It’s goofy, I know, but sometimes when things are going really wrong for me I hear this little cartoon voice going, “It’s the Professor and Rock Bottom!” Yep, adversity has a name. It has two names. And the cartoon voice belongs to Felix the Cat, who was my first and favorite cartoon experience — or at least the first that I remember, and obviously the most influential. I even think of my giant purse as my “bag of tricks.”
Oh, I don’t deny I had a fearful crush on Astro Boy, and Marine Boy and Prince Planet cameoed in many a pre-teen dream, but Felix influenced me. Some of the most important things I know, I learned from Felix — besides the thing about carrying a big purse at all times. His sense of humor, for example. Felix laughs and he laughs hard — but he’s not mean. He’s ingenious and adaptable — he uses whatever tools are at hand — a great San Soo fighter, Felix. Granted, he’s mostly using his own tail, and mine is not detachable. No comments, please.
Felix knows that black never goes out of style, and that friends are where you find them.
So…cartoon character that most influenced you? Or first cartoon character you remember watching faithfully on TV?
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I learned attitude from Bugs Bunny. Unfortunately my temper more resembles Yosemite Sam, and my luck with technology is powerfully reminiscent of Wile E. Coyote.
by J.D. Rhoades on February 18th, 2008 at 7:29 am
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I had a real ‘thing’ for sqeaky-clean Speed Racer and the Mach 5, and for Aquaman with his ability to communicate with animals (I wanted to be a marine biologist, at least until Jaws came out!). It wasn’t only through them (although they certainly helped) that the principles of working as a member of a team (the Justice League of America) became important to me (as a non-athletic girl in the 70s it’s not as if I ever got to play on a real team for anything) showed that individual talents can do more when they are combined, and that even when no one is looking, doing the right thing is better for you. (I do know that makes me sound like a dork, and I’m often not able to live up to all the goals, but at least I try.)
by Kate Hathway on February 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
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Funny, J.D. That Yosemite Sam does have a way with words when he’s riled.
by Diana Killian on February 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
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(I do know that makes me sound like a dork, and I’m often not able to live up to all the goals, but at least I try.)
Hey, I don’t think that makes you sound like a dork! I think it’s admirable to aspire to ideals.
Of course, I’m the girl who chose a talking cat for her role model. What do I know?
by Diana Killian on February 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am
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Ah, the good old days when a cartoon was just a cartoon. You didn’t have to have a message, a theme, a product endorsement, or a lesson. The only requirement was that it be…funny. What a concept!
Count me with J.D. and the Looney Tunes gang. Bugs and Daffy as well as Tom and Jerry–can’t beat those match-ups. Interesting that most of the Tom and Jerry cartoons involve nothing more than chases–not much plot, but still so entertaining. I laugh now watching them. And my kids–even in this high-tech age when attention spans are so short and we’re so quickly jaded–love Tom and Jerry.
by Sara on February 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
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Does anyone remember Thundercats? Gosh, I really wanted to be one. I even joined my elementary school’s track team, but to my severe disappointment I couldn’t run 120mph like Cheetara. Ah… big dreams die young.
by Michelle Moran on February 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
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I remember having a huge crush on Race Bannon from the Jonny Quest cartoon. And Speed Racer’s in cognito older brother Racer X. Racer X was the bad boy of racing but he had a heart of gold. Loved him so much more than Speed. 
by Tori Lennox on February 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
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Tori: ever seen Carton Networks’ “The Venture Brothers”? it’s a take-off on the old Jonny Quest cartoons that is delightfully twisted.
http://www.adultswim.com/shows/venturebros/
My late-teen buddies and I loved Jonny Quest, BTW, but mainly because it was hilarious to watch on Saturday mornings while hungover and stoned. To this day, all it takes is for one of us to call out “High Voltage Energy Beast!” for the rest of us to dissolve in laughter, much to the mystification of all around us.
by J.D. Rhoades on February 18th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
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J.D., Oh yeah! I’ve seen The Venture Brothers a few times. It’s a hoot!
by Tori Lennox on February 18th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
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Oh, Jonny Quest was a big favorite — all that adventure and autonomy! I’ll have to check out these Venture Brothers; I’ve never heard of them.
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 12:48 am
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Hey, Sara, I used to love Chip and Dale. I don’t know if they were Looney Tunes, but they had that certain carefree attitude, that squirrelly savior faire.
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 12:50 am
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Thundercats…hmmm. The name is so familiar, but for some reason I can’t picture them. Michelle, you must be one of those young ‘uns!
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am
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Racer X had that angsty bad boy thing going on, Tori. Very sexy in a cartoon boy.
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 12:54 am
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Mmm. I have to say I was very disappointed with the new and improved Jonny Quest. I think they added a girl pal for Jonny, and a lady scientist for his dad. It just disrupted the whole manly vibe. 
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 12:56 am
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Kate,
I loved the Justice League. I was going to say Wonder Woman yesterday am before I drove off to work but I wanted to think about Diana’s question a little more. (And because I thought it made me sound like a dork too.)
I think team is an important concept you don’t get if you don’t play sports (which I didn’t) so I had to learn it the hard way in the work force.
Gotta go. Work calls. Big day, big test, very scared Lynn.
by Lynn on February 19th, 2008 at 7:54 am
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Good luck, Lynn. All the superheroes are rooting for you!
by Diana Killian on February 19th, 2008 at 11:32 am
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Diana,
Thanks, I’m sure they were sitting beside me while I was testing. At least the invisible ones. AND I passed with a 93 so, it’s on to the interview phase.
This is where I hope I don’t say anything stupid. And I hope I don’t say outloud, “Don’t say anything stupid.”
by Lynn on February 19th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
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