Abstract
This essay makes a case for a possible new source of influence on Mickey Mouse: the political cartoons of Clifford Berryman and his signature figure, Teddy's Bear. The visual similarities between Berryman's famous cub and Disney's Mouse are striking; I argue that they are too strong to be merely coincidental. Placing the iconic Mouse in dialogue with Teddy's Bear adds a new dimension to oft-discussed elements within Disney animation, such as the construction of cuteness, the exploration (as well as exploitation) of innocence, and the treatment—along with Mickey's infamous early mistreatment—of animals.
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