Introducing the characters
Pluto is a cartoon dog created by Walt Disney in 1930 who appears as a regular character in Disney’s Mickey Mouse universe. Known for his light yellow fur and floppy ears, Pluto is Mickey Mouse’s pet dog and best friend. Pluto is very loyal to Mickey but has a tendency to get into trouble. The inspiration for the character came from Disney animators noticing that Mickey resembled Pluto the dog from the Pluto cartoons. Unlike Goofy, Pluto is portrayed as a normal dog who acts like a pet.
Goofy is an anthropomorphic dog created by Disney animator Art Babbitt in 1932 who appears alongside Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and others. Originally known as “Dippy Dawg”, Goofy evolved into a clumsy but good-natured character known for his distinctive high-pitched voice. While Pluto acts like a regular dog, Goofy walks upright, wears clothes and displays human characteristics. Goofy often appears alongside his best friend Mickey Mouse and seems blissfully unaware of his own incompetence. Goofy’s origins are mysterious, with vague references to having a family.
Mickey Mouse is Disney’s most famous character, created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928. Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse characterized for having a kind and adventurous spirit, always willing to step in to help others. As Pluto’s owner and Goofy’s best friend, Mickey’s relationship with Pluto and Goofy helps showcase their personalities – Pluto as Mickey’s loyal but mischievous pet and Goofy as Mickey’s well-meaning but clumsy friend.
History of Pluto
Pluto first appeared in 1930 in the Mickey Mouse cartoon The Chain Gang as a bloodhound tracking Mickey Mouse. According to the Disney encyclopedia Pluto (Disney) – Wikipedia, Pluto was initially created as a minor character meant to be a tracking dog for hunting escaped prisoners like Mickey. His original name was Rover and he did not have much personality or individuality compared to later portrayals. Pluto’s name officially changed to Pluto the dog in 1931 in the Mickey Mouse cartoon The Moose Hunt.
Pluto debuted as Mickey Mouse’s pet dog in the 1935 Mickey Mouse cartoon called The Picnic. According to the Disney Fandom wiki on Pluto, Pluto was designed as a regular household pet for Mickey Mouse in contrast to previous hunting/tracking roles. His original concept as Mickey’s canine companion established the Pluto character that audiences came to love.
History of Goofy
Goofy was introduced in 1932 in the Mickey Mouse cartoon short “Mickey’s Revue”, directed by Wilfred Jackson. According to Wikipedia, “The character first appeared in Mickey’s Revue, released on May 27, 1932. Directed by Jackson, the short features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow performing another song and dance show. Mickey and his gang’s animated shorts by this point routinely featured song and dance numbers. Goofy’s first appearance in the short features him being persuaded by Horace to perform on stage.” [1] Goofy was originally conceived as a comical sidekick character called “Dippy Dawg”. His original concept was as a clumsy but loyal friend of Mickey Mouse.
Design of Pluto
Pluto was originally designed as an actual dog with four legs, in contrast to Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters that are anthropomorphic animals. According to the Disney Wiki, Pluto first appeared in the 1930 cartoon The Chain Gang as a bloodhound without a name https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Pluto. He was created by Disney animator Norm Ferguson as a companion for Mickey.
As a dog, Pluto walks on all fours, pants with his tongue hanging out, chases cats, digs holes, and lives in a dog house. He was designed as a supporting character for Mickey Mouse to play off of comedically. Pluto has brown fur covering most of his body, with black ears and a black nose. He does not wear clothes except for an occasional hat or collar. His original dog house first appeared in the 1931 short The Moose Hunt.
Design of Goofy
Goofy was originally designed by Disney animator Art Babbitt to be a human-like dog who walked on two legs and had the ability to speak. According to the Wikipedia article on Goofy, Babbitt wanted Goofy to be “clumsy, unintelligent, and happy-go-lucky”. This led to Goofy having many human characteristics despite technically being a dog.
Some of Goofy’s notable human-like features include his ability to stand upright, use his hands like a person, and wear clothes. However, he retains some dog-like qualities in his design as well, such as his droopy dog ears, black nose, and fur coloration. Goofy’s design allows him to participate in human-like activities while still maintaining his identity as a dog.
