Donald was a far more interesting character to write and to watch. Even he felt Mickey was too flat and dull.
smappyfunball@reddit
Mickey became the mascot so he couldn’t be mischievous or anything anymore, so just became bland.
Donald got to do all the fun and interesting stuff.
TheMuffler42069@reddit
I like his style
prometheus_winced@reddit
Donald literally explodes with emotional rage. It’s his defining personality trait.
TheMuffler42069@reddit
And that is the appropriate reaction when faced with the reality of the world around you
backfromspace206@reddit
I was about to annoyed at yet another inappropriate use of "literally" but then I remembered we've talking about a cartoon character so it probably has literally happened.
prometheus_winced@reddit
It’s literally his defining personality trait.
JosephBlowsephThe3rd@reddit
Bro has untreated PTSD from time in the navy... seriously
borisdidnothingwrong@reddit
Mickey is a rat. Passive-aggressively spreading plague. Plague which killed Donald's sister and brother-in-law, leaving Huey, Dewey, and Louie orphaned.
You'd crash out, too.
LemonSkye@reddit
Donald's sister Della was stranded on the moon. She's back now.
Arleare13@reddit
Mickey Did Hantavirus
ExistentialTabarnak@reddit
Relatable.
wookieesgonnawook@reddit
Donald is the last emotionally intelligent character of the 6. He's basically got ptsd from fighting in WWII and he's a huge asshole because of it.
TheMuffler42069@reddit
He sees the world for what it is and that is intelligent.
notsnot1@reddit
He's got such bad PTSD he forgets his pants!
dwhite21787@reddit
Then he’s got Chip and Dale stealing his apples, walnuts, etc.
DonAmechesBonerToe@reddit
Donald having multiple supporting characters, and multiple spinoffs speaks to a different story. Ducktails? Scrooge McDuck in addition to Huey, Dewy, and Louie, and Daisy? Micky is not Donald tier
Iliketoplan@reddit
If this is your argument, Donald is supporting cast for the house of mouse
DonAmechesBonerToe@reddit
Mickey is then supporting cast of Oswald.
xqueenfrostine@reddit
Mickey killed Oswald and made a skin suit of him
Professional-Pungo@reddit
Micky has Minnie. And since he is the main character I’d argue that all of the other characters are supporting for him
gtrocks555@reddit
Mickey Mouse has many more shows than that.
drbhrb@reddit
Mickey is an icon. Donald is not.
coffeecircus@reddit
I’ve found Mickey to be super boring and has no personality, besides being “nice”. It seems to be an intentional push by Disney to keep him super uncontroversial and vanilla.
I don’t think it’s just between Mickey and Donald though - the varied princesses, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars are all part of the Disney brand. Personally, I like the Pixar characters the most, as their movies tend to have a lot of heart, a good message, and can be identified easily with (like Up, etc).
Intelligent_Pop1173@reddit
It’s why I love South Park’s portrayal of Mickey as a psychotic greedy megalomaniac and find it so funny.
New-Sheepherder2239@reddit
Well yeah
crunchyfoliage@reddit
Mickey is definitely more recognizable being the mascot, but I wouldn't say either is particularly popular anymore. I'm nearly 40 and when I think of media with Mickey and Donald I think, "those are old people cartoons." I didn't realize comic books existed of them at all.
MMARapFooty@reddit
Yes he's the most iconic character in animation
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
Mickey Mouse is maybe the most popular character that has ever existed lol. Donald Duck was more popular only within comic book media for some of Europe for a certain generation.
Infinite_Art_99@reddit
There's still a weekly Donald Duck comic magazine + a monthly one + comic books the size of mass market paperbacks published in Denmark. Possibly also still an elementary school focused magazine.
ChocolatePain@reddit
I'd say Mario, Pikachu and SpongeBob all compete with the mouse for most popular character.
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
It’s not even close. Anyone over 50 is wayyy more likely to know Mickey Mouse than any of those newer characters.
Wolfie_Ecstasy@reddit
The definition of popular is to be widely liked and enjoyed by people. I can't say I know anyone under 40 who is a Mickey Mouse fan outside of a few Disney adult spouses.
