Goofy Jr./Max Goof
Believe it or not, Max was not the first version of a son for Goofy. Oh no that would be Goofy Jr. Goofy Jr. appeared in "The Everyman" cartoon of Goofy's career. Here Goofy was usually referred to as George Geef. Goofy Jr. was a typical boy of 1950's, he loved to play and hang out with his dad. One notable distinction between Goofy Jr. and Max is that you actually do see Goofy Jr's mother. Only from the neck down but still in these shorts, Goofy was married.
While chronologically speaking Max made his debut in the first episode of "Goof Troop", he appeared youngest in the short, "Have yourself a Goofy Christmas" from "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas". This short serves as a semi-prequel to "Goof Troop". While his exact age is never given, I would figure that he was probably seven years old in this short. In "Goof Troop", Max made his debut appearance and at the time of show, he was eleven. Here Max was portrayed as a fun-loving kid just trying to do his best. Of course he does get into trouble from time to time. After the show ended it's run, Max is next seen in "A Goofy Movie".
In "A Goofy Movie", we get to see Max as a teenager roughly around the age of fifteen. Here Max is portrayed as a typical teen, he loves his dad but is easily embarrassed by him and because of this and many other things, he is considered the Goof of his school. Max's emotions towards this are best expressed in the opening song, "After Today". Here, Max talks about he wants to become popular and not feel like a loser. Over the course of the movie, Max learns to except his dad as he is and more importantly learns to except himself.
Max is next seen in "An Extremely Goofy Movie", here he is an eighteen-year-old about to start college. In this movie, he certainly seems as if Max had forgotten everything he learned in "A Goofy Movie" and just appears to be a jerk. Luckily, when Max makes his next appearance he has toned down.
Max is next seen in "House of Mouse", here he works as parking valet and his age this time appears to be early twenties. Max is perhaps the most leveled headed of the group. The relationship between Max and Roxanne is explored in one episode of "House of Mouse", that episode is "Max's Embarrassing Date". Here Max wants to have a perfect date but things are going awry when the staff tries to help.
Other than "A Goofy Movie", this is the only other time, we see Roxanne because when Max makes his next appearance, he is dating someone new.
Max is next seen in "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas" in the short "Christmas Maximus". In this short, Max is coming home from college with his new girlfriend Mona (not Roxanne) for Christmas. In this short, Goofy goes overboard and easily embarrasses Max. Ironically, Max appears at his oldest age in this movie. Yet in "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas", he appeared at his youngest age. Max is on of the few Disney kids who has consistently aged over the years. In fact I think he is the only Disney kid to consistently age.
Huey, Dewey, & Louie
Huey, Dewey & Louie first appeared in the Donald Duck comics. They were sent to stay with their Uncle Donald by their mother, Della Duck. They did make the move to cartoons and first appeared in "Donald's Nephews". Here their mother was named Dumbella Duck. They served as foils for Donald but they didn't get the starring bill until "DuckTales" came around.
In "DuckTales", Donald sent them to live with their Uncle Scrooge. With Uncle Scrooge, they went on a lot of adventures. "DuckTales" would not be the last time they starred in their own seires.
Huey, Dewey & Louie would later headline their own cartoon series, "Quack Pack". For this series, they went through a dramatic change. First, they lost sweaters and caps and instead were each individual styles of clothing.. Along with individual personalities. Huey served as leader. Dewey became a brainiac and Louie became a prankster. Perhaps the most dramatic change of all is that they lost the famous Disney duck voice and started talking like normal teens.
Huey, Dewey, & Louie next appeared in "House of Mouse" as the house band for the club. One of the ongoing gags was at the start of each season, the band name would change. In season 1 as depicted here, they were the QuackStreet Boys. Just as with Max, they appeared as young adults and noticed seem as though be heading down the same path as Max and continue aging that was until...
In "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas", they once again appear as little kids in the short "Stuck on Christmas". Here, they live with their Uncle Donald just as they did in "Quack Pack". This may be stretching it but this could almost serve as a semi-prequel. Of course, everything is thrown for a loop in the sequel concerning the boys.
While Huey, Dewey & Louie appear as little kids, Max is a young adult and that goes against everything else where these four characters have been featured together. A minor complaint but that's it. Back to Huey, Dewey & Louie, they appear in two shorts in "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas". However out of the two, they are more prominently featured in "Christmas Impossible" where they along with Donald and Daisy are visiting Uncle Scrooge at his mansion. It is shown in the other short that they appear in that they do live with Donald. I have to say I'm rather bummed that unlike Max that they did not continue aging and instead were reverted back to being little kids.
