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Pluto (Disney)

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Pluto
Mickey Mouse & Friendscharacter
First appearanceThe Chain Gang(September 5, 1930;93 years ago(1930-09-05)) (unnamed)
The Picnic(October 9, 1930;93 years ago(1930-10-09)) (as Rover)
The Moose Hunt(April 30, 1931;93 years ago(1931-04-30)) (as Pluto)
Created byWalt Disney
Norm Ferguson
Designed byWalt Disney
Norm Ferguson
Voiced byLee Millar (1930–1940)[1]
Pinto Colvig(1932–1937, 1954–1957)[1]
Jimmy MacDonald(1941–1953)[1]
Teddy Barr (1941)[1]
Paul Frees(1959)[2]
Bill Farmer(1990–present)
Developed byNorm Ferguson
Clyde Geronimi
Charles August Nichols
In-universe information
AliasRover
Pluto the Pup
SpeciesDog
GenderMale
FamilyMickey Mouse(owner)
SignificantotherDinah the Dachshund
Fifi the Peke
Tiki ( "Pluto's Penthouse Sweet")
RelativesPluto Junior(son)
K.B.(brother)

Plutois an American cartoon character created bythe Walt Disney Company.He is a yellow-orange color, medium-sized, short-haireddogwith black ears. Unlike most Disney characters, Pluto is notanthropomorphicbeyond some characteristics such as facial expression.[3]He isMickey'spet. Officially amixed-breed dog,[4]he made his debut as abloodhoundin the Mickey Mouse cartoonThe Chain Gang.[5]Together withMickey Mouse,Minnie Mouse,Donald Duck,Daisy Duck,andGoofy,Pluto is one of the "Sensational Six" —the biggest stars in theDisneyuniverse.[6]Though all six are non-human animals, Pluto alone is not dressed as a human.[7]

Pluto debuted inanimated cartoonsand appeared in 24Mickey Mousefilms before receiving hisown seriesin 1937. All together Pluto appeared in 89 short films between 1930 and 1953. Several of these were nominated for anAcademy Award,includingThe Pointer(1939),Squatter's Rights(1946),Pluto's Blue Note(1947), andMickey and the Seal(1948). One film starring him,Lend a Paw(1941), won the award in 1942.[Note 1]Because Pluto does not speak, his films generally rely on physical humor. This made Pluto a pioneering figure in character animation, by expressing personality through animation rather than dialogue.[8]

Like all of Pluto's co-stars, the dog has appeared extensively in comics over the years, first making an appearance in 1931.[9]He returned to theatrical animation in 1990 withThe Prince and the Pauperand has also appeared in several direct-to-video films. Pluto also appears in the television seriesMickey Mouse Works(1999–2000),House of Mouse(2001–2003),Mickey Mouse Clubhouse(2006–2016),Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures(2017–2021),Mickey Mouse(2013–2019) and its successorThe Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse(2020–2023), andMickey Mouse Funhouse(2021–present).

In 1998, Disney's copyright on Pluto, set to expire in 2003, was extended by the passage of theSonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.Disney, along with other studios, lobbied for passage of the act to preserve their copyrights on characters such as Pluto for 20 additional years.[10]

Origin[edit]

Pluto first appeared as a namelessbloodhoundtracking the escaped convict Mickey in the filmThe Chain Gang,which released on August 6, 1930.[11]On October 23 of that same year,The Picnicwas released. Pluto was Minnie's dog and was named Rover.The Moose Hunt,which came out on May 3, 1931, Pluto appeared as Mickey's pet, and was given the name "Pluto".[4]

Several months had passed between the naming of what was then classified as the ninth planet,Pluto,on May 1, 1930, and the attachment of that name to the dog character. Disney animatorBen Sharpsteensaid "We thought the name [Rover] was too common, so we had to look for something else.... We changed it to Pluto the Pup... but I don't honestly remember why."[12]Some Disney animators reportedly believed that Walt Disney chose the name to capitalize on the sensation of the newly named planet.[13]