Maybe more people know who Mickey is, sure. I'd argue even Star Wars is more popular than anything Disney related these days. Pokemon is a literal juggernaut.
virtualpig@reddit
Star Wars IS Disney related though.
They got the MCU and Star Wars to help them stay relevant.
Wolfie_Ecstasy@reddit
I guess that is technically true but when I think of either of those I don't think of Disney because they didn't create it. They just bought it and made it worse.
drbhrb@reddit
Yes those newer characters from 30-40 years ago
ChocolatePain@reddit
And kids know the others ones. A Google search suggests there's around similar % of kids and people over 50 in terms of total demographics on Earth.
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
Right, but all those kids ALSO know Mickey Mouse. So if you look at the whole population, a much higher percentage of people know Mickey Mouse
SuccessfulHospital54@reddit
If he’s the most popular, why specify the age over 50.
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
I was drawing attention to the fact that your idea of what’s popular is skewed to a particular demographic. I’m saying you have to think about all the humans on earth, not just people in your age range and demographic.
NoCard753@reddit
Such as "Anyone over 50"?
Professional-Pungo@reddit
he is saying that almost all young people know of all the characters, but old people only know about 1.
FilthyMindz69@reddit
In all honesty the only thing I can think of that compares is god…..crazy
PistachioPerfection@reddit
That's an interesting and unexpected observation, but I believe you may be right 😅
HwatWhatWut@reddit
Not even close. I would say Mickey is absolutely the most popular character, I would say the second closest would be Superman.
Mario and Pikachu are also incredibly popular but I don’t think SpongeBob is even close to the popularity of the other characters.
beenoc@reddit
Is Mickey popular, or just recognized? Like, I don't think there's argument that the "three circles" Mickey logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world, but how many people are actually Mickey Mouse (the character) fans? Like, what does Mickey Mouse's home look like? What are the most famous Mickey Mouse quotes? How many people watch Mickey Mouse TV shows and movies (other than Disney Jr. stuff?)
Mickey is a famous mascot, not really a famous character. Characters like Spongebob and Superman (and to some extent Mario and Pikachu, though they border on mascot) are famous characters.
schonleben@reddit
Is Fantasia not still a mainstay? I’m mid-30s and remember it vividly.
ChocolatePain@reddit
I don't think Superman is anywhere as culturally relevant for kids nowadays compared to Pikachu.
ChewBoiDinho@reddit
Cultural relevance and popularity are not the same thing
trelene@reddit
Maybe that's true, currently. But the newer ones are going to need several more decades of popularity to compete with the mouse in the all-time category.
turdferguson3891@reddit
I would say Donald was more popular when Mickey and Donald were actually prevalent in comics and cartoons. Today, Mickey is more popular because he's the symobol of Disney. But how many people under 50 actually remember any of his cartoons or comics? To younger people there a bunch of other characters more relevant. But Mickey is the mascot. And Donald is from a long time ago.
Saruster@reddit
I live near Disney World and there’s a huge power line pylon shaped like Mickey’s head next to the biggest road that leads to the park entrance.
The three circle Mickey head is everywhere and instantly recognizable as “Disney.” I’m pretty sure it’s recognizable all over the world, not just near the parks. It’s impressive how successful the marketing has been.
turdferguson3891@reddit
I grew up near Anaheim. The mouse is everywhere but I still mostly remember him as a symbol of the company. The only Mickey cartoon I can actually remember is Fantasia. But he is very much the primary image used for the company.
LuftDrage@reddit
Any of his old cartoons or comics? Not many. But they didn’t just stop making Mickey Mouse stuff. Many from my generation will be able to recite the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song. And actually now that I think about it, Donald got pretty popular again by proxy because of the new Ducktales show. I’d say it was more popular than the Mickey and Minnie show for the same target audience.
turdferguson3891@reddit
I'm old so the original Ducktales was from my childhood. I didn't know they rebooted it but definitely people my age liked the duck characters more than Mickey because of that. We knew Mickey but mainly just as a mascot and from Fantasia, I guess. I feel like Mickey has mostly been a mascot/symbol for a long time, there hasn't been a lot of new material with Mickey as the star for ages.
