Pluto

Pluto Frequently Asked Questions & Fun Facts

When was Pluto’s first appearance?

Pluto made his screen debut on September 5, 1930, in the Mickey Mouse short The Chain Gang. In this first appearance, he actually played two unnamed bloodhounds used to track down an escaped Mickey!

What was Pluto’s original name?

Before he was the Pluto we know today, he was briefly referred to as Rover in the 1930 short The Picnic (where he was actually Minnie Mouse’s dog). It wasn’t until 1931’s The Moose Hunt that he officially became Mickey’s dog, Pluto the Pup.

Who created Pluto?

Pluto was co-created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. He was designed to be a “pantomime character,” meaning he has to express all his emotions through physical movement and facial expressions rather than speech.

Is Pluto a specific breed of dog?

While often called a “mutt,” Pluto is most commonly identified as a Bloodhound. This explains his incredible sense of smell and the floppy ears that he uses to express his feelings.

Why does Pluto not talk, but Goofy does?

This is one of the most debated questions in Disney history! Disney’s official stance is that Pluto is a “non-anthropomorphic” character—he is a realistic pet dog. Goofy, on the other hand, is a humanoid character who happens to have canine-like features.

Pluto’s Walk of Fame and Awards

• Hollywood Star: On August 31, 2005, Pluto became the first Disney animal character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• First Comic Strip: His first solo comic strip appearance was on January 11, 1931.
• Oscar Winner: The Pluto short Lend a Paw (1941) won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.