Disney Dog Pluto ~ Mickey’s Beloved Pup

ByNanaT

Pluto: The Endearing Disney Dog Who Captured Our Hearts. From the early days, Disney stories embraced friendship and loyalty with faithful companions. The original Disney Dog Pluto has an interesting backstory so come along as we take a closer look at Pluto, the original Disney dog. From his humble beginnings as an unnamed hound in the 1930s Disney shorts to a faithful sidekick in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse today.

Pluto’s Identities ~ Evolution of the First Disney Dog

Pluto at Disneyland Vintage Postcard

The first (and our favorite) Disney Dog, Pluto appeared to be nameless in his first appearance. In the 1930’s short, “The Chain Gang” he appeared as one of two unnamed bloodhounds used by the guards to help track down Mickey who had escaped from a prison chain gang.

Later that year, in “The Picnic,” the previous nameless bloodhound appeared once again. This time as Minnie’s dog, Rover. You may recall Rover is also the dog’s name in the Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress attraction. This might not be a coincidence but rather an example of Disney Imagineers interconnecting past and present.

Pluto soon found his forever home with Mickey Mouse in the 1931 short, “The Moose Hunt”. In this short the Disney Dog, Pluto finally becomes Mickey’s dog.  Although there is no conclusive writing on how Disney came up with the name Pluto, we lean towards a theory which embraces Walt’s love of space. The original planet, Pluto, was discovered on February 18th, 1930, by astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh right before our favorite Disney dog was named.

Pluto’s Unique Charm

Pluto is one of the few Disney characters that maintains the attributes of an animal. He walks on four legs, doesn’t wear clothes other than a collar (except on special occasions) and doesn’t speak often. This makes Pluto appear more like a genuine dog, which adds to his charm as a beloved pet. A few exceptions to Pluto’s silence were in a couple of 1930s era shorts. In “The Moose Hunt”, Pluto says, “kiss me” and “the moose”. And later in 1935, Pluto’s thoughts are voiced in “Mickey’s Kangaroo”.

Get ready to discover fascinating facts and heartwarming moments that have made Pluto a beloved star for decades. Who knows? You might just learn something new about this classic character that keeps us smiling year after year!

Disney Dog - Pluto

Pluto’s Iconic Moments

The 1937 film, “Pluto’s Quin-Puplets” was the first in the series called Pluto the Pup. The series title was later shortened to Pluto. These shorts all featured Pluto as the leading character. Our favorite Disney Dog, Pluto earned several Academy Award nominations, including The Pointer (1939), Squatter’s Rights (1946), Pluto’s Blue Note (1947), and Mickey and the Seal (1948). In 1942, he won an Academy Award for Best Cartoon with Lend a Paw (1941). Today, Pluto remains a fan favorite, joining the gang on exciting adventures including “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” on The Disney Channel or in “Mickey’s Roadster Racers” on Disney+ ” But perhaps one of our favorites is the 1943 film “Private Pluto” where we are introduced to Chip ‘n’ Dale!

Puppy Love and Family Ties

Pluto’s family life and romances allow this iconic Disney Dog to capture our hearts. In the 1937 animated short “Pluto’s Quin-puplets,” audiences were introduced to Pluto’s role as a father when he and Fifi, a Pekinese, became parents to five adorable puppies. This cartoon was significant. It was the beginning of expanding Pluto’s identity as a character as well as his family. It was the first animated short where Pluto took center stage. One of these pups later reappeared in the 1942 short, “Pluto Junior”. This added to our favorite Disney Dog Pluto’s backstory. In 1946, Pluto’s family tree grew again with the introduction of his mischievous younger brother, K.B., in “Pluto’s Kid Brother.” On the romantic front, Pluto’s heart has been captured by two leading ladies: Fifi the Pekinese, the mother of his puppies, and Dinah the dachshund.

These relationships and family connections have helped to create a rich, relatable character in Pluto. He is not just a friend to Mickey, in the Disney story. Pluto is a father, brother, and romantic partner a character that continues to develop in his heart-capturing animated adventures.

The voice behind the bark

Ever wonder who brought Pluto’s adorable barks and whines to life? Meet Vance DeBar “Pinto” Colvig, the talented voice actor behind Disney’s beloved canine character. Colvig, a former vaudeville performer with a knack for creating unique sounds and voices, was hired by Walt Disney in 1930, just as the studio was entering its golden age of animation.

Colvig’s contribution to Pluto’s character went far beyond simple barks and growls. His ability to infuse emotion and personality into Pluto’s vocalizations helped create the expressive and lovable personality that has endeared the character to audiences for generations. From Pluto’s excited yips to his dejected whimpers, Colvig’s performances brought depth and nuance to our favorite animated Disney dog, Pluto’s emotions.

Timeless tale

Pluto’s enduring popularity is a testament to his charisma and the magical touch of Disney storytelling. As part of Disney’s “Fab Five” alongside Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, Pluto continues to delight new generations of fans in shows like “Mickey Mouse Funhouse” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”.

From his humble beginnings as an unnamed bloodhound to becoming one of Disney’s most beloved characters, Pluto’s journey is a heartwarming tale of loyalty, friendship, and the enduring power of a wagging tail. Whether he’s chasing his tail, getting into mischief, or simply being a faithful friend to Mickey, Pluto reminds us why dogs truly are man’s best friend – even in the world of animation!

disney dog - Pluto

Iconic moments for Disney Dog, Pluto

  • Pluto was introduced into comics in the 1930s. He appeared in the Mickey Mouse comic strip in 1931. And in 1939, Pluto the pup started to appear in the Silly Symphony Sunday comic page.
  • Pluto starred in close to 50 shorts between 1937 and 1951 along with multiple appearances in the Mickey Mouse cartoons
  • Vance DeBar Colvig Sr known as Pinto Colvig was a former vaudeville performer who was hired by Walt Disney in 1930 and became the voice of Pluto’s bark. Pluto was just one of several character voices Colvig performed during his Disney career.
  • Pluto became an official souvenir in the 1930s too. Charlotte Clark, who designed the first Mickey Mouse doll also designed a Pluto doll, this rare collectible is one of the earliest Disney souvenirs available. It is harder to find than mickey or minnie mouse dolls which were more popular at the time.
  • Pluto became known as one of Disney’s Fab Five characters, along with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy
  • Even today, Pluto continues to be a favorite as the gang goes on adventures in the “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, “Mickey’s Roadster Racers” and “Mickey Mouse Funhouse” on Disney+.

Pluto Animation Awards

Academy Award Nominations         

  • The Pointer (1939)
  • Squatter’s Rights (1946)
  • Pluto’s Blue Note (1947)
  • Mickey and the Seal (1948)

Academy Award Winner

  • Lend a Paw (1941) –Awarded in 1942 for Best Cartoon
NanaT
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