MissDisplaced@reddit
I think maybe Donald Duck was really popular during WW2, maybe more so than Micky Mouse? Probably due to cartoons of the era that may have been morale boosters.
normiepitbullmom@reddit
mickey mouse is insanely popular
Josephcooper96@reddit
Yes
VALISinWonderland@reddit
I've never read a Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse comic book. That is popular over there??
Mickey Mouse was always the main character but I preferred Looney tunes because that was actually on Free TV pretty much every day
ZombieAladdin@reddit
Indeed, it is. The Donald Duck comics have been a decades-old cultural phenomenon in Europe.
Over here in North America, we follow Batman and Superman. In Europe, they follow Donald and Scrooge.
kacheow@reddit
Is Scrooge a different duck? I always thought he was just Donald’s alter ego
Big-Dig-Pig@reddit
He’s Donald’s uncle and (I think) the great uncle of Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
ZombieAladdin@reddit
He is a completely different character (but in the same family).
IttyBittyOhSoPretty@reddit
Scrooge comics were popular here when they were written too.
Superheroes have not always been the dominant comic genre you know.
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
I don't know whether Mickey Mouse comic books exist, but to me Donald Duck always felt (and still feels), like the default comic book series and it is the most popular opinion. I have probably more then a thousand of issues, which is not even an uncommon amount.
Antique_Character215@reddit
It’s unusual to spot a Donald Duck comic in the US at all
VALISinWonderland@reddit
I'm old but if I remember at all seeing it, it was for little kids. Like those too young to get into X-Men and Avengers and Batman. Like there's no way I would have bought one in a comic book store without claiming it was a gift for my younger sibling or something
Big-Dig-Pig@reddit
Mickey Mouse is a very popular character for extremely young children. Outside of that, he’s basically a mascot/legacy character.
Donald Duck is not popular independent of Mickey. If anything, Goofy is the most popular character with adults due to A Goofy Movie, which is a millennial classic with more mature themes related to fatherhood, etc.
Practical-Ordinary-6@reddit
Here's how it works. When you think of Disney, you think first of Mickey Mouse. He's the OG and always will be.
Now you can have a different favorite character if you want. But Mickey is start of it all and retains that overall position in the Disney universe.
carmichaelcar@reddit
Mickey Mouse is no longer relevant as a recurring cartoon character. Disney now have many many other characters that they routinely develop content for.
MetalEnthusiast83@reddit
A new Mickey show is currently running lol
DeMessenZijnGeslepen@reddit
We like Donald Duck, but Mickey Mouse is basically the mascot for Disney as a whole so he's more popular in that regard.
raknor88@reddit
What I find funny, unless I missed something, it's been a very long time since Mickey or Donald have been main characters in any show or movie.
MetalEnthusiast83@reddit
My kids watch the new shows all the time.
There was also a run of shorts a few years ago that are for a more general audience (not just little kids) that are pretty great.
fasterthanfood@reddit
There’s a preschool kid’s show called “Mickey Mouse Funhouse” that was still putting out new episodes as of the time my niece was in that audience. It looks like the final season was 2024.
fleemfleemfleemfleem@reddit
Steamboat willie has been public domain for a while now. You can theoretically make your own show with that specific short as the basis as long as you stay clear of trademark stuff.
Donald at least had a role in Ducktales somewhat recently.
I think it's been about 20 years since there was a "mickey movie" though. He's been more of a corporate mascot for a long time.
WittyCombination6@reddit
Mickey is definitely #1 but Donald is definitely #2 in popularity.
byamannowdead@reddit
35 years ago, in Kindergarten class, when learning about elections, we held a vote. Mickey won about 90% vs Donald.
Don’t ask me why I still remember this.
osddelerious@reddit
Than
MortimerDongle@reddit
Yes, but to be clear he isn't popular in comic books. He is known mostly from animated shorts and shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
I grew up with Batman and Superman mainly as characters from cartoons, like Batman the brave and the bold, I really love/loved that series.
DerthOFdata@reddit
Nothing will ever top Batman the Animated Series. Give it a go if you haven't already.
