Plus it's only the old, old design of Mickey, not the current version they have been using for awhile that looks more normal to most people these days.
She's watched like one Mickey cartoon on Disney+, and she's seen way more Disney stuff than that. Never been to Disneyland.
But somehow to her, Disney === Mickey/Minnie. Branding is wild stuff.
My grandparents had several tapes of Disney cartoons; they don't have to be broadcast for people to be familiar with them.
First I would read all the Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck stories, then I would read the weird stories (like Goofy [but only if it didn’t involve Micky], Chip ‘n’ Dale or even the Big Bad Wolf), and only if I had nothing else to do, I would first re-read the Donald and Scrooge stories and then finally read Micky.
Growing up I never understood what the big deal was around Micky, objectively the worst of the Disney characters.
I mean it's a compelling breakdown IMO.
He represents so much more than a character, I think in a time when they're expanding portfolios they NEED to keep Mickey to stay Disney if they want to - and imo they should want to.
I don't think that's possible.