The most famous cartoon character is often considered to be Mickey Mouse. Created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, Mickey made his debut in the short film "Steamboat Willie" in 1928 and has since become an iconic figure in popular culture, representing the Disney brand worldwide. Other notable characters that could compete for this title include Bugs Bunny, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Tom and Jerry, but Mickey Mouse generally holds the top spot in terms of global recognition.