Ok_Driver_6895@reddit
RIP Kevin Conroy (my favorite Batman)
virtualpig@reddit
Yeah Disney comic book aren't really a thing over here. I mean I'm not really into comic book so I'm one to talk. But pretty much the only times I've heard Disney comics mentioned it's in relation to overseas.
shelwood46@reddit
They were moderately popular for younger kids when I was a kid in the 70s, but one of my mom's friends was stationed in Germany in the early 70s and brought me back a bunch of Donald Duck-centric comic books from there, so this thing of Donald being bigger in Europe is not new. The US Disney comics of the time didn't really feature Donald or Mickey, tbf, it was very focused more on Goofy and Scrooge McDuck & the nephews, maybe a bit of Pluto. But Mickey did get Fantasia, while Donald was definitely secondary.
GreekDudeYiannis@reddit
100%. People literally still mix up Donald Duck and Daffy Duck. Mickey Mouse is infinitely more popular and well known. Even in most of the cartoons, Donald Duck is seen as Mickey's sidekick or friend.
JMS1991@reddit
Daffy Duck > Donald Duck
SavannahInChicago@reddit
Huh, that is so interesting. I wonder why the difference?
jf737@reddit
Mickey is prob the most famous cartoon character in the history of the US. You know you’re famous when people know just your silhouette.
5uper5kunk@reddit
I was a huge fan of the Donald Duck Extended Universe cartoon "Duck Tails" as a kid so for me, the Duck is the king!
VariegatedPlumage@reddit
Have you watched the 2017 remake of Duck Tales? It’s AMAZING. Such a good cartoon!!!
5uper5kunk@reddit
Ha no, I had no idea even existed I’ll definitely check it out though thanks.
LegoWasTaken@reddit
it's incredible
VariegatedPlumage@reddit
Yeah! The characters are a lot more fleshed out and there’s more of an overarching plot, plus it’s just beautifully animated. I don’t love most remakes of stuff from my childhood but that show was the best.
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
The original DuckTales was awesome.
5uper5kunk@reddit
It’s so good. Like I don’t like boats I don’t like planes but man I want a seaplane so badly because of that dumb show.
Fun_Committee1478@reddit
Yes. The tv show is called Mickeys Clubhouse, not Donald’s clubhouse lol
2Asparagus1Chicken@reddit
TIL there's a Mickey TV show
69FourTwentySix6Six@reddit
Donald Mouse Clubhouse
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
I know, I used to watch Mickey Mouse clubhouse when I was little, but where I live it was very rarely on television and not as popular as the Donald Duck comic book series. I am not even certain whether it was more popular then DuckTales.
Joleto5150@reddit
Mickey is like the symbol of Disney, it’s not even that people like him as much, personally I hate him, I like Donald Duck a lot more, Mickey has such a punchable attitude
OfficialRoshi@reddit
I’d say as of recently yes, however there was a time when Donald was more popular.
AjoiteSky@reddit
The comics aren't as popular in the US as in Europe. Inside the niche that's into the comics, then I'd say Donald and Scrooge are more popular than Mickey. For the rest of the public that's only familiar with the cartoons, Mickey is more popular, since he's the mascot of Disney.
HurryNo7779@reddit
This made me think about the Mickey Mouse song where Donald Duck keeps interjecting his name. "Mickey Mouse--Donald Duck! Mickey Mouse--Donald Duck!!"
Duffy_Do@reddit
I'd say so, yes.
Personally, I've always favored Donald, though.
adiostama@reddit
TBH I think Donald Duck is more popular in Oregon, because he is the mascot of one of our college sports teams: The Oregon Ducks. So I see a lot of Donald Duck things around
Insomniac_80@reddit
Hmm Mickey Mouse is the Disney Mascot, but the true classic cartoons are so under lock and key they aren't seen too often.
ghjm@reddit
I think I'm typical of Americans in that I could not tell you the plot of any story involving either Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse. I might be able to dredge up a memory of the the plot of a DuckTales episode, which would be about Huey, Duey and Louie, and maybe Scrooge McDuck, but wouldn't feature Donald. I know that historically both Mickey and Donald were in newspaper cartoons along with their girlfriends Minnie and Daisy. But I never read them.