Pluto’s Personality
Pluto exhibits many typical dog behaviors and traits. He is playful and energetic, often chasing birds or his own tail in excitement. Pluto is also very loyal to his master Mickey Mouse, following him on adventures and always trying to protect him from harm (https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Pluto). Some key aspects of Pluto’s personality include his innocence, faithfulness, and happy-go-lucky attitude.
Pluto is quite innocent, retaining a puppy-like demeanor despite his age. He maintains a childlike curiosity about the world around him. Pluto also shows unconditional love and devotion to Mickey Mouse and his friends. He seems eager to please Mickey and enjoys receiving praise and affection from his beloved owner. According to one source, “You can’t help but love Pluto’s unique combination of innocence and loyalty, making him a truly endearing character…” (https://recovery4pr.org/mickey-mouses-beloved-pet-dog/).
Overall, Pluto behaves like a typical household pet dog. He exhibits loyalty, playfulness, curiosity and unconditional love for his owner. These enduring canine traits make Pluto a relatable and charming Disney character.
Goofy’s Personality
Goofy exhibits many human behaviors and personality traits despite being an anthropomorphic dog. According to the Disney Wiki Goofy, Goofy is described as clumsy, unintelligent, and humble. He lives a simple lifestyle and tends to miss the obvious. The Disney Fan Fiction Wiki character profile notes that Goofy is very caring, sympathetic, and always willing to help others, though his efforts often lead to more problems. He has also been shown to be easily embarrassed and self-conscious at times.
Overall, Goofy displays human emotions like embarrassment, humility, and caring despite being designed as a dog. His personality traits, lifestyle, and relationships are more reflective of a human than a typical dog.
Relationship to Mickey Mouse
Pluto is depicted as Mickey Mouse’s pet dog and loyal companion. According to the Mickey and Friends Wiki, Pluto first appeared as a nameless bloodhound in the 1930 Mickey Mouse cartoon The Chain Gang. In 1931, he was given the name Pluto and established as a regular character alongside Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy (Mickey and Friends Wiki).
As a dog, Pluto is subservient to Mickey and demonstrates the typical pet-master relationship. Pluto relies on Mickey for food and shelter, and Mickey cares for Pluto’s well-being. Pluto is obedient and protective of Mickey. Their relationship resembles that of a boy and his dog (ScreenRant).
In contrast, Goofy has a different relationship with Mickey. Although Goofy is also an anthropomorphic dog, he is not depicted as Mickey’s pet. Instead, Goofy is considered one of Mickey’s best friends alongside Donald Duck. The three pals go on adventures together and treat each other as equals. So while Pluto has a pet dynamic with Mickey, Goofy interacts with Mickey more like a human friend.
Treatment by other characters
Pluto is often treated like a regular dog by the other Disney characters, while Goofy is treated more like a human. For example, Pluto is kept as a pet, walks on all fours, lives in a dog house, and does not speak. In contrast, Goofy walks upright, lives in a house, wears clothes, and can talk. Pluto is taken for walks, bathed, and played with like an animal. But Goofy drives, has jobs, and does human activities [1]. Other Disney characters like Mickey and Donald treat Pluto as a pet but treat Goofy as a friend or peer. Even though Pluto and Goofy are both dogs, Pluto is in a subservient “pet” role while Goofy is in an anthropomorphic “human” role within the fictional Disney universe.
Concluding Thoughts
Pluto and Goofy have distinct histories, designs, personalities, and relationships that explain why Pluto is considered a dog but Goofy is not. While both were created around the same time as fun-loving companions to Mickey Mouse, Pluto was always designed as a regular dog, walking on all fours and behaving like a typical household pet. In contrast, Goofy was designed to walk upright and act like a human, wearing clothes and participating in activities like sports in a silly, exaggerated way. While Pluto only communicates through typical dog barks and sounds, Goofy has a distinct human-style voice and personality. In their treatment by other characters, Pluto lives like a normal dog, being kept as a pet, while Goofy socializes like a human. So while they both provide comic relief in Mickey Mouse media, Pluto fits the mold of a dog, having canine traits, instincts, and role, while Goofy’s anthropomorphic human characteristics set him apart as a different kind of animal.