Emotional Brand Building: Disney's "Duffy and Friends" Series Win the Hearts of the Public Without Animation

This study takes the "Duffy and Friends" series from Disney as a case study to explore how weak narrative IPs can achieve high premiums through symbols and interactions. This paper integrates consumer culture, brand semiotics and emotional economy theories, conducts semi-structured interviews with five continuous buyers, and proposes an analytical framework of "visual emotionalization - interactive ritualization - online monetization". Research has found that the high-saturation baby powder color, the head-to-body ratio jointly trigger the baby schema, quickly awakening the urge to raise a child. The three-minute interaction and parent-child scripted performances in the park transform scarce symbols into emotional belonging, enabling visitors to complete the identity switch "from tourist to parent". After leaving the venue, tourists continuously reproduce their emotional experiences on social media platforms by taking photos for check-ins, using topic tags and algorithmic push, converting the scarce pendants into tradable social currency, thereby making a premium. In response to the issue of character value in domestic amusement parks, this study suggests adopting a three-step approach of "weak narrative, strong ritual, and high companionship". First, solidify high-recognition color and shape anchor points. Then, build a dual cycle of interaction and limited merchandise. Finally, leverage the platform to amplify user-generated content, achieving symbol value-added. This article provides a replicable and quantifiable "emotional companion IP" model for China's cultural and creative industry, and also enriches the evidence of symbolic value and emotional economy.