This may be changing as Disney has been pushing both characters in recent series on Disney Kids. I don't know what personalities the new versions of the characters have, becuase I don't care about them at all. Disney can do whatever they want with them as far as I'm concerned.
I care a lot more about the Looney Tunes / Merrie Melodies characters (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote and so on). If you asked, I would tell you the plots of dozens of episodes of these, likely many more than you were really interested in hearing about. It would be quite difficult to stop me once I got started.
DrBlankslate@reddit
Mickey's the one with the most name recognition, and likely the most popular.
InsertEvilLaugh@reddit
Yep, when you think Disney mascots, you think Mickey generally here. His face and head and ears are iconic and on most Disney signage.
StOnEy333@reddit
Donald is a side character that wants to be the main guy, but is really no comparison to the main character.
Interesting how similar this is to something else in the world. lol
Mysterious-Web-8788@reddit
At this point they are both kind of relics. But Mickey Mouse lives on since he's the icon for Disney, while Donald Duck falls out of relevancy.
As a kid in the 80's/90's I'm not sure I'd say one was more popular or common than the other.
PerceptivePines@reddit
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E 🐭🎶
No-Donkey-4117@reddit
If you grew up in the 1950s. By the 70s, Donald Duck was the main character in the TV cartoons.
PerceptivePines@reddit
False. Mickey has always been the #1 Disney character.
No-Donkey-4117@reddit
Maybe for kids under 5. Donald Duck was huge in the 70s, with cartoons and comic books. I don't remember Mickey much at all.
butt_butt_butt_butt_@reddit
My kids are under 5, and when we do TV at their grandparents, my folks tend to always want to go with one of the original Disney characters, Vs something new (Cocomelon, Peppa Pig, Calliou etc).
I’m not an expert, but all of the shows I’ve seen that are more recent for toddlers RIGHT NOW tend to be Mickey-Focused, at least in the title.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ is the one my kids like, and it’s also possibly one of the most annoying shows I’ve ever watched.
Though I definitely agree, when I was a kid in the 90s, DuckTales was THE thing. I don’t remember watching any Mickey shows besides the old classic cartoons as a younger kid.
Fun_Machine7346@reddit
Pluto should be the leader.
omgcheez@reddit
Yes, Mickey is more popular. The comics aren’t nearly as popular in the US. He’s Disney’s mascot first, and from there, the face of animation. There’s a reason why Disneyland has the statue of Walt and Mickey together.
I prefer Donald, but I like Ducktales. It’s cool how different countries have things like that that are special, like how Sweden has the Donald Duck tradition for Christmas and Jose Carioca has a beloved comic series in Brazil.
Jovian12@reddit
The Disney Ducks comics never took off here, so Donald as a character didn't receive that boost either. DuckTales was the closest thing we had, and that was in the 90s.
FewRefrigerator374@reddit
Mickey is the star. Donald is his side kick
TimelyToast@reddit
Neither are particularly popular in the US; but, Mickey has more visibility.
Mickey and friends are just mascots like Hello Kitty and have not been staples in popular culture since I was born and I’m in my mid-30s. Very few could recount any stories about them.
MondaleforPresident@reddit
Yes.
I knew about that Donald Duck was more popular than Mickey Mouse in Sweden and Denmark, but I didn't know that about the Netherlands.
Remarkable_Table_279@reddit
Mickey then Minnie and then Donald & then the others
jezr3n@reddit
This has always been one of the things I like about the Dutch. Donald Duck is a man of the people and it’s good they recognize that over there.
Pure_Log_888526@reddit
than
Winter-Warlock8954@reddit
Mickey is WAY more popular than Donald in America. Like almost no DD merch exists, but MM is an icon.
Smart_Engine_3331@reddit
I dont really care about either of them. I don't how generally popular they are.
Otherwise-OhWell@reddit
Big fan of most duck cartoon/comic characters.
Daffy over Donald but I like them more than Bugs Bunny or Mickey (and I love Bugs. Mickey is fine).
Not a fan of Mallard Fillmore.
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
Did you have seperate cartoon series with Daffy as main character, or is Bugs Bunny the biggest in America?
