Who's the Copy Cat?

Syracuse – No, this is not a relative of Hello Kitty.
This is Miffy, a picture book character invented in 1955 by Dick Bruna, a Dutch artist. Many think she’s Japanese, but Miffy was around long before that peculiar kitty (introduced in the ’70s).
Bruna, apparently inspired by his own imagination, thought up Miffy after telling his one-year-old son a story about a white rabbit.
She’s been quite a hit over the past five decades. The Miffy children’s books – which sometimes address tough subjects like death but always end on a happy note – are translated into 40 languages. They have names like “Miffy at the Zoo” and “Miffy in the Snow.” Miffy also has a TV show, “Miffy and Friends.” Her gang of buddies include Aggie, Boris Bear, Poppy Pig, Grunty and her dog Snuffy.
Isn’t this little bunny adorable? -- JM