Gawrsh Goofy!

Goofy is often considered clumsy, unintellegent, childish, lovable, charming, caring, sympathetic and always willing to help even though he usually causes more harm than good. Goofy does not really understand women and will often times be the one character without a love interest at a time, but nonetheless is sometimes paired with his romantic interest Clarabelle Cow. Goofy is often times portrayed as a family man and other times as a widower and single father. He is very capable as a single father; he is strict when he needs to be but does not let that affect the bond between him and his son Max. Goofy also shows his stern side when he feels insulted. He does not mind that he is clumsy, but will not take insults from anyone, except his best friend Donald Duck.

It is not quite clear where Goofy came from, many different views are shown in the shorts. A map is shown belonging to Benjamin Goof in A Goofy Movie and displays a trip with Goofy and his dad Benjamin. in the short Walt Disney Presents: The Goofy Adventure History, his dad’s name is Amos Goofy and he is also featured in the short African Diary. In the comic Goofy’s Last Stand Goofy states his father was a railroad man. In the series Goof Troop, Goofy says he was born in California and is the first American Goof.

Goofy is known for his famous phrases “gawrsh”, “ah-hyuck”, and his holler which can be written as “yaaaaaaaa-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!” and is usually exclaimed when Goofy is falling or being catapulted through the sky. The holler was originally recorded by yodeller Hannes Schrolle in 1941 and shown in the short The Art Of Skiing. Many say he was not paid for the recording.

Goofy’s voice has changed plenty of times through the years. From 1932-1939 he was voiced by Pinto Colvig. After Colvig left Disney Productions, George Johnson filled in from 1939-1943. Colvig then came back and continued to voice Goofy until his retirement and death in 1965. Following Colvig’s death, many different actors filled in for the voice including Hal Smith, Will Ryan, and Tony Pope until they found the right fit Bill Farmer who began voicing Goofy in 1987 and still voices him today.

Goofy was originally pictured as Dippy Dawg in the short Mickey’s Revue (released May 25, 1932) In the short Mickey, Minnie, Horace and Clarabelle performed  and song and dance show. Dippy Dawg is a member of the audience who is just too noisy with his peanut eating and obnoxious laughing. Which then became Goofy’s famous laugh. Dippy Dawg is drawn as an old man with a white beard and a puffy tail and wears no pants. He appeared in four shorts in 1932-1933. By his seventh appearance (Orphan’s Benefit released August 11, 1934) he earned the name Goofy. He soon after received his signature look of a black vest, blue pants, a red or orange turtleneck shirt, white gloves, overly large brown shoes and his recognizable blue or green hat.

By 1934 Donald is in play and they began the Mickey, Donald and Goofy comedy shorts. Donald and Goofy were such a hit, Mickey began to fall into the shadows and the first Donald and Goofy duo short was released. Polar Trappers (June 17, 1938), in the short Donald and Goofy own their own trapping company to capture live walruses to civilization. Donald is in charge of catching penguins for bait while Goofy sets traps for the walruses, both ultimately fail. Mickey returns in The Whalers on August 19, 1938, but it is the last short to feature the trio in the 1930’s.

On March 17, 1939 the short Goofy and Wlibur is released being Goofy’s first solo short. The short features Goofy fishing with his pet grasshopper Wilbur. Shortly into Goofy’s solo career, the voice Pinto Colvig leaves Disney Productions and leaves Goofy voiceless. Struggling to find a new voice, the “how to” shorts are created where Goofy has hardly any lines. These shorts become the staple of Goofy’s career. When the 1950’s came, Goofy became a family man enduring everyday trials. Oddly, Goofy is never referred to as Goofy in these shorts but at George Geef and many other names as he plays multiple different characters. With the 50’s came a new makeover. Goofy got smaller eyes and eyebrows and earned his flesh colored skin.

Goofy has been featured in many movies and television shows such as A Goofy Movie, An Extremely Goofy Movie, Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas, Mickey Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers, Twice Upon a Christmas, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mouse Factory, Goof Troop, and many others. Goofy has his own ride and candy shop in the Disney Parks and is the fourth most requested or common character.

Source: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Goofy