Otherwise-OhWell@reddit
I'm old. I don't recall many Looney Tunes characters getting their own show except maybe the Tasmanian Devil in the 90's?
Best thing, imo, about tuning into Looney Tunes is you never know what you're gonna get and I love them all
bizoticallyyours83@reddit
I think right now its Goofy.
MattieShoes@reddit
Mickey feels more like a brand than a character at this point. So he's better known, but not more liked, if that makes any sense?
MarionberryPlus8474@reddit
Donald and Goofy, etc have their fans but Mickey is the oldest continuous character. He is so old the original black &white version from “Steamboat Willie” finally entered public domain, despite Disney pushing extensions of copyright laws over and over again. He’s basically the mascot if the Disney company, so his outline is on all the videos, movies, theme park merchandise, etc. He’s undoubtedly the most recognized cartoon character in the country, by far.
knightni73@reddit
I mean, Disney Channel stars didn't draw a sailor hat.
Appropriate-Win3525@reddit
I'm in my late 40s, but will admit I had to have Mickey Mouse cake every year for my birthday when I was little. I am not a "Disney Adult", I was never obsessed with the Disney princesses, but I loved Mickey Mouse. My very first album was even Mickey Mouse Disco.
I don't consider myself a huge Disney nerd. I've only been to Disney World once as a child. But Mickey, himself, will always hold a soft spot in my heart.
nowhereman136@reddit
Donald Duck comics faded out in the 70s, most Americans aren't familiar with them. There was a Donald Duck cartoon back in the 90s (and Goofy Cartoon) but both of those pail in comparison to Mickey Mouse. They still make Mickey cartoons today but more importantly Mickey is a mascot. He is known by just his silhouette. Mickey is by far more popular
KagakuNinja@reddit
I would say Mickey Mouse is more recognizable. I have never in my life read a Mickey Mouse comic, and have little interest whatever cartoons he was in. I did read some Scrooge McDuck comics in my youth, but of course super heroes were my main thing.
nowhereman136@reddit
Depending how old you are, Donald comics use to be very popular. But like I said, by the time cable TV came along, they sort of faded out of popularity. Still popular internationally, but not in the US
Dangerous-Variation@reddit
I wondered why that “hotel” in Japan on that documentary I watched had a Donald Duck room. This post explains it. 😂
Craicriture@reddit
I have to say growing up in Ireland in the 80s and 90s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck never appealed to me as a kid. They just seemed so twee, old fashioned and boring. The Disney brand was huge, but the original characters that were core to it really didn’t register with me very much at all, even when I was very young. Of the old classic cartoons I loved the Loonie Toons characters, Tom and Jerry, and the Pink Panther.
RandyArgonianButler@reddit
I personally like Donald better, but Mickey is clearly more popular - and by a wide margin.
BeepCheeper@reddit
I love the thought of Donald Duck of being a more popular character than Mickey. He is my grandfather’s favorite. It could only happen outside the US 💔
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
Donald Duck is such a cultural phenomenon here, everyone read Donald Duck weekly, most people played those online Donald Duck games, DuckTales was on television, and there was/is even a Donald Duck themed typing course called ducktylen
BeepCheeper@reddit
I love that so much ❤️ This week I will tell Pop that Donald is more popular in The Netherlands. Donald has so much personality, Mickey is just a face and a name!
annahoi@reddit
I also remember there being some whole online story game called duckworld? I think it’s discontinued now but it was so good, I don’t think I ever even completed the main story but I still vividly remember the sound effects of some of the minigames, especially the robot building and the kart racing ones (:
LongtimeLurker916@reddit
Mickey Mouse is the personification of Disney to such an extent that cutesy newspaper articles (the same kind that like to mention the eye and peacock symbols for CBS and NBC) will sometimes refer to the Walt Disney Co. as "the mouse."
That said, the Donald Duck comic books do exist with a cult following and were the foundation in both the 1980s and 2010s for the Ducktales TV series. I would say a person of my late X/early millennial generation would be more familiar with Ducktales than with the vintage shorts for either Disney character. Whereas the Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes vintage shorts were still very often on TV. I know there was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse later on, with a bit of a comeback for Mickey as an actual character instead of a logo, and so those who grew up in that era might have a different view.
