Culturally Significant Cartoons; My Top 5

In my last posting, (“In Search of the World’s Most Important Cartoon Characters;
Mickey Mouse, Superman, Snoopy?”), I pondered the importance of
cartoons as cultural icons.” In this posting, I have decided to provide you
with my list and criteria for what makes a culturally significant cartoon.  

Here are my criteria for measuring cultural
significance:

Is
it instantly recognizable?

Does
it cross cultures?

Is
it multi-generational?

Does it
send a clear message?

Based upon the above my top 5 are:

1. Mickey
   Mouse – The Coca Cola of cartoons.  He is
   the non-frenetic, everyman, little guy action hero who conquers all except his
   love for a good woman.

2. Snoopy
   – Universally known, just visit the Charlie Brown café in Hong Kong and you
   will know what I mean.  He represents sheer joy in the moment.

3. Superman
   – 75 years is a long time to be a cultural icon.  His is the American dream and nightmare in
   which an immigrant comes to America, succeeds dramatically but never really
   fits in.

4. Homer
   Simpson – Has replaced Dagwood as the universal male idiot.  He is the uneducated, everyman underclass
   writ large.  His moments of domestic
   violence, child neglect, drunkenness and poor job performance make us laugh but
   in real life they are society’s darkest side. 
   Maybe, as funny as Homer is, he makes us wonder why we laugh and what
   exactly are we laughing at?

5. Betty
   Boop – Simply libido in black and white. 
   

So, how would you rank cartoon characters? 

What will be the classics in 50 years? 

Whether it’s by how much they make you laugh
or think; let us know.