Pete Jr./P.J.
Just as how Max was not the original version of a son for Goofy, the same can be said for P.J., Pete's son. Pete's first son, Pete Jr. first appeared in the Donald Duck short, "Bellboy Donald". Pete Jr. was basically his father in kid's body. Peter Jr. was a brat and whatever chance he could he would torment Donald for his pleasure. In short, Pete Jr. and P.J. are as different as day and night.
P.J. made his first appearance in the first episode of "Goof Troop" In it, he was an older brother and appeared as a timid, shy and unsure character. P.J. was best friends with Max and that friendship lasted a very long time. I would say that P.J. was around eleven when the show started.
We next see P.J. in "A Goofy Movie", here is a teen and I would assume the same age as Max. His character didn't change that much. Of course, I can't give a fair assessment of his character in this movie because he is only in a few scenes but for the most part, he seems the same.
The last time, P.J. is in "An Extremely Goofy Movie". As much as I dislike this movie I will admit that P.J. does go through a character change, he goes from being shy and timid to open and fun. Of course this is due to the fact that he was given a girlfriend in this film.
If nothing else that movie did give us this great shot of P.J.
Morty & Ferdie
Morty and Ferdie are the nephews of Mickey Mouse. They first appeared in the Mickey Mouse Sunday comic strip. They also have made appearance in Disney books, however their names were given as Morty and Monty. Morty & Ferdie's cartoon appearance was rather sproadic. They first appeared in "Mickey Steamroller". Which came out in 1934 and thier next major appearance would not be until Mickey's Christmas Carol" that was released in 1983.
Morty and Ferdie's next appearance would not be until "Around the World in 80 Days". However, this was just a cameo appearance.
April, May, & June
April, May, and June are the nieces of Daisy Duck. According to offical Duck family tree, they are the daughters of Daisy's brother Fred. They first appear in Walt Disney Comic issue 149. According to their biography, they are three feisty little girls. Which is approiate considering who their aunt is. I know of only one televison appearance from the three. They are featured as the house band in the episode "Ladies Night" from "House of Mouse", when they fill in for Huey, Dewey & Louie.
I beleive this is the only time, they are featured in a cartoon and never again. It's just really a cameo and nonspeaking one at that.
Millie & Melody
Millie & Melody are the nieces of Minnie Mouse. Not much is known about them excpet for they first appeared in the comic book "Mickey Mouse Album" Issue 1. Their only onscreen appearance was in "Mickey's Christmas Carol" playing the daughters of Bob Crachit. Other than that, not much else is known about Millie & Melody.
I think that Pete's two sons, Junior (Pete Jr.) and PJ, are two different characters.
ReplyDeleteThe former is not fat, had more proportionate ears, had a muzzle like a cat, looked a lot like Mickey Mouse, and dressed like Little Lord Fauntleroy in Bellboy Donald. He is bratty and liked to bug Donald Duck.
The latter is chubby and small eared like his father, except his whole face is flesh-colored and not just his muzzle. He is shy, timid, and is Max's friend.
Yes, and I said that because in the article I said Pete Jr was Pete's first son. Thanks for stopping by though.
ReplyDeleteMillie and Melody are a little more known now that they're part of a new CGI Disney short series called Minnie's Bow-Toons. I think their pupils are a little too big... it looks like Disney wanted to make them as cute as possible... but I'm excited to see them in cartoons nonetheless. I also really want to know who their voice actresses are (or is, if they have the same). You can find episodes of Minnie's Bow-Toons on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Minnie's Bow Toons wasn't around when I originally wrote this. I may have to check that out just to see how they are used because it's rare to see them pop up in animation. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteSo is this list supposed to be comprised of kids related to familiar Disney characters (ie Mickey, Donald, Pete etc) or others? Because I noticed a few missing and had to ask. Like Molly Cunningham? She's the daughter of Rebecca Cunningham, who owned Baloo's Air Service in TaleSpin and only appeared on that show. Or Webigail "Webby" the little female duck that was Mrs. Beakly's niece on DuckTales? Even Gosalyn Mallard, Drake Mallard's adopted daughter on Darkwing Duck? I can understand an omission of those characters as they aren't actually related to canon Disney characters, but there is one character I am very surprised not to see listed:
ReplyDeletePistol Pete, Pete's daughter on Goof Troop. I always found it weird that she was shown out front with Max and PJ on the show, but then all of a sudden, she (and Peg, PJ and Pistol's mother and Pete's wife) are not in the Goofy movies or even any specials.
Yes, the main focus here was just on characters related to,Mickey and friends.
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