Mickey's Transformations

How would you describe Mickey's character?

How you answer this question may depend on which generation you belong to.

In his piece "The Masks of Mickey Mouse: Symbol of a Generation", Robert W. Brockway describes 3 "rite de passage"s of Mickey Mouse in Mickey's lifetime that have transformed his character since he was created in the 1920s.  They are:

1. Although the first Mickey Movie that Ubbe Iwerks drew was Plane Crazy (pictured on the left above), Mickey Mouse was not born into stardom until the release of Steamboat Willie (pictured in the middle above) in 1928.  In this stage, Mickey was a slapstick character at this point.
2. Mickey's second "rite de passage" came with the release of The Band Concert (pictured on the right above) in the 1930s.  Brockway refers to this stage as Mickey's "initiation into maturity" which was called for by a desire for a more charming cartoon as views changed during the Great Depression.  In this phase, Mickey's character was "addressed to the inner child in the adult rather than to actual children..."
3. Mickey's third and final transformation came in the mid 1950s when he became the "King of the Magic Kingdom" and became "gentle and sentimental."  This is the Mickey that we see in Disney today.

Brockway expressed the concern that Mickey may not make it many years beyond 2001 because of a connection that Mickey has to the generation that grew up with him, but I am glad to say that I expect Mickey to be around for decades to come.  Having been born almost half a century after Brockway's last described transformation, I only associate Mickey the fun-loving character he is today, and I don't think that this less complex association will shorten his life span.  In fact, I am not a fan of slapstick comedy and I think that association would weaken my fandom.  I will continue to love Mickey and treasure him as a part of my childhood as I hope many future generations will as well.  Do you think Mickey will endure?