Pluto was initially a minor character until 1934 when Disney animatorNorm Fergusongave the dog a key role in the cartoonPlayful Pluto.Pluto becomes entangled with a sticky piece of flypaper, and Ferguson expanded the sequence significantly. The segment became a classic, demonstrating how Disney artists can take a simple circumstance and build humor through a character.[14]

Characterization[edit]

Unlike Mickey's other animal friends, such asGoofy(who is also a dog), Pluto is a relatively normal animal, with few anthropomorphic traits apart from his facial expressions. Pluto usually doesn't speak in English, walk upright or wear clothing. A significant departure from this was his speaking role inThe Moose Hunt(1931), which was produced before Pluto's characterization had been clearly defined. As Pluto made more appearances, it became common that he would mostly speak in barks and grunts like most dogs. Other ways of communicating Pluto's thoughts occur through his facial expressions, and sometimes through the use of ashoulder angel/devil who speak directly to Pluto. (Mickey's Elephant,Lend a Paw).

Pluto is generally a cheerful and adventurous dog, although he can be given to sheer panic when confronted with something unknown. Common themes in Pluto's stories involve him becoming jealous of Mickey getting another pet (Mickey's Elephant,Lend a Paw,Mickey and the Seal), Pluto accidentally and unwittingly swallowing something and panicking when he realizes it (Playful Pluto,Donald and Pluto), Pluto getting entangled with something inanimate like a piece offlypaper(Beach Picnic,Playful Pluto), or Pluto being pestered by a smaller animal (Private Pluto,Squatter's Rights). In many of his appearances with Mickey, Pluto will get himself into trouble and cause Mickey to get angry at him. Mickey, however, often cheers up quickly, often telling Pluto "Aw, I can't be mad at ya.".

Pluto sometimes appears with other regular animal characters. His friends includeFifi the Peke,Dinah the Dachshund,and Ronnie the St. Bernard Puppy. Other animals he is less friendly with includeSalty the Seal,Butch the Bulldog,Figaro the Kitten,Chip 'n Dale,Peg Leg Pete,Spike the Bee,Bent-Tail the Coyote,Milton the Cat,and other characters. In Disney's 1937 animated shortPluto's Quin-puplets,Pluto has five sons, one of them returning in the 1942 shortPluto Junior.In the 1946 animated shortPluto's Kid Brother,Pluto has a younger brother named K.B.

Appearances[edit]

Bone Trouble(1940); Butch theBulldogis a common antagonist of Pluto

Pluto first and most often appears in theMickey Mouseseries of cartoons. On rare occasions, he is paired withDonald Duck( "Donald and Pluto","Beach Picnic","Window Cleaners","The Eyes Have It","Donald's Dog Laundry",&"Put-Put Troubles").

The first cartoons to feature Pluto as a solo star were twoSilly Symphonyshorts,Just Dogs(1932) andMother Pluto(1936). In 1937, Pluto appeared inPluto's Quin-Pupletswhich was the first installment of his own film series, then headlinedPluto the Pup.However, they were not produced on a regular basis until 1940, by which time the name of the series was shortened toPluto.

His first comics appearance was in theMickey Mousecomic stripin July 1931,[15]two months after the release ofThe Moose Hunt.In 1938, Pluto headlined in theSilly SymphonySunday comic strip, in an adaptation of hisSilly Symphonyshort,Mother Pluto.[16]Pluto was later featured in several sequences of theSilly Symphonystrip in 1939 and 1940.

Pluto Saves the Ship,a comic book published in 1942, was one of the first Disney comics prepared for publication outside newspaper strips. However, not counting a few cereal giveaway mini-comics in 1947 and 1951, he did not have his own comics title until 1952.

In 1936, Pluto was featured in the picture bookMickey Mouse and Pluto the PupbyWhitman Publishing.

Pluto ran his own neighborhood inDisney's Toontown Onlineuntil its closedown. It was called the Brrrgh and it was always snowing there except during Halloween. During April Toons Week, a weekly event that was very silly, Pluto switched playgrounds with Minnie (all other characters did this as well), and he actually talked in Minnie's Melodyland.

