Character Curiousity

[Locomigo]

So, we (family) were discussing the other day.

What IS Goofy?
I mean Mickey/Minnie are mice, Donald is a duck, Pluto is a dog, Chip/Dale are chipmunks, etc etc...

I contend that he, Max, Pete, etc are also dogs.
But then, why doesnt Pluto talk, he is a dog.
If not a dog, what is he?


THANKS!

 

[lgncd]

I think Pete is a big cat. And Goofy is a dog but with human qualities like Mickey, Minnie etc. so he talks. Pluto is a pet dog, strictly animal, so he doesnt talk. I think

 

[Mecha Figment]

yep pete and PJ are cats.

 

[bettydau]

I had a hard time remembering which one was Pluto/Goofy. Goofy wears garments and Pluto is a pup-that helps me.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

Here is your scientific answer...LOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goofy

 

[plutolovr]

My question is "Who is Max's mom?" I always wanted to ask Goofy this!!

 

[bradk]

As per Dave Smith, the Disney Archivist:

What is Goofy? When did he debut?

Goofy is a dog! Good-natured but not that bright, this cartoon character made his first appearance, somewhat disguised, as a member of the audience in "Mickey's Revue" (1932). What distinguished the character from those sitting around him was not so much his appearance but his raucous laugh. That laugh made such an impression on Walt Disney and his staff that the character soon began to be featured in other cartoons. Before long, Goofy was part of the gang that included Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Clarabelle Cow, and Horace Horsecollar. In the newspaper comic strips, this new character was first given the name Dippy Dawg. A 1938 book indicated the first change to Dippy's name, "The Story of Dippy the Goof," and by 1939 the final change was made to Goofy with the release of the cartoon "Goofy and Wilbur." Goofy was created as a human character, as opposed to Pluto, who was a pet, so he walked upright and had a speaking voice. There were 48 Goofy cartoons (primarily in the 1940s and 1950s), but he also appeared in many cartoons with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He was best known for his series of "How to" cartoons, where he bumbled through the explanations. In the 1950s, he appeared in several cartoons as Mr. Geef, with a wife and son. The 1990s television series "The Goof Troop" reintroduced Goofy and son, but by this time the son was Max, quite different from his earlier incarnation, and the wife was no longer on the scene.

Who was the mother of Goofy's son Max?

There is unfortunately no answer to this question. In the 1950s, Goofy appeared in a series of cartoons that also featured a son, then called "Goofy Junior." In a few of these cartoons, we heard an off-screen voice of a "Mrs. Goofy" character. Years later, when the television show "Goof Troop" was being created, Goofy Junior evolved into Max and Mrs. Goofy was no longer on the scene. Because these are fictional characters, they do not have real biographies and we can only go by what appears on the screen. Perhaps someday there will be another movie or television show that will explain who Max's mother is and where "Mrs. Goofy" went, but until that time, there is no definitive answer.

The re-occurring theme here is that the backstories to the characters really aren't that consistent and are limited to the cartoons, which change things on a dime to suit themselves.

ultimately, Pluto became Mickey's dog, just like most people have pets (who don't talk). i think it's strictly a bond thing. a boy needs his dog. but Pluto didn't start out as Mickey's (or as Pluto) and he did actually speak in 3 separate cartoons (although in 1 or 2 of them, it was his thoughts moreso than talking directly). In the Moose Hunt, he did literally say 'Kiss Me'

and as others have mentioned, Pete is a cat.

a lot of this is buried on this FAQ which covers way too much, but for some fun reading, this is a link I keep for just the occasion (the quotes above came from it): http://home.disney.go.com/guestservices/faqs#8737

 

[Todd&Copper]

My question is "Who is Max's mom?" I always wanted to ask Goofy this!!

I remember a cartoon DSis and I watched in the late 70's/early 80's in which Goofy had a girlfriend, and they got married, and then her looks went to heck and she became a battle-axed, smoking, housecoat-wearing hag. I wonder if she is Max's mom.

 

[Mike©]

Goofy is a talking dog with cloths that's married to a cow.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

When I did my character greeting training in 2002 and 2003, they taught us that "Goofy is a dog with human-like characteristics".

Interesting, huh?

 

[ReggieB]

and as others have mentioned, Pete is a cat.

Wow, that is one ugly mutated kitty

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Pete has a storied existence as the oldest continually-running Disney character. He is the only character to have appeared in Walt's Alice Comedies, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts, and with Mickey Mouse.

Bootleg Pete, as he was then called, made his first appearance in 1925, in Walt's Alice Solves the Puzzle. He continued to be Alice's antagonist until Oswald came along in 1927, at which time he became Oswald's foe. During this time frame, his species was undetermined. In fact, after Oswald was stolen away from Walt, several non-Disney Oswald shorts were made, and in these Pete was drawn more like a bear. But Walt also continued to use him, most notably as Mickey's foe in 1928's Steamboat Willie. It was decided shortly after that since his enemy was a mouse, he naturally should be a cat. And that's what he's been ever since.

 

[ironz]

So, we (family) were discussing the other day.

What IS Goofy?
I mean Mickey/Minnie are mice, Donald is a duck, Pluto is a dog, Chip/Dale are chipmunks, etc etc...

I contend that he, Max, Pete, etc are also dogs.
But then, why doesnt Pluto talk, he is a dog.
If not a dog, what is he?


THANKS!

haha! My sister flat out asked Goofy that same question at a character breakfast many years ago!!

 

[disneyphilip]

Goofy is a talking dog with cloths that's married to a cow.

Goofy is NOT married to Clarabelle!

Horace Horsecollar is Clarabelle's true love.

Besides, a cow and a horse make more sense as a couple than a cow and a dog. For one thing, cows and horses are closer to each other in species.