Krazy Kat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Krazy Kat
Ignatz hurls a brick at Krazy Kat, who misinterprets it as an expression of love
Author(s)	George Herriman
Launch date	October 28, 1913 (1913-10-28)
End date	June 25, 1944 (1944-06-25)
Syndicate(s)	King Features Syndicate
Genre(s)	Gag-a-day, Funny animal, Romance comics, Self-reflexive comics, Experimental comics.

Krazy Kat (also known as Krazy & Ignatz in some reprints) is an American comic strip created by a super talented cartoonist named George Herriman. It started way back in 1913 and continued until 1944. It first appeared in the New York Evening Journal.

George Herriman continued to make "Krazy Kat" until he passed away in 1944. After he died, the comic strip stopped because William Randolph Hearst didn't want anyone else to take over.

How Did It All Begin?

Before "Krazy Kat" had its own comic strip, the characters first appeared in another comic strip by Herriman called "The Dingbat Family." The cat and mouse characters would appear at the bottom of "The Dingbat Family" comic. People liked them so much that they eventually got their own comic strip! The name "Krazy Kat" actually came from the mouse in those early comics.

Where Does the Story Take Place?

The comic strip is set in a place called Coconino County, Arizona. But it's not just any ordinary place! Herriman made it look like a dreamy, imaginative version of Arizona. The landscapes and backgrounds in the comic are very unique and change a lot, even in the same comic strip panel!

Who are the Main Characters?

• Krazy Kat: Krazy is a cat who is very innocent, happy, and doesn't worry about anything. Krazy speaks in a funny way, mixing up different languages and using silly words. Krazy is also in love with Ignatz Mouse, even though Ignatz doesn't feel the same way.
• Ignatz Mouse: Ignatz is a mouse who has a bit of a temper. He likes to throw bricks at Krazy Kat's head! But Krazy doesn't mind; Krazy thinks it's a sign of love!
• Officer Bull Pupp: Officer Pupp is a police dog who tries to protect Krazy from Ignatz. He puts Ignatz in jail whenever he catches him throwing bricks. Later on, Officer Pupp also falls in love with Krazy.

Other Characters

• Joe Stork: Joe delivers babies to everyone in Coconino County.
• Kolin Kelly: Kolin makes bricks in his brickyard. Ignatz often gets his bricks from Kolin, even though Kolin doesn't trust him.
• Mrs. Kwakk Wakk: Mrs. Kwakk Wakk is a duck who likes to gossip. She often sees Ignatz making his plans and tells Officer Pupp.
• Mimi: Mimi is a French poodle who is a schoolteacher. Everyone in Coconino County likes her.
• Walter Cephus Austridge: Walter is an ostrich who doesn't stand out too much.
• Bum Bill Bee: Bill is a bee who travels around and has a beard.
• Don Kiyote: Don is a Mexican coyote who is a bit different from everyone else.
• Mock Duck: Mock is a duck who can see the future and runs a cleaning business.
• Gooseberry Sprig: Gooseberry is a duck who used to have his own comic strip before "Krazy Kat."
• Krazy's Family: Krazy has an Aunt Tabby and Uncle Tom, as well as cousins who are a bird and a fish!
• Ignatz's Family: Ignatz has a wife named Mathilda and three sons named Milton, Marshall, and Irving.

What Makes the Comic Look So Cool?

Herriman filled the comic with funny-looking plants, animals, and rock formations. The backgrounds would change a lot, even if the characters were standing in the same spot. Some places, like Officer Pupp's jailhouse and Kolin Kelly's brickyard, appeared often in the comic. Herriman also used a Southwestern style in his drawings, with clay roofs and decorations inspired by Native American art. Sometimes, he even added things from the theater, like curtains and backdrops!

How Did Herriman Use Words?

Herriman loved to play with words! He used funny, rhyming language and made up silly words. He also wrote the characters' dialogue in a way that sounded like they were speaking in different accents. It made the comic even more fun and interesting to read!

Did People Like Krazy Kat Back Then?

People had different opinions about "Krazy Kat" when it first came out. Some people didn't understand it because it was so different from other comics. But a very important person named William Randolph Hearst loved the comic strip and made sure it stayed in his newspapers.

How Did Krazy Kat Become So Popular?

Even though "Krazy Kat" wasn't super popular with everyone, it had many fans who were smart and creative people. In 1922, there was even a jazz ballet made about the comic strip! Famous writers and artists like T. S. Eliot, H. L. Mencken, and Paul Nash loved "Krazy Kat." One artist said that "no country has produced, in the narrow limits of this medium, a fantastic philosopher such as George Herriman". Even President Woodrow Wilson enjoyed reading the comic strip!

Krazy Kat on the Screen

"Krazy Kat" was also made into cartoons! The first cartoons were made in 1916. Later, in the 1920s, more cartoons were made that were closer to the original comic strip. In the 1930s, the cartoons changed, and Krazy looked more like Mickey Mouse. In the 1960s, new "Krazy Kat" cartoons were made for TV that were more like the original comic strip.

Krazy Kat in Comic Books

In 1951, "Krazy Kat" also appeared in comic books. The comic books were drawn in a different style than the original comic strip, and Krazy was a boy while Ignatz was a girl.

Images for kids

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  Notice the ever-changing backgrounds in this January 21, 1922 page as Krazy tries to understand why Door Mouse is carrying a door.

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  Krazy Kat in The Film Daily, May 1926

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  Ignatz being marched off by Officer Pupp for trying to throw a brick at Krazy Kat. Behind the newspaper, Krazy is reading and describing aloud the very same cartoon in which they are all appearing.

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  Ignatz Mouse resolves not to throw any more bricks at Krazy. Temptation follows him at every turn, and ultimately he finds a loophole to indulge his passion (January 6, 1918).

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  Ad from The Film Daily, 1929

See also

In Spanish: Krazy Kat para niños