‘More famous than Mickey Mouse’: Inside Duolingo’s ambitious plan for its viral owl mascot

On a Friday morning in mid-October, crowds of people—many in elaborate costumes—poured into the Jacob Javits convention center on Manhattan’s far west side. They were attending day two of New York Comic Con 2024, looking to pick up new releases of manga, get their hands on the latest Funko collectibles, and maybe even see a few celebrities. It was a star-studded event, after all, with guests that included WandaVision’s Elizabeth Olsen, Star Wars’s John Boyega, and Josh Brolin from Dune...