Elsa
The Frozen franchise has generated over $14 billion in global merchandise revenue, making Elsa one of the most commercially successful fictional characters in history. The character has been credited with influencing everything from baby name trends to fashion industry colour palettes. Her representation of female empowerment through self-acceptance has been analysed in over 2,000 academic papers. The cultural penetration achieved by this single animated character remains unprecedented.
Wolverine
First appearing in 1974, Wolverine has become Marvel's most popular X-Men character, featured in over 5,000 comic book issues. Hugh Jackman's portrayal across nine films spanning seventeen years holds the Guinness World Record for longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero. The character's influence on antihero archetypes in modern media cannot be overstated, having inspired countless morally complex protagonists across all entertainment mediums.