Pluto, also called Pluto the Pup, is a fictional dog created in 1930 at Walt Disney Productions. He is a yellow-orange color, medium-sized, short-haired dog with black ears. Unlike most Disney characters, Pluto is not anthropomorphic beyond some characteristics such as facial expression. He is Mickey Mouse's pet. Officially a mixed-breed dog. he made his debut as a bloodhound in the Mickey Mouse cartoon The Chain Gang. Together with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy, Pluto is one of the "Sensational Six"—the biggest stars in the Disney universe. Though all six are non-human animals, Pluto alone is not dressed as a human.
Pluto debuted in animated cartoons and appeared in 24 Mickey Mouse films before receiving his own series in 1937. All together Pluto appeared in 89 short films between 1930 and 1953. Several of these were nominated for an Academy Award, including The Pointer (1939), Squatter's Rights (1946), Pluto's Blue Note (1947), and Mickey and the Seal (1948). One of his films, Lend a Paw (1941), won the award in 1942. Because Pluto does not speak, his films generally rely on physical humor. This made Pluto a pioneering figure in character animation, by expressing personality through animation rather than dialogue.
Like all of Pluto's co-stars, the dog has appeared extensively in comics over the years, first making an appearance in 1931. He returned to theatrical animation in 1990 with The Prince and the Pauper and has also appeared in several direct-to-video films. Pluto also appears in the television series Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000), House of Mouse (2001–2003), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016), and the new Mickey Mouse shorts (2013–2023).
In 1998, Disney's copyright on Pluto, set to expire in 2003, was extended by the passage of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. Disney, along with other studios, lobbied for passage of the act to preserve their copyrights on characters such as Pluto for 20 additional years.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Pluto first appeared in the Macy's Parade in 1934, alongside Disney colleagues such as Mickey Mouse and Horace Horsecollar. Unlike most balloons in the Parade's history, this balloon was moved around on a wooden frame with wheels, akin to Horsecollar. The balloon would retire from the line of march following the next parade alongside the rest of the Disney balloons, and since then, Macy's has yet to produce another Pluto balloon.
As a costumed character[]
Although no longer appearing as a Parade balloon, Pluto has made additional appearances in his Disney Parks walk-around form a few times. His first costumed appearance featured him perched upon a giant Birthday Cake float, to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 40th Birthday, alongside many other Disney characters.
From the 1969 Parade until the 1975, Pluto appeared on the Disney Wagon, normally appearing with the walk-around Mickey Mouse and Goofy.
In the 1976 parade, he and Goofy moved to the Castle float, appearing alongside fellow mutt The Shaggy Dog. In the 1977 parade, Mickey and Minnie joined him and Goofy. Pluto appeared once more with several other Disney characters on the Tencennial Celebration float in 1981.
Pluto would miss out on the 1982 and 1983 parades, but returned once again in 1984 to 1985 on the Disneyland Celebration float, a float made in honor of the beloved theme park's 30th anniversary, appearing alongside his other Sensational Six friends.
He appeared on the Ship of Dreams float in the 2005 parade, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Disneyland Resort, and has made appearances on the Magic Meets the Sea float since the 2021 parade.
Trivia[]
- The Pluto balloon's pupils were missing for unknown reasons throughout its two appearances.