The most enduring brand icons weren't born in an interactive era. The Michelin Man was pushing tires well before anyone sent an email. When Tony the Tiger made his first appearance, creating a banner ad required paint and some sturdy canvas. Even a more recent character creation such as Chester the Cheetah ("born" in 1986) grew up in an analog age. In the accelerated world of the web, the younger icons are getting old and the older icons are positively ancient.

Age hasn't slowed the most popular brand mascots. After 25, 50 or 100 years of diligent salesmanship, one of the defining characteristics of so many popular brand icons seems to be their stunning longevity. Not only have the strongest brand mascots proven their effectiveness for several generations, they've been around so long they're now an indelible part of the American cultural landscape. As long as their icons have some life left in them, the issue isn't replacement but representation, making the most of a powerful asset. That includes giving old media icons new lives online.

We're checking in on some of the most famous brand icons to find out how they're currently featured on the web. Each of the media icons is an established media pro, but how have they been translated for an online audience?

Author Notes: Brent Marcus is a freelance writer. Read full bio.