LuftDrage@reddit
Warner Bros. continuing to air those old shorts was such a good idea. When you’re at the age where you’re watching that stuff it doesn’t really matter if they’re 80 year old cartoons. Great way to build early brand recognition lol. It also gave them a solid already existing audience for new shows because kids already know the characters. I was so excited as a kid when I saw they were making a new looney tunes show in like the early 2010’s because I already loved Bugs and Daffy and the Roadrunner and whatnot.
Hoopajoops@reddit
Micky mouse is Disneys flagship character. I don't know that he's popular due to film anymore, but more like a symbol of Disneyland that gets the kids all riled up
AggressiveAd5592@reddit
I was born in 1982. The main cartoon ducks during my childhood were Scrooge McDuck and Hewey, Dewey and Louie. Donald was a cousin they saw on holidays and such.
dreadroberts@reddit
My favorite was Darkwing Duck, with Launchpad in a beloved crossover role
beamerpook@reddit
Mickey might be more well-known, but Donald Duck is infinitely more amusing.
I particularly love the ones where he fights against the chipmunks
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
You mean Chip 'n' Dale? In the Netherlands they are called Knabbel en Babbel, and when I was little sometimes my dad called me and whatever brother was with me Knabbel en Babbel good times lol.
beamerpook@reddit
Yes, them. They are hilarious
Active_Two_6741@reddit
They dont sing D-o-n-a-l-d 🎶
ShylokVakarian@reddit
When I was younger, I actually preferred Donald.
Now, I legit don't care cuz Disney is evil.
Neat_Painting_9424@reddit
Yes, I remember being a kid and visiting Scandinavia. And being surprised at how much more Donald Duck stuff there was.
Narrow-Durian4837@reddit
I think you'd have to define what you mean by "popular": whose picture would little kids rather have on their clothes and lunch boxes? Whose cartoons are more popular to watch? Do media (books, comic books, video games, etc.) featuring one character sell better?
Mickey is the mascot or symbol for Disney as a whole, but he's kind of bland. Both Donald and Goofy have more personality and are more funny.
speedsterlw@reddit (OP)
Mostly a combination of what sells better, and which character is more recognizable.
Ok-Highway-5247@reddit
Yes
LAWriter2020@reddit
I believe Donald Duck is also more popular in China - the sometimes grouchy uncle.
NoCard753@reddit
I don't recall ever really laughing at anything Mickey Mouse said or did. Donald Duck broke me up many times. WAK!
YoshiandAims@reddit
I'd say a lot of it is the grouping of characters is popular. Mickey is the most... recognizable as the brand itself.
within the Disney sphere alone, not counting other media:
Donald Duck was quite popular growing up, as was Mickey. They shared shows, had their own. All of that...
I'd say in the 90's Donald had more accessible shows and exposure in my region, and it went in cycles. My nephew had Mickey shows outnumbering Donald at some point in the 2000s. Plus the "all characters variety shows type programs. featuring all the characters."
I also think Goofy had a moment where he was just hot as could be, but it didn't last? He didn't take the crown.
I'm a Donald fan. I can sing the theme songs to this day. It's what we grew up with.
However, I've seen the Donald "mania" over there... and lol, yeah, in comparison, Donald is not that popular. Solely in comparison, though. I love it, he really shines over there! He deserves it in my opinion. Mickey... aside from the originals, his stories and personality I did not enjoy as much? (having to watch with my nephew.)
anonymouse278@reddit
Donald Duck in the US is a supporting character no more significant than any other.
For some reason, Donald Duck got more comic books and storylines in various European countries when Disney was relatively new than he did in the US, and apparently he has a completely different personality in those. In American Disney cartoons, he is loud, short-tempered, and kind of ridiculous. There are various Donald Duck-adjacent properties like Ducktales that have been moderately popular here, but nothing touches Mickey as a cultural icon.
Mickey Mouse is just way, way more famous and popular in the US than any other Disney character. They literally call Walt Disney Company "The Mouse." People wear Mickey ears to Disney parks, not Donald Duck... bills? Disney properties are covered in "hidden Mickeys" in the designs.
