It all started with a mouse.
When one thinks about the Walt Disney Company the first name that immediately comes to mind is Mickey Mouse. Since the inception of Walt Disney Animation, Mickey has been the face of Disney and his fame only continues to rise to this day. In November 2022, Mickey Mouse will turn 94 years old.
The creation of Mickey Mouse brought with him a collection of friends and foes that have become equally infamous and pillars of pop culture. This past week, Donald and Daisy Duck each celebrated their own anniversaries at 88 and 82 respectively. Goofy also celebrated a major milestone in May 2022, marking his 90th anniversary.
Mickey Mouse and Friends have become icons, and with the release of new cartoons over the years, a plethora of new merchandise and the opening of the first ever Mickey featured ride at Walt Disney World in 2020, Mickey and his friends’ popularity continues to soar to new heights.
To celebrate these original Disney characters and their recent anniversaries, Frozen Mouse Fever is doing the ultimate ranking of Mickey and Friends. While there have been many characters featured in Mickey Mouse cartoons over the last nine decades, this list will only feature the most prominent and well-known characters of the bunch. No deep cuts such as Oswald, Webby, Launchpad, or Horace will be featured this time around. Also, as always, it’s completely subjective.
Now as Mickey loves to say “oh, boy – here we go!”
12. Pete
While Mickey and his friends come across many antagonists over the years, Pete is the most prominent and well-known. This large cat uses his size to intimidate our favourite pals, but he usually ends up looking like the biggest goof of them all. While he shows some heart on occasion in “Goof Troop”, more often than not, he’s a one-dimensional bully for our heroes to defeat time and again.
11. Scrooge McDuck
Arguably the richest cartoon in the world, Scrooge represents the leaders of corporate America. He is most known for his role on “Ducktales” and while he does love his nephew Donald and great nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie in his own unique way, more often than not he loves his money and riches just a tad more. That being said, it’s hard not to fall in love with the character at the end of “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”.
10. Clarabelle Cow
The female representation in the Mickey Mouse gang is definitely lacking, but Clarabelle slightly makes up for that with all her sass. She isn’t featured as much in the Mickey cartoons as the others on this list, but does manage to leave a lasting impression whenever she pops up. Her on-again, off-again romance with Goofy is questionable, but you can’t not appreciate a cow that loves to spread good gossip.
9. Huey, Dewey & Louie
While these triplets made frequent appearances in Donald Duck shorts, their feature roles in “Ducktales” is what made them stars. Donald’s nephews are best known for their mischievous antics, often provoking Donald’s temper or Scrooge’s disciplinarian side. Even though they can cause anyone to have a headache after a hot minute, they somehow manage to still be adorable while doing so.
8. Max Goof
It’s been a minute since we’ve seen Max Goof in anything, but he became a megastar in the 90s following the instant classic, “A Goofy Movie”. He’s a pretty average teenager and is definitely the most relatable of the Mickey Mouse characters as he looks to come into his own. His relationship with his dad is by far the best father-son relationship Disney has ever created. Shall we say Max Goof is a Stand Out?!
7. Daisy Duck
First introduced as Donald Duck’s girlfriend, Daisy has quickly come into her own as the gang’s most even-keeled and sophisticated member. When Daisy is around she’s usually the only person who knows how to qualm Donald’s bursts of rage and often finds the answers to the questions the gang’s been searching for. She’s also a ride or die friend for Minnie, and you have to respect her loyalty.
6. Donald Duck
Next to Mickey, Donald is probably the most well-known of the Mickey gang. His short-temper and chaotic nature has been a treat to watch since his early creation 88 years ago. Often he is the cause of all problems for the gang, but other times, he is the exasperated voice of reason who is driven mad by his friends. While his aggressiveness can be oft-putting at times, it’s hard not to love the dang duck regardless.
5. Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse is the epitome of class. Her fashion sense and love of polka dots is iconic. She was first created simply as Mickey’s love interest, but over many decades has easily become a heroine herself. Minnie is the ultimately “girly girl”, meaning she owns her femininity and shows love and affection to all of those around her. While her and Mickey share a deep love, she’s not afraid to be the mom of the Fab Five when needed.
4. Goofy
There is no one more loveable than Goofy. He is a clumsy, dim-witted simpleton with a heart of gold who will literally destroy his entire body to help his friends. Although he’s always well-intentioned, he usually screws things up for the gang but somehow still manages to do it in such a charming way. He’s also the perfect example of what every boy-dad should be: supportive, nurturing and sometimes overbearing. Simply put, he’s a remarkable goofball.
3. Pluto
Unlike Goofy, Pluto is a dog in the much more traditional sense but yet manages to be more intelligent than the whole Sensational Six a majority of the time. Pluto represents the everyman dog. He’s loyal, playful and dedicated to helping his friends and owner out. He adds a sense of groundedness to a group of characters that can be overly frantic and just like all pups, he knows how to use his adorableness to get him out of trouble. What a good boy!
2. Mickey Mouse
Better known as the King of Disney, this entire group of characters wouldn’t exist without the mouse that started it all. While Mickey deserves a top spot just for being the pioneer he is, he also deserves it for being such a ray of sunshine and positivity for all his friends. His dedication to making the dreams of Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy come true is the definition of a real friend, the kind of mouse a whole company can be built around!
1. Chip ‘n’ Dale
These two chipmunks have a special place in this writers heart. They are by and large the cutest duo on Disney property and know how to make causing mischief seem endearing. Whether they are solving cases on their show or making Donald Duck fume with rage, they always get the job done thanks to Chip’s brains and Dale’s tenacity. Without a doubt they are one of the Walt Disney Company’s greatest original creations.
Who is your favourite Mickey Mouse & Friends characters? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. And make sure to follow Frozen Mouse Fever for all your Disney needs.
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