Is Goofy A Dog? & 9 Other Things You Didn’t Know About Goofus D. Dawg

As a studio, Disney is well-known for its ability to create characters that stand out in the imagination. In that sense, the studio is a fitting successor to the man who started it, who also had a genius for creating characters that would withstand the test of time. One of those, of course, is Goofy, whose full name is often rendered as Goofus D. Dawg.

He’s one of Disney’s best creations, in large part because he just seems like such a nice guy. He also has a pretty fascinating history, which isn’t surprising, considering he’s almost as old as Mickey and older than Donald.

10 Has Been Nominated For An Oscar Twice

It says something pretty special about a Disney character that he’s managed to be nominated for an Oscar on two separate occasions. In this case, it’s for two shorts that he appeared in, one in 1944 (How to Play Football) and once in 1961 (for Aquamania).

The former, in particular, is one of the most charming films about Goofy, and the way that it lampoons college football is something that still manages to ring true today, even so long after its original release.

9 Was The Ghost Of Jacob Marley In Mickey’s Christmas Carol

There are many iterations of Charles Dickens’ most famous novel, but one of the most endearing is the one starring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, as well as sundry other characters (including none other than Scrooge McDuck as the character of Ebenezer).

The film also features none other than Goofy as the ghost of Jacob Marley, who comes back to remind Scrooge of the terrible fate that awaits him if he doesn’t change his miserly ways. It’s a rather odd fit for a character like Goofy, but it somehow works.

8 Has Gone By Several Names Throughout The Years

Say the name “Goofy,” and most people will almost certainly think of the Disney character, particularly since he’s appeared in a number of films and television series over the last few decades. However, Goofy isn’t the only name that he’s gone by over the years.

Obviously, there’s his full name, but he’s also appeared as characters named George G. Geef, and in some of his recent appearances, he’s known as “G.G. Goof.” It’s another indication of just how flexible this character is.

7 He Has A Superhero Alter-Ego

Like so many of the other classic Disney characters, Goofy has had quite an existence in the world of comics. In fact, in several of the comics in which he appears, he actually has an alter-ego that happens to be a superhero, whose name is, as one might expect, Super Goof.

It turns out that he manages to get his superpowers from eating a very special type of peanuts. Of course, his powers do eventually wear off, which is almost always a source of humor. He might not be as skilled as a Disney prince, but it’s still cool that he’s a superhero.

6 Has Been Voiced By At Least Six Different Voice Actors

Given the fact that Goofy has been around for almost a century, it’s not surprising that he has been voiced by a number of actors. In fact, at least six different men have played the part through the years.

What’s truly remarkable, though, is that even though so many different people have played him, there is still a certain consistency to his vocalizations, so that all one has to do is hear him speak to know that it’s Goofy.

5 His Current Voice Actor Also Voices Horace Horsecollar And Pluto

Among the many people who have voiced Goofy over the years is Bill Farmer, who remains the current voice actor for Goofy. In addition to his very recognizable vocal tones as Goofy, he’s also responsible for providing the voices of two other iconic Disney characters, Pluto and Horace Horsecollar.

If one listens carefully, one can hear some distinct similarities among these different characters. Still, it’s quite an accomplishment to be able to play not one, not two, but three different iconic characters. He can be seen in live-action in the Disney+ series, A Dog’s Life.

4 Starred In A Series Of “How To” Cartoons

Most younger fans of Goofy probably recognize him from the television series and films of the 1990s and 2000s, in which he had a son named Max. However, those who want to dive deep into Goofy’s history should definitely check out the series of “how-to” short films, in which he starred in earlier decades.

Not only are they masterpiece examples of what can be accomplished in the short film form, they are also remarkably funny, even today.

3 His Distinctive Yell Shows Up Everywhere

The mark of a character’s iconicity is if there is some element of their personality or body that is more recognizable than anything else. Mickey has his ears, Donald has his tantrums and general bad behavior, and Goofy has that signature yell, which usually happens when he takes a fall or has some other physical mishap.

Though it originated with him, it’s now become so ubiquitous that it can be seen in a number of other cartoons, even ones in which he doesn’t appear. Fortunately, his many mishaps don’t make Goofy nearly as annoying as some other Disney characters.

2 Yes, He Is A Dog

Many people over the years have wondered whether Goofy is, in fact, a dog. The answer is yes, he is. Of course, as with so many other Disney characters, he’s such a stylized form of dog that it doesn’t really register that that’s what he is (a similar thing has happened to Pete who is, in fact, a cat).

This, of course, causes all sorts of complications, but sometimes, when it comes to animation and animated characters, it’s best not to think about it too much.

1 Originally Appeared As Much Older Than He Eventually Would Be

Most people familiar with Goofy probably think of him as middle-aged since, in recent years, he’s almost always shown as having a kid. In his original incarnation, however, he was shown to be substantially older.

All things considered, it’s probably best that the animators went with a younger version since it allowed them to do all sorts of things with the character that would simply not have been possible had he continued on as he originally appeared.

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