All that said, Disney comic books aren't much of a cultural thing in the US and haven't been in living memory, and the classic animated shorts with the core original characters aren't all that culturally relevant anymore. So all of this is more about character recognition than anything. Neither of them is starring in new storylines and they're more like mascots than anything.
But if you ask an American to free-associate with Disney, they're gonna say "Mickey Mouse" 99 times for every one person who says Donald Duck.
Ambitious-Ocelot8036@reddit
Mickey wears pants and Donald doesn't.
I_Lost_My_Shoe_1983@reddit
Disney is also called "House of the Mouse." He's the symbol. People probably like Donald better though.
Personally, I'm a Goofy gal.
Darkdragoon324@reddit
I always liked Donald more, but I don’t think I’m the majority. But I remember his cartoons seemed to play a lot more when I secretly stayed up really late watching the Disney channel until the old stuff came on.
BillNyeTheEngineer@reddit
Isn’t Mickey the most famous cartoon character ever? I’d say he is definitely more liked here though.
VariegatedPlumage@reddit
The Donald Duck comic books never attained the same popularity in the US that they have in Europe. I’m not sure why. But in the US, neither Mickey NOR Donald is known as a comic book character, the comics are hard to come by and really only something big comic history nerds are into, not mainstream Disney fans. Mickey is the logo for Disney, so Mickey is much better known.
mdf7g@reddit
Neither is very popular in the US, frankly, but Mickey is certainly more well-known.
I don't really know anybody, even people who are die-hard Disney fans, who really care much about either one.
Not very many people will be familiar with the comics or shorts featuring them, though some people in the younger Millennial / older Gen-Z age range have fond memories of the Kindgom Hearts series of video games.
freetotalkabtyourmom@reddit
Than
BalrogRuthenburg11@reddit
Donald Duck has always been way more popular in my family. His cartoon shorts are way more entertaining. Mickey always struck me as a bit of a jerk to Donald.
IceTech59@reddit
Growing up I far preferred Donald Duck & his nephews Huey, Dewey & Louie, also Gyro Gearloose, Uncle Scrooge, and Goofy to the mouse.
Tha_Kush_Munsta@reddit
Yes, but mickeys basic and if you love Donald that’s a real indicator of knowledge and love.
ProveISaidIt@reddit
I like Donald B Duck more personally, but yes, I think Mickey Mouse is more popular in the US.
Low_Key_2827@reddit
The Donald Duck comics weren't a thing here to the extent they were in Europe, so Donald Duck was just part of Mickey's friend group.
Redbubble89@reddit
Little kids still love Mickey Mouse. Since there hasnt been much recently except a preschool show.
Donald and Huey, Dewey, and Louie have older kid appeal.
Goofy has a mixture of both.
No-Donkey-4117@reddit
Not even close. The Mickey cartoons are from the 1930s or something. If you grew up in the 1970s or 80s, Donald Duck was the main character, or maybe Goofy.
turquoise_amethyst@reddit
Those Disney characters are less popular these days. Most kids seem to go for all the Star Wars stuff or Marvel/DC comic book characters. Or the Disney Princesses.
blipsman@reddit
Yes
No_Importance_750@reddit
Mickey is the main character and leader of the friend group so yeah.
neoslith@reddit
I wouldn't say either is particularly popular these days, but Mickey easily overshadows Donald.
Roadshell@reddit
Mickey Mouse is basically a logo more than a character at this point. Donald Duck isn't much different.
Frondelet@reddit
Probably, but Donald's family is way better than the mouse's.
danhm@reddit
There were several Donald Duck comics made specifically for Europe, perhaps due to lower TV ownership in the post war period?
realnanoboy@reddit
I've never paid much attention to either character, to be honest. Even as a kid, there were many better cartoons.
jessek@reddit
They’re probably about the same. Classic Disney cartoons aren’t as popular in the US as they are in Europe. The comic books definitely are not popular like they are in Europe.
SpinachSubstantial55@reddit
Mickey is more popular in the US because he's Disney’s mascot.
kabilibob@reddit
Mickey Mouse is the default Disney character here in the US
JustHere4TheZipLines@reddit
Yes