Q: I am a big fan of Clarabelle Cow. I just wanted to know: was she ever intended as a leading character or nothing more than an ensemble player? Also, what happened to old characters like Giddy Goat and the dog on trombone from The Band Concert?
Jeremy, Los Angeles, California
A: Sometimes a supporting player is noticed and becomes popular on his or her own. It did not happen to the characters you listed, though Clarabelle did appear in supporting roles in a number of cartoons and was a regular on the House of Mouse television show. Clarabelle even has a singing/speaking role in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. And Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure is a nod to her.
Dave Smith