Goofy Good-natured but stupid, the cartoon character made his first appearance, somewhat disguised, as a member of the audience in Mickey’s Revue (1932). What distinguished Goofy from those sitting around him was not so much his appearance but his raucous laugh. That laugh, supplied by Disney storyman, musician, and former circus clown, Pinto Colvig, created such an impression on Walt Disney and his staff that the character soon began to be featured in other cartoons. Before long, Goofy was part of the gang that included Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Clarabelle Cow, and Horace Horsecollar. This new character was first given a name, Dippy Dawg, in the newspaper comic strips. A 1938 book indicated the first change to Dippy’s name, The Story of Dippy the Goof, and by 1939 the final change was made with the release of the cartoon Goofy and Wilbur. Goofy was created as a human character, as opposed to Pluto, so he walked upright and had a speaking voice (first supplied by Colvig, and later by George Johnson, Bob Jackman, and Bill Farmer). There were 49 Goofy cartoons (primarily in the 1940s and 1950s), but he also appeared in many cartoons with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He was best known for his series of “How to†cartoons, where he bumbled through the explanations. In the 1950s, he appeared in several cartoons as Mr. Geef, with a wife and son. The 1990s television series, Goof Troop, reintroduced Goofy and son, but by this time the son was Max, quite different from his earlier incarnation, and the wife was no longer on the scene. After a gap of many years, a new Goofy cartoon, How to Hook up Your Home Theater, was made in 2007 during his 75th anniversary.
The 49 Goofy cartoons are as follows:
1. Goofy and Wilbur 1939
2. Goofy’s Glider 1940
3. Baggage Buster 1941
4. The Art of Skiing 1941
5. The Art of Self Defense 1941
6. How to Play Baseball 1942
7. The Olympic Champ 1942
8. How to Swim 1942
9. How to Fish 1942
10. Victory Vehicles 1943
11. How to Be a Sailor 1944
12. How to Play Golf 1944
13. How to Play Football 1944
14. Tiger Trouble 1945
15. African Diary 1945
16. Californy ’er Bust 1945
17. Hockey Homicide 1945
18. Knight for a Day 1946
19. Double Dribble 1946
20. Foul Hunting 1947
21. They’re Off 1948
22. The Big Wash 1948
23. Tennis Racquet 1949
24. Goofy Gymnastics 1949
25. Motor Mania 1950
26. Hold That Pose 1950
27. Lion Down 1951
28. Home Made Home 1951
29. Cold War 1951
30. Tomorrow We Diet 1951
31. Get Rich Quick 1951
32. Fathers Are People 1951
33. No Smoking 1951
34. Father’s Lion 1952
35. Hello, Aloha 1952
36. Man’s Best Friend 1952
37. Two-Gun Goofy 1952
38. Teachers Are People 1952
39 Two Weeks Vacation 1952
40. How to Be a Detective 1952
41. Father’s Day Off 1953
42. For Whom the Bulls Toil 1953
43. Father’s Week End 1953
44. How to Dance 1953
45. How to Sleep 1953
46. Aquamania 1961
47. Freewayphobia No. 1 1965
48. Goofy’s Freeway Troubles 1965
49. How to Hook up Your Home Theater 2007