The Most Popular Disney Character In Tokyo...

Think Mickey Mouse is the most famous character at the Tokyo DisneySEA park? You'd be wrong. That little teddy bear that he's holding up just happens to be the most popular character among the Japanese.




Duffy.

Created originally for the Walt Disney Resort as "The Disney Bear," he's now known as Duffy at the Tokyo Resort. Duffy has evolved into sort of a cultural phenomenon there. He's even got his own website on the the Tokyo Disney Resort's site. His meet and greets are where you see long lines of Japanese fans gathered just to snap a picture with him. And is the case, they've developed a back story for him. Remember, everything should have a back story at Disney. This is something the Suits forgot when building parts of DCA(Maliboomer, anyone).



Anyway, back to the back story. It appears that since this is Tokyo Disney"Sea" and everything is related to the ocean, exploration and such, Mickey was headed out to sea. The night before he goes, Minnie gave him a teddy bear as a gift of companionship. Duffy is a bear of magic and great luck and spread happiness and cheer throughout Tokyo DisneySEA.

Next time you get to TDS(you lucky bum), why don't you pick up one of these plush teddies, or a Duffy outfit, or a key chain or a...

Well, at least get in line to have a picture taken with him.

The Mouse's Rodent Problem...

The Walt Disney Company's had a pest problem for a long time. Decades even. You'd think that they would have called an exterminator after they first noticed the problem.

Have you seen how many rodents there are there? First they had mice, then more mice and finally rats... It's getting downright crowded in Burbank. Heck, they've even found them in other parts of the company... Emeryville for example.

But the problem all started back in 1928 when Walt was just starting his studio. The first one to show up was this little rascal of a rodent named...

Mickey Mouse.



It didn't end there either. It turns out this Mickey had a mate...

Minnie Mouse.



And then there was the time Walt went to the circus for research for his movie "Dumbo". That brought in this other mouse named...

Timothy.



Oh, and when Walt had that castle built for that princess she brought along a bunch of mice. Even though there were supposed to be no pets...

Helper Mice.



Of course when Disney told the story of Robin Hood it was hard to keep them out as well. Those church mice...

Saxton and Wife.



And speaking of church mice, I seem to remember Walt finding that church mouse that helped out Ben Franklin. I think his name was...

Amos.



Then there was the ones the company found down in that swamp. Of course, I'm sure if they'd gotten rid of them it would have been bad publicity with them rescuing that girl and all...

Bernard & Miss Bianca.



Then there was those mice that found themselves involved in a mystery of some sort...

Basil & Dawson.



Of course, not all these mice work together. Some of them are downright enemies. That Basil just didn't get along with this one rat...

Ratigan.



And just when you think they've got it under control, the new branch up in Emeryville has an infestation. Luckily, at least one of them knew how to cook. Unfortunately the other one liked to eat...

Remy & Emile.



I'm sure there are more. It's hard to keep count after all...

The only conclusion I can come to is that they like them. Walt must have found something about this Mickey that he liked and everyone else sort of was won over as well.

I guess I'll call off the exterminator... they're starting to grow on me too.