Droopy

Droopy is an anthropomorphic white basset hound created by Tex Avery during his time at the MGM cartoon studio. He made his debut in the 1943 cartoon short Dumb-Hounded. He made his debut in the franchise in The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (alongside other MGM characters such as Slick Wolf and Barney Bear). Since then, he has been featured in numerous Tom and Jerry projects, including Tom & Jerry Kids.

In many of his shorts, Droopy often finds himself in comedic showdowns with his archrival, Slick Wolf, who sometimes takes on the role of an unlikely friend. Droopy also contends with Butch Dog, another frequent rival who has moments of cooperation with him in various Tom and Jerry films and series. Additionally, Droopy has a son named Dripple, and in the 1980s iteration, The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, he occasionally faced off against Spike Bulldog from the Tom and Jerry series.

A recurring gag in Droopy's shorts features him becoming overly excited, only to return to his usual calm demeanor, concluding with his signature line: "You know what? I'm happy." This charming trait highlights his unique personality, as he never falls for the tricks of his adversaries, proving to be more clever than he often appears.

Following Fred Quimby's retirement from MGM in 1955, renowned animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera produced seven theatrical Droopy cartoons, further solidifying the character’s legacy in animation history.

Characteristics[]

Personality[]

Despite his seemingly lazy and lethargic demeanor, Droopy is arguably the smartest and most heroic character among those created by Tex Avery. His brilliance shines through in his ability to stay one step ahead of his opponents, demonstrating an acute awareness of their strategies and weaknesses. Droopy's intelligence enables him to navigate various challenges and outsmart his rivals time and again, not stupid enough to fall for anyone's tricks. Additionally, he often finds himself fortunate in his endeavors, although this luck does not always extend to situations involving Tom and Jerry.

There are hints throughout his appearances that Droopy may possess the ability to teleport; this is most notably seen in "Northwest Hounded Police," where he effortlessly pursues the convict Wolf. However, it is later revealed that his remarkable abilities are due to his clones, adding a layer of complexity to his character.

Appearance[]

Droopy is characterized by his distinctive appearance as a white anthropomorphic basset hound. He has a peach-colored mouth, droopy black ears, and an unmistakable orange toupee perched atop his head. His unique look reinforces his quirky personality, making him instantly recognizable to fans of the series.

Weaknesses[]

While Droopy is clever and resourceful, he is not invulnerable. His laid-back attitude can lead to underestimating immediate threats, allowing opponents to capitalize on his unassuming nature. In spite of his intelligence and good fortune, Droopy's primary weakness lies in his encounters with Tom and Jerry. Although he can often recognize their dubious activities, he frequently misses opportunities to act due to the lack of cooperation from Butch, further complicating his attempts to confront challenges. This unpredictable dynamic often leaves him in precarious situations, highlighting the complexities of his character.

Relationships[]

• Butch Dog: he has a quite old relationship with him, but mostly it is tense. Droopy is extremely disliked by Butch for always outperforming Butch in the end, despite Butch's attempt to prevent Droopy from achieving. On the other hand, he and Butch are sometimes allies, mostly regarding Tom and Jerry's short movie series, although Butch does not collaborate well with Droopy. Butch has tried to eliminate him multiple times, but it usually fires back on Butch most of the time, resulting in Butch being injured in a very cartoony way.
• Spike Bulldog: Spike appears in The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show with Droopy, and, like Butch, Spike also has a dislike for Droopy. Droopy is seen to be annoying and sometimes problematic due to his ability to do everything, while Spike is not capable of achieving the same. Spike has tried to eliminate or even harm Droopy several times, but it does not come out well for Spike. He is also a rival who competed with Droopy in "A Day at the Bakery", where they tried to make the best cake for a famous movie star. On the other hand, he has cooperated with Droopy as one of the workers that are working on a construction site in "Droopy's Restless Night". In adaptations after The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, he has a more mutual friendship with Droopy over time.
• Slick Wolf: Droopy's relationship with Slick Wolf/McWolf is the most interesting and frequently mentioned on the list. Slick Wolf and Droopy have some resemblance to Tom and Jerry - Slick Wolf is often depicted to be a brilliant wolf, a strong rival to Droopy and, like Butch and Spike, often tries to kill/harm/hurt Droopy, but usually Droopy outplays Slick Wolf in the end. Slick Wolf sometimes befriends and works with Droopy.
• Miss Vavoom: She is Droopy's love interest in Tom and Jerry Kids, where she often likes Droopy and even flirts and seduces him, which Droopy goes over his heels over, She oftens chooses Droopy over McWolf, who desires to have her.
• Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse: Droopy has a cool relationship with the duo and surprisingly, despite his intelligence, Droopy often slower than Tom and Jerry for just one step. Tom Cat has developed jealousy toward Droopy (in "Endless Bummer"), although Tom does not have a similar level of hostility Butch and Spike have.

Quotes[]

• "You know what? I'm happy."
• "You know what? That made me mad."

