Top 10 list of the most loved animated pets
In 1914, cartoonist Winsor McCay stepped onto a vaudeville stage and announced his remarkable trained pet. The curtain was pulled back and the audience witnessed the first animated cartoon character — Gertie the dinosaur.
In the 100 years since her introduction, cartoon pets have leapt from laps and onto the flickering screens of TV and film.
“The Secret Life of Pets” just opened on the big screen, adding a new group of characters to the animated animal order. But it will take a lot more than just being fluffy and adorable to join the animated pet hall of fame.
After careful consideration, thoughtful research, dozens of hours watching cartoons, and eight bags of microwave popcorn, we established a list of the Top 10 animated pets. These characters are loved around the world and across generations.
1. Snoopy
Snoopy isn't known as the World's Most Famous Beagle for nothing. He was a breakout cast member of the comic strip “Peanuts,” which premiered in 1950, before making the leap to animation in 1959. The character was inspired by Spike, the childhood pet beagle of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz.
Snoopy is the loyal pet of “that round-headed kid,” Charlie Brown. But he is so much more than a pet. His wild imagination often takes flight as a World War I flying ace atop his doghouse. In many ways, the long-suffering Charlie Brown represents who we all are at times, but Snoopy is who we all wish we could be. The recently opened Snoopy Museum in Tokyo is a testament to his worldwide popularity.
2. Scooby Doo
Scooby Doo and his pal, Shaggy, have been solving mysteries alongside the crew of the Mystery Machine for 55 years. He was created and drawn by legendary animator Iwao Takamoto for Hanna-Barbera Productions, but it was CBS executive Fred Silverman who gave the truly Great Dane his name, based on the nonsensical lyrical crooning of Frank Sinatra: “Dooby dooby doo …”
The cowardly canine may be weak-kneed, but he can overcome his fears in exchange for Scooby Snacks. His distinctive “ruh-roh!” and other vocal mannerisms were provided by voice-over artist Don Messick, who also gave voice for animated mutts Droopy, Astro (“Jetsons”), Ruff (“Ruff and Reddy”), Spot (“Hong Kong Phooey”), Spike (“The Tom and Jerry Show”), Muttley (“Wacky Races”) and the much-maligned Scrappy Doo.
3. Pluto
Of the Disney “Sensational Six,” (Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Pluto), Pluto lacks the anthropomorphic traits of his peers. The fact that Pluto and Goofy are both dogs has caused consternation and confusion for decades. Pluto started out as a nameless bloodhound in 1930 in “The Chain Gang.” A few months later, he became Minnie Mouse's dog, Rover, in “The Picnic.” But he didn't become the mutt we know and love until 1931's “The Moose Hunt,” when he took his place by Mickey's side.
Pluto was named for the planet that had been discovered a few months before his debut. While the planet has been demoted to a “dwarf,” Pluto the dog remains a star!
4. Garfield
Garfield is the embodiment of stubborn laziness and complete disregard for his owner, Jon Arbuckle — which pretty much describes just about every cat on the planet. Long before Grumpy Cat was a glint in the Internet's eye, Garfield, created by Jim Davis, was taking the world by storm in the merchandising medium. The ever-present cat appeared on mugs decrying the cruelty of Mondays, posters praising the joys of lasagna and as plush toys suction-cupped to the back window of every 1984 Ford Tempo.
Garfield's animated life began as part of the ensemble cast of the Fantastic Funnies. In 1988, he starred in his own series, “Garfield and Friends,” which ran for a whopping 121 episodes. For the series, Lorenzo Music voiced the character. Music also voiced Peter Venkman in the animated version of “Ghostbusters,” a role originally portrayed by Bill Murray. Murray, in turn, was the voice of Garfield in the 2004 “Garfield: The Movie” and its 2006 sequel “Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties,” creating a Garfield predestination paradox time-loop that even Stephen Hawking couldn't sort out.
5. Dino
Dino first appeared in the opening credits of “The Flintstones” during its 1960 debut as the first prime-time animated show.
The affectionate purple Snorkasaurus has a predilection for knocking over his owner, Fred, and mercilessly licking his face. Dino has all the traits of a household pet dog. He is relatively well-trained, does tricks, loves children and has a yapping bark reminiscent of a small Jack Russell terrier. Legendary “Man of a Thousand Voices” Mel Blanc provided that yap.
As a house pet, Dino has it a lot better than many of his fellow dinosaurs. In a world where pterodactyls are record players, turtles are lawnmowers and wooly mammoths are vacuum cleaners, being a pet is a pretty good way to wait out impending extinction.
6. Pongo, Perdita and family
When Walt Disney read “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” by Dodie Smith, he immediately purchased the film rights. He left the job of adapting the story and developing the characters in the able hands of animator Bill Peet. The 1961 film follows the book closely: As their owners meet and fall in love in a park, Pongo and Perdita do the same. The dog couple is soon graced with a litter of 15 pups. Those pups are then stolen and encounter another 84 pups caught in the clutches of the infamous Cruella de Vil. Don't worry. No puppies were harmed in the making of this cartoon. It all ends up happily ever after, and all that canine computation adds up to 101 of the most adorable cartoon pets in cinematic history.
7. Tweety Bird and Sylvester
If you tawt you taw a puddy tat on this list, you did! You did see a puddy tat — and a canary, too!
Sylvester and Tweety have been a reluctant duo through 42 animated shorts, as well as TV and movie appearances, spanning seven decades. Sylvester the cat's never-ending pursuit of the cartoon canary frequently results in ever-escalating pitfalls and pains for the “poor ol' puddy tat!”
Tweety's sweet and innocent appearance hides a malicious side that revels in Sylvester's suffering. Besides omnipresent falling anvils, there is the constant threat of getting wacked on the head by Granny's broom for looking like the cat that ate the canary. Despite all their antics, Sylvester and Tweety share a special bond forged in a mutual distrust.
8. Max
High up on Mt. Crumpit, there lived a lonely Grinch whose heart was two sizes too small. But even a Grinch has room in his tiny heart for a pet.
The Grinch's loyal dog, Max, is a unique breed. Traditionally, a villain's pet is an equally malicious sycophant, but Max's pure and innocent goodness serves as a stark contrast to his owner. With his warm puppy dog eyes, Max is able to see the good in the holiday-hating malcontent — proving that even when the whole world thinks you're a Grinch, you can always take comfort in the warm affection of man's best friend.
9. Gary
SpongeBob SquarePants lives in a pineapple under the sea along with his pet snail, Gary. The characters are just a few of the underwater denizens of Bikini Bottom created by cartoonist and marine biologist Stephen Hillenberg.
Gary behaves more like a domestic cat than a snail. He hates baths, hisses and even meows. Those meows often are the only voice of reason in an otherwise manic undersea world. Gary is the most contemporary of the characters on this Top 10 list, despite the fact that SpongeBob SquarePants has been on the air for 17 years, which, by the way, is about the average lifespan of a sea snail.
10. Azrael
For those who remember the classic 1980s animated “Smurfs” from Hanna-Barbera Productions, it may come as a surprise to know that Gargamel and his minion, Azrael, had been trying to catch Smurfs since 1959. The characters originated in a comic by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Peyo Culliford.
Azrael is the equally evil lackey to the wicked Gargamel. He often takes the brunt and blame for the inevitable failure of their misguided schemes. Despite his mistreatment, Azrael remains loyal, occasionally snickering at the bumbling antics of his owner.
Azrael derives his name from “Angel of Death,” giving him the most terrifying pet name since the Wicked Stepmother's cat, “Lucifer,” in Disney's “Cinderella.”
Joe Wos is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.
