From Snoopy to the Smurfs, Tintin, the Flintstones, Mickey Mouse, the Hulk or Batman. Animated characters have travelled across generations, making us laugh, dream and imagine new worlds. Behind the scenes, intellectual property plays a key role in bringing them to life: these beloved creations are protected not only by copyright, but many are also registered as figurative EU trade marks. On #WorldAnimationDay, we celebrate the creators and artists who use their talent to make our lives brighter