5 Real-life inspirations behind animated icons

While it’s highly unlikely to find someone alive today who is unfamiliar with iconic figures like Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney, there may be rare cases of individuals living in secluded areas without English language exposure. Interestingly, the inspiration for Mickey Mouse stemmed from Walt Disney’s own pet mouse, whom he adorned with pants and gloves before embarking on his journey to create a billion-dollar empire

Jessica Rabbit – Vikki Dougan
The year was 1957. Vikki Dougan was the talk of the town, the girlfriend of Frank Sinatra and It-Girl of the social scene. She was a sexpot in her backless numbers that scored her the nickname “The Back”. Gangsters were often quoted saying things like; “Vikki Dougan makes the best exits in town!”

Betty Boop – Helen Kane
“Boop-oop-a-doop!” It was the catchphrase that started it all. Now, what if we told you that along with that catchphrase, Helen Kane’s looks and voice were “stolen” for a certain bobble-headed sex-kitten of the 1930’s? At least, that’s what she’d like you to believe. Nobody knows what the real story was, because the internet is filled with he-said she-said accounts, but it seems as Betty Boop’s star rose, Helen’s crashed and burnt.

The Little Mermaid – Alyssa Milano
You probably know Alyssa Milano as little Samantha on Who’s The Boss or as Phoebe from Charmed, but did you know that this bright-eyed, bushy-tailed girl was the inspiration for Ariel in The Little Mermaid? Don’t worry, very few people do. While Sherri Stoner, a writer and producer for Disney back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, delivered some inspirational elements to Ariel, she was hardly the sole motivation

Popeye The Sailor – Frank Fiegel
Elzie Crisler Segar, the creator of Popeye, got his influence for the pipe-smoking spinach-chomping sailor man in the form of Frank “Rocky” Fiegel when he was just a boy. E.C. Segar found his inspiration for Popeye, Olive Oil and Bluto in residents of his hometown Chester, Illinois. Frank Fiegel was a one-eyed sailor with incredible strength and a sturdy build, which earned him the nickname “Rocky”.

Snow White – Marge Belcher Champion
Marge Belcher Champion may not have been where the idea of Snow White came from, but her appearance influenced the sweet and wholesome look that Snow is known for. In fact, Marge was a model the animators used to imitate when drawing the first Disney princess. She seemed to be the apple of Walt Disney’s eye with her beautiful almond shaped-eyes, good manners and kind spirit, and all that at only 14 years of age.