Apperances[]

Tex Avery/Dick Lundy/Michael Lah shorts[]

• Dumb-Hounded (1943) (debut and first cartoon with Slick Wolf)
• The Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945) (first cartoon with Red)
• Wild and Woolfy (1945)
• Northwest Hounded Police (1946)
• Señor Droopy (1949)
• Wags to Riches (1949) (first cartoon with Butch)
• Out-Foxed (1949)
• The Chump Champ (1950)
• Daredevil Droopy (1951)
• Droopy's Good Deed (1951)
• Droopy's Double Trouble (1951)
• Caballero Droopy (1952) (the only Droopy cartoon directed by Dick Lundy)
• The Three Little Pups (1953) (first cartoon with the Southern Wolf)
• Drag-a-Long Droopy (1954)
• Homesteader Droopy (1954)
• Dixieland Droopy (1954)
• Deputy Droopy (1955) (first cartoon co-directed by Michael Lah)
• Millionaire Droopy (1956) (remake of Wags to Riches)
• Grin and Share It (1957)
• Blackboard Jumble (1957)
• One Droopy Knight (1957) (first and only Droopy cartoon to be nominated for an Academy Award)
• Sheep Wrecked (1958) (last cartoon featuring the Southern Wolf)
• Mutts About Racing (1958)
• Droopy Leprechaun (1958) (last Droopy theatrical cartoon)

Tom and Jerry[]

• Matinee Mouse (cameo in poster)

The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show[]

• "Droopy's Restless Night"
• "Matterhorn Droopy"
• "Pest in the West"
• 'The Incredible Droop"
• "Scared Bear"
• "Disco Droopy"
• "Lumber Jerks"
• "Getting the Foot"
• "Star-crossed Wolf"
• "A Day at the Bakery"
• "Foreign Legion Droopy"
• "Old Mother Hubbard"
• "Droopy's Good Luck Charm"
• "The Great Diamond Heist"
• "The Great Train Rubbery"

Tom & Jerry Kids[]

• "Scrapheap Symphony"

Droopy and Dripple[]

• "Dakota Droopy and the Lost Dutch Boy Mine"
• "Droopy Delivers"
• "Super Droop & Dripple Boy Meet the Yolker"
• "Aerobic Droopy"
• "Droopy of the Opera"
• "Droopio & Juliet"
• "Yo Ho Ho...Bub"
• "The Maltese Poodle"
• "Droopo: First Bloodhound"
• "Foreign Legion Frenzy"
• "Trés Sheik Poodles"
• "DroopyLand"
• "Stage Fright"
• "Broadway Droopy"
• "Scourge of the Sky"
• "Muscle Beach Droopy"
• "Haunted Droopy"
• "Good Knight Droopy"
• "McWolfenstein"
• "Deep Sleep Droopy"
• "Rap Rat is Where It's At"
• "Return of the Chubby Man"
• "Eradicator Droopy"
• "McWolfula"
• "Double 'O' Droopy"
• "Fear of Flying"
• "Pony Express Droopy"
• "Tarmutt of the Apes"
• "Deep Space Droopy"
• "Droopy's Rhino"
• "Dakota Droopy Returns"
• "The Fabulous Droopy & Dripple"
• "Car Wash Droopy"
• "Downhill Droopy"
• "Droopy and the Dragon"
• "High Seas Hijinks"
• "Go with the Floe"
• "Pooches in Peril"
• "Dakota Droopy and the Great Train Robbery"
• "Droopy Law"
• "Battered Up!"
• "Conquest of the Planet Irwin"
• "Big Top Droopy"
• "High Speed Hounds"
• "Twelve Angry Sheep"
• "It's the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Dr. McWolf"
• "Droop and Deliver"
• "Surely You Joust"
• "The Wrath of Dark Wolf"
• "A Thousand Clones"
• "McWerewolf of London"
• "McWolfenstein Returns"
• "Droopy Man"
• "Darkwolf Strikes Back"
• "Galaxy Droopy"
• "Droopy Man Returns"
• "Droopnet"
• "Right-Brother Droopy"
• "Hollywood Droopy"
• "Fallen Archers"
• "Mutton for Punishment"
• "Bride of McWolfenstein"
• "El Smoocho"
• "Droopy Hockey"
• "Dirty Droopy"
• "Order in the Volleyball Court"

Droopy, Master Detective[]

Droopy[]

• "Droopy's Deep Sea Mystery"
• "Droopy and the Case of the Missing Dragon"
• "The Babyman Bank Heists"
• "The Deep Space Chase"
• "Round 'Em Up Bub"
• "The Case of the Snooty Star"
• "The Monster Mob"
• "Sherlock Droopy"
• "Queen of the Mutant Weirdo Vampires"
• "Shadowman and the Blue Pigeon"
• "Dueling Detectives"
• "Sherlock Droopy Gets Hounded"
• "Droopy and the Cyberdolts"
• "Hey! Where's Arnold?"
• "Auntie Snoople"
• "Mushu McWolf"
• "Return of the Yolker"
• "Mighty McWolf"
• "Sheep Thrills"
• "The Maltese Fossil"
• "Deep Swamp Droopy"
• "The Case of Pierre le Poulet"
• "Alligator Droopy"

Tom and Jerry Tales[]

• "Tomcat Jetpack" (cameo)
• "Cat Nebula" (minor)
• "A Life Less Guarded"
• "Endless Bummer"

The Tom and Jerry Show (2014)[]

Season 2[]

• "Wing Nuts" (cameo)

Season 3[]

• "Double Dog Trouble"
• "Ballad Of The Catnip Kid"

Season 4[]

• "Un-Welcome Home" (on Jerry's watch)
• "Cat-A-Combs"
• "Always Say Never Again"
• "Ball of Fire"
• "Who Sled the Dogs Out?"

Season 5[]

• "Mr. Nobody"
• "Little Red Katzen Hood"
• "Professor Meathead" (cameo)
• "A Treehouse Divided" (cameo)

Movies[]

• Tom and Jerry: The Movie (cameo)
• Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring
• Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes
• Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz (cameo antagonist)
• Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (as Friar Droopy)
• Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
• Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest
• Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz
• Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• Tom and Jerry (2021 film) (cameo)

Trivia[]

• Droopy having a son in Tom & Jerry Kids Show is similar to how Spike Bulldog has Tyke Bulldog.
• In "Hollywood Droopy", Droopy reveals he does not like golf. Despite that, the title card depicts Droopy playing golf.

External links[]

• Droopy on Tex Avery Wiki