What Are They Thinking?

You may have seen the news that the Disney Company wants to change Mickey Mouse. I have no problem with updating The Mouse. I have a huge problem with the attributes they have given him. Apparently the Disney Company is telling us that a cunning, selfish, and naughty Mickey is better than an honest, cheerful and friendly one. Good Lord – what does that say about the Disney Company and about us? Below are excerpts of the letter I sent today to Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

Per the New York Times, “Mickey won’t be bland anymore, either. I wanted him to be able to be naughty — when you’re playing as Mickey you can misbehave and even be a little selfish,” Mr. Spector said.”

Selfish? Naughty? Isn’t there enough of that in this world? Aren’t we in economic turmoil because people are selfish and naughty? It seems to me that Wall Street, Washington and board rooms are overflowing with “cantankerous and cunning.” We get enough “edgy” on the evening news. I think you’d better take a look at the Mickey frame shown on MSN.com today. His look isn’t edgy. It’s evil.

My family, including the teens, likes Mickey because he is NOT bad. He is honest, warm-hearted and cheerful – all attributes we wish were more plentiful in the world. What is next to the Harry Potter poster? A stuffed Mickey. What do you see on car antennas everywhere? Smiling Mickeys. Who gets the biggest hug when we go to Florida? Mickey.

Mickey can and should do new things – place him in new situations, have him use new technology. Mickey can street dance, he can text. He is static only because you didn’t pay any attention to him for years. Approving an evil Mickey is not the way to make us spend more money on him. I guarantee that we will not visit a cunning Mickey at Walt Disney World nor we will buy a game that features a selfish Mickey.

I strongly encourage you to rethink your vandalism. Mickey can be updated (we have a poster that shows his evolution) but do not make him just another slug in our society.

If you feel the same way, you might want to contact the Disney Company and tell them what you think. The mailing address is 500 S Buena Vista St, Burbank CA 91521