Pluto has also appeared in the television seriesMickey Mouse Works(1999–2000),House of Mouse(2001–2003),Mickey Mouse Clubhouse(2006–2016),Mickey Mouse(2013–2019),Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures(2017–2021), andThe Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse(2020-present) andMickey Mouse Funhouse(2021–present). Curiously enough, however, Pluto was the only standard Disney character not included when the whole gang was reunited for the 1983 featuretteMickey's Christmas Carol,although he did return inThe Prince and the Pauper(1990) andRunaway Brain(1995). He also had a cameo at the ending ofWho Framed Roger Rabbit(1988). In 1996, he made a cameo in theQuack Packepisode "The Really Mighty Ducks".

Short films[edit]

Introductory title of thePlutoshort film series.

Feature films[edit]

Video games[edit]

Pluto appeared as a non-playable character inMickey Mania(1994).

Pluto also appears inDisney Golffor thePlayStation 2.In the event that the player's golf ball goes out of bounds or hits a water hazard, Pluto will come and look for the player's golf ball.

In theKingdom Heartsvideo game series, Pluto is still Mickey's pet and acts as somewhat of a messenger, assisting in his master's plans. For most ofKingdom Hearts II,Pluto stays byKairi'sside (even when she has been kidnapped), as he has apparently taken a liking to her. Strangely, throughout the series, Pluto appears and disappears at random moments.

Pluto is a playable character in the world builder gameDisney Magic Kingdoms,being apremium characterto unlock in the main storyline of the game.

Disney parks[edit]

In the various Disney theme park resorts around the world, Pluto is a meetable character just like many of his film co-stars.[17]Pluto, however, uncharacteristically walks on two legs in this capacity out of necessity. Adults and children are able to meet, play with, and get autographs and pictures with Pluto and his friends at all Disney parks. Shirts, hats, toys and other various types of merchandise featuring Pluto are available.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Pluto also appears in the Academy Award-nominated filmsBuilding a Building(1933) andRunaway Brain(1995), but does not play a significant role in either.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdScott, Keith (October 3, 2022).Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2.BearManor Media.
  2. ^"Fred Flintstone Meets Jiminy Cricket: A Salute to Alan Reed -".cartoonresearch.com.August 25, 2020.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  3. ^Farrell, Ken.Warman's Disney Collectibles Field Guide: Values and Identification.Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011. p. 308.
  4. ^abSmith, Dave.Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered.New York: Disney Editions, 2012.
  5. ^Smith, Dave.Disney A to Z: The Updated Official Encyclopedia.New York: Hyperion, 1998. Print.ISBN0-7868-6391-9.
  6. ^Stewart, James B.Disney War.New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. p. 5.
  7. ^Griffin, Sean.Tinker Belles and Evil Queens: The Walt Disney Company from the Inside Out.New York: New York UP, 2000. p. 70.
  8. ^"The Flypaper Sequence Mystery,"essay by Michael Barrier
  9. ^PlutoatINDUCKS
  10. ^Sprigman, Chris. FindLaw's Writ, March 5, 2002, "THE MOUSE THAT ATE THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: Disney, The Copyright Term Extension Act, And eldred V. AshcroftArchivedOctober 30, 2012, at theWayback Machine".Accessed September 19, 2012.
  11. ^Watts, Steven.The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life.Columbia, MO: U of Missouri, 2001. p. 132.
  12. ^Brasch, Walter M. (1983).Cartoon Monikers: An Insight into the Animation Industry.Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green University Popular Press. p. 69.ISBN0-87972-244-4.
  13. ^Boyle, Alan.The Case for Pluto: How a Little Planet Made a Big Difference.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. p. 49.
  14. ^Finch, Christopher, pages 71, 74, 91, 106, 111, and 230.The Art of Walt Disney,2004
  15. ^Gottfredson, Floyd (2011).Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse,vol 1: Race to Death Valley.Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics Books. pp. 163–166.ISBN978-1-60699-441-2.
  16. ^Kaufman, J.B. (2016). "Introduction".Silly Symphonies: The Complete Disney Classics, vol 2.San Diego: IDW Publishing. pp. 7–8.ISBN978-1-63140-804-5.
  17. ^"Pluto".

External links[edit]

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