According to Maltin, although Mickey Mouse was popular, a problem was that he had a non-descript personality. Which of the following was NOT used to address this problem?

• A. Create a 'Character Manager' at the studio to manage development of the top characters
• B. Develop a distinctive voice for him
• C. Create stronger supporting characters
• D. Add visual quirks to his design

Answer: (A)

The idea is that giving a cartoon character clear personality comes from how they sound, who surrounds them, and what they look like in motion. To strengthen Mickey, the studio made him speak with a distinctive voice so his emotional range and quirks became identifiable, paired him with a stronger supporting cast to create contrast and comic dynamics, and added visual quirks to his design and mannerisms that readers and viewers could instantly recognize. These together helped define who Mickey was beyond his role as a popular icon.

The option that isn’t part of this approach is creating a formal “Character Manager” at the studio to oversee top characters. There isn’t evidence this was used as a tactic to develop Mickey’s personality, whereas the other three elements—voice, supporting characters, and design quirks—were indeed leveraged to address the problem.