Of Mice and Men in popular culture
"Of Mice and Men" is a 1937 novella by John Steinbeck, which tells the story of George and Lennie, two displaced migrant workers in California during the Great Depression (1929–1939). The story is set on a ranch a few miles from Soledad in the Salinas Valley. Since its initial publication it has been frequently referenced in popular culture. In cartoons and animation. Homages to the characters Lennie and George have been especially popular in American cartoons and animated films. The "New York Times" reviewed the 1939 film based on the novella thusly: Theatrical  cartoon shorts of the 1940s and 1950s, particularly the "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons released by Warner Bros., are awash with "Of Mice and Men" parodies. The reference most often appears in the form of one character asking another, "à la" Lennie, "Which way did he go, George; which way did he go?", such as the episodes "Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt" or "Falling Hare". The other popular reference draws on Lennie's love of soft furry animals and his underestimation of his strength. In "The Abominable Snow Rabbit" (1961), the abominable snowman grabs Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck saying , "I will name him George, and I will hug him, and pet him, and squeeze him" with Mel Blanc doing an unmistakable imitation of Lon Chaney, Jr.'s Lennie. Tex Avery, who worked as a director on Warner-released cartoons during the 1930s and early 1940s, started the "Of Mice and Men" trend with "Of Fox and Hounds" (1940) and "Lonesome Lenny" (1946) featuring Screwy Squirrel. The formula was so successful that it was used again and again in subsequent shorts, notably Robert McKimson's "Hoppy Go Lucky" (1952), "Cat-Tails for Two" (1953) and the previously mentioned "The Abominable  Snow Rabbit". Many more serious animated features use George and Lennie-type characters to serve as comic relief. Other examples in animation include: References. http://comicbook.com/blog/2014/03/16/the-walking-deads-the-grove-is-steinbecks-of-mice-and-men-with-the-undead/