Minor characters or major characters?

[Pilmedium]

What kind of character in classic cartoons do you usually like better?

I would have to say major characters because I can get to understand them better.

[Matt Yorston]

Well, I can go with both. I usually go for the major cartoon stars (Bugs Bunny, the Road Runner and Coyote, Tom & Jerry, Goofy, etc.) but the minor characters should not be ignored.

For example, I've always liked Tex Avery's "Spike the bulldog" character. He's interesting because when pitted against Droopy, he's a loathsome, unscrupulous villain but in his own series, he's actually a sympathetic guy who just tries to get something done but is hindered by a bunch of annoyances (i.e. trying to bury a bone in "Garden Gopher", trying to keep his job in "Rock-a-Bye Bear", trying to get a good night's sleep in "Cock-a-Doodle Dog"). He also usually triumphs at the end of his own cartoons after enduring MUCH torture. Of course, the laughs come just the same whether as villian or likeable fall guy.

I also like a LOT of the minor Walter Lantz characters, particularly Doc and Champ. I like all four of their cartoons that I've seen (the one that's escaped me is "Freeloading Feline") and I've always been saddened that they ONLY starred in five cartoons. They're probably the most underappreciated of Lantz's entire menagerie. I also like Maw & Paw (some may disagree) particularly "Maw and Paw" in which the family tries their hands at learning to drive (culminating in Milford the pig going for a joyride chasing all of the farm residents, except Maw who's got herself stuck in a mud puddle).

Finally, I also like Tommy Tortoise & Moe Hare from Famous Studios. I've always wished that they too starred in more cartoons than they did. My favorite is "Sleuth but Sure" with quite a few good gags, generated from the old gumshoe vs. bad guy routine.

[jhaimleds]

I'll have to say major, but if the story is good it really doesn't matter. I love Bugs, nearly everthing with Bugs is great. I also like minor characters like Marvin the Martian and Taz. Then agian who did these guys appear with? Bugs.

[Thad Komorowski]

I like the major characters most (Bugs Bunny, the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, Donald Duck, Tom & Jerry, Woody Woodpecker, Pink Panther), but as Matt said, the minor characters shouldn't be ignored.


Take Famous Studio's Buzzy the Crow for example. His cartoons may have fallen into the 1950s Paramount repetition, but his cartoons are really funny, especially "As the Crow Lies" and "Cat-Choo". These cartoons also have the best dialogue and lines in the entire history of the Paramount cartoons as well. "Hmm, that sounds logical!"


The Three Bears is another good example. Their cartoons were the funniest ones that came out of Chuck Jones' unit, and have been credited as being "The ORIGINAL Dysfunctional Family".


-Thad

[Nelson]

I would have to say that some of my favorite minor characters would be like this...

Tommy Tortoise & Moe Hare:This is one series that is way overlooked by historians and critics.I simply love this series(next to Paramount's Herman & Katnip) of the battle between smart vs. dumb.I have always rooted for Moe to be the winner and he always gets outsmarted by the slow dimwitted turtle in all four shorts.My favortie is of course their debut cartoon, "WINNER BY A HARE" this is a true classic cartoon and I have the original uncut verison with the long lost suicide gag, where Moe blows his brains out after winning the race.

Gandy Goose & Sourpuss:One of the best of the entire Terrytoons cartoon characters.This is one of the perfect cartoon teams in cartoon history.