Animated and Cartoon Dads

In honor of Father's Day, let's explore animated and cartoon Dads. One of the earliest examples of husband and father is Dagwood Bumstead who first appeared in the Blondie (née Boopadoop) comic strip created by Chic Young in 1930. Over several years, Blondie transformed from a carefree flapper to a sensible suburban housewife, while her (then) rich boyfriend Dagwood went from wealthy straight man to penniless clown.

He was father to Baby Dumpling (Alexander) and Cookie Bumstead. The film series ran from 1938-1950, starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.

Another popular comic strip (turned movie) was called, Bringing Up Father, which was created by cartoonist George McManus and ran from 1913-2000. The strip is about an immigrant Irishman named Jiggs who wins the lottery and can't seem to lose his middle-class ways. His wife, Maggie, wants him to rise to the upper class. They are raising daughter Nora and son Ethelbert.

Films

One of my favorite films, starring Irene Dunn and William Powell, is Life With Father (1947). The film was based on a 1939 play inspired by the 1935 autobiography of stockbroker and (The New Yorker) essayist Clarence Day. Father is a straitlaced turn-of-the-century man living in a household of boys whose mother (Vinnie) rules the roost. You may recall that Elizabeth Taylor played the young girl visiting from out of town who becomes the love interest of Clarence Jr.

In 1950, Dennis the Menace appeared on the scene with his rather innocuous father Henry Mitchell and wife Alice. The strip was created by Hank Ketcham. Neighbor Mr. Wilson is more prominently involved in Dennis' capers and we only see Henry leaving for work or arriving home to hear about Dennis' exploits. The popular TV series ran from 1959-63 with Joseph Kearns and Gale Gordon playing Mr. Wilson. Let's not forget the 1993 film version starring Walter Matthau as Mr. Wilson.

We all remember the character of Peter Pan. He first appeared in 1902 in The Little White Bird by J.M. Barrie, in his 1904 play, and later in the 1952-3 animated version by Walt Disney. Maybe you recall George Darling as the father of the children (Wendy, John, and Michael) that Peter visits and carries away to Neverland. While the Robin Williams 1991 film version, Hook, has George Darling as a grown-up Pan, the father has doubled as Captain Hook in the 1954 musical version starring Mary Martin. For my daughter, we always referred to this as the 'people version' of the Disney animation.

Animation & Cartoon Characters

In the 1956 children's novel by Dodie Smith, Pongo is the dalmatian father responsible for 101 puppies. He also appeared in the 1961 Disney animation and the 1996 movie starring Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. I'm not sure about the 2021 prequel, Cruella starring Emma Stone as a young Estella/Cruella.

In the 1940s Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Tom and Jerry cartoons, Tom was often tormented by Spike. The American bulldog and his son, Tyke also appeared in (1957) animated short subjects.

My favorite animated dad has to be 1959-61 Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Doggy Daddy (father to Augie Doggie). I think they were Bassett hounds. See my post, Animated and Cartoon Dogs from December 2021.

Talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo (Scoobert "Scooby" Doo) and best pal/owner Shaggy (Rogers) comprise the bungling duo of the Mystery Inc detectives.  In 1979 Hanna-Barbera added Scooby's son, Scrappy-Doo. As with Augie Doggie, Scrappy was smarter than his canine father.

Popeye was uncle to four nephews: Pipeye, Peepeye, Poopeye and Pupeye. He was also father to adopted son, Swee'pea. Poopdeck Pappy also appeared as Popeye's father in the cartoon series created by E. C. Segar in 1936.

Papa Smurf was the patriarch of the little blue elfin creatures that first appeared in 1958. He's the only character who didn't wear white. He was voiced by many talented voice actors, including Mandy Patinkin. There was even a Grandpa Smurf who was voiced by Jonathan Winters.

The Flintstones (1960-66) character Fred was based on bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) from the Honeymooners. Even the voice of Wilma is reminiscent of that of Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows). Fred became a father in 1963 when his daughter Pebbles was born. Also in the third season, Bamm-Bamm was adopted by neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble.

The Jetsons began in 1962 with "Rosey the Robot" maid. George Jetson was father to teenager Judy and younger son Elroy Jetson. Hanna-Barbera and Disney were responsible for giving us animated family entertainment.

The Rugrats (1991-2006) was about the exploits of the Pickles kids from their perspective. Big sister, (meanie) Angelica, Tommy (main character), and baby Dil were fathered by Stu Pickles. His father, Lou also appeared in the cartoon series, along with redheaded Chuckie Finster (and his father Chas).

I never got the chance to go to a baseball game with my father. Luckily, I 've gone to many professional baseball games with my daughter.