Could a character as big as Mickey/Bugs, come around?

Out of that list, the popularity of Tintin and the Smurfs will grow worldwide thanks in part to the upcoming movies. Man, if only they made a NEW Smurfs animated series. The original is still a cornerstone in the memories of a core of the readership of this very site.
 
The series didn't air on Cartoon Network, but a couple of animated films made before the series did air on Cartoon Theater in the late 90s. It did, however, briefly air on Nickelodeon in that same period.
 
The honor would have to go to Doraemon. Does Hello Kitty have three television series (one having 1000+ episodes), three spinoff franchises, a 45-volume manga, thousands of toys, a charity, a guitar, a restaurant, 50 video games, and almost 30 movies?
 
No way that he is as big as Mickey was in his prime. Back in the early 30's, Mickey was'nt just the most popular cartoon character in the world, he was among the most popular people in the world, real or imaginary. And even today everybody knows Mickey Mouse. Even if you would go to your average retirement home and show a picture of the mouse, every single resident would recognize him. And the same just would'nt be the case with Spongebob.
 
As I said a while ago, until SpongeBob starts singing to encourage people to buy bonds, then there's no way I'll consider him to be among the likes of Bugs Bunny in memorability.
 
But Hello Kitty has exposure and merch in the US. When was the last time you actually saw Doraemon air on American television? (The whole point was which character was more popular in the US, not Japan)

And for the record, Hello Kitty has dozens of video games. Way more than fifty.
 
I think Spongebob cartoons lack the rewatchability of Mickey and Bugs. I can see their cartoons a dozen times and not get tired of them. Usually one viewing is more than enough for me for any Spongebob episode.

Will people still know who Spongebob is in the 2060s? It's hard to say but somehow I doubt it.
 
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