Goofy is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1939 with Goofy and Wilbur and ended in 1953 with How to Sleep. An additional short, How to Hook Up Your Home Theater, was released in 2007. The series stars the titular character Goofy, introduced in the short film series Mickey Mouse as one of Mickey's friends.
Production The shorts were produced by Walt Disney Productions, and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures (the shorts were later distributed by Buena Vista Distribution in re-releases). Like other Disney animated shorts in the golden age of American animation starring other characters, the shorts began with a starburst with a close-up of Goofy's face, followed by the title "A Walt Disney Goofy" or "Walt Disney Presents Goofy", depending on the cartoon.
The shorts include a sub-series known as "How to...", which show Goofy in situations that explain to the public how to do different types of activities, including sports, practicing different professions, or types of hobbies, always being explained by a narrator. Other similar short films also began with the title "The Art of...".
During the late 1940s and 1950s, Goofy was shown in stories as an "everyman", being portrayed as an urban man in everyday situations. In these shorts, he is referred to by the name "George Geef" and has a more humanized appearance.
Also during the 1950s, Goofy starred in four short films under the title "Fathers", showing Goofy acting as a father to his son, Goofy Junior (who years later would become known as "Max Goof").
From 1939 to 1953, at least one short film in the Goofy series was released annually, with an additional short film (How to Hook Up Your Home Theater) being released in 2007. Most of the shorts were directed by Jack Kinney.
List of films The following is a list of Goofy short films.
The list doesn't include shorts from other series where Goofy appears, such as the Mickey Mouse series, the Donald & Goofy series, or other Disney short films from that aren't part of the Goofy series, segments from feature films (such as El Gaucho Goofy), nor shorts of Goofy made as part of the episodes of the television series Mickey Mouse Works.
Years:1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 2007
1939 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy goes fishing with his pet grasshopper, Wilbur, who acts as bait by jumping across the water to attract the fish.
Other appearances: Wilbur
1940 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy tries to fly on a small glider, while the Narrator explains different ways he can take off, but always runs into different setbacks when doing so.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice; debut)
1941 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy is the baggage attendant at a train station. When he has to check a magician's trunk, he gets into trouble when a rabbit comes out of a hat and the animal doesn't want to go back inside. Later, Goofy has another problem when the trunk begins to float, or different props come out from inside, including a cape that makes different types of animals appear.
Other appearances: Rabbit, Bull; cameo of Pluto The Narrator uses Goofy as an example to explain how to ski, showing different styles.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
Notes: The short introduces Goofy's famous "Goofy Holler" ("Eeeeeeeeeh ho ho hooey!"). The Narrator explains how self-defense has evolved through the ages, using Goofy in different roles from various eras as an example. Until finally, he explains through Goofy how to box.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
1942 #TitleDirectorRelease The Narrator explains what the game of baseball is like using Goofy as an example of the different positions on the team and the different plays they can make.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
Notes: First short film in the "How to..." series. The Narrator tells the story of the Olympic Games, and uses Goofy to explain the different sports competitions that take place at the event.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) Goofy is shown explaining how to swim while the Narrator explains the steps that need to be done.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) After the Narrator explains how the instinct to fish is triggered, he uses Goofy as an example of a fisherman to show how to fish.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
1943 #TitleDirectorRelease The Narrator explains how the citizens (played by Goofy) improvise different vehicles due to the car shortage. In the end, the pogo stick being their solution to use.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice); cameo of Pluto
1944 #TitleDirectorRelease Through characters in different periods of history (played by Goofy), the Narrator explains how types of sailors have evolved over time.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) Goofy serves as an example of how to play golf, while the Narrator explains the steps to follow. A stick figure golfer also acts as a guide.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Stick figure golfer, Bull The Narrator explains how to play American football, with Goofy in the role of the players, referee, coach, and spectators.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
Notes: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, being the only one in the Goofy series to receive said nomination.
1945 #TitleDirectorRelease Mounted on his elephant, Goofy goes to hunt tigers in the jungle while the Narrator explains his actions.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Dolores the Elephant (debut), Raja the Tiger Goofy recounts his experiences in Africa from his diary, recounting his journey through the savannah, where he ends up in trouble with a rhinoceros.
Other appearances: Black rhinoceros, Titbird The Narrator comments on the plays of an ice hockey game, in which Goofy plays the players, referee and spectators.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
1946 #TitleDirectorRelease In the Middle Ages, the Narrator comments on the actions of a medieval tournament, with the characters present being played by Goofy. The central character is Cedric, a squire who poses as his master, Sir Loinsteak, after the latter was knocked unconscious.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) The Narrator comments on the plays of a basketball game, in which Goofy plays the players, referee, coach, and spectators. One of the characters being Merrithew, a short player that the others don't take seriously.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
1947 #TitleDirectorRelease To hunt ducks, Goofy uses a toy duck to attract them, but when the toy crosses paths with a real duck, Goofy doesn't know which duck is fake and which is real. After discovering the real duck, he chases after it to hunt it, but his clumsiness constantly makes it difficult for him to hunt it and other ducks.
Other appearances: Ducks
1948 #TitleDirectorRelease The Narrator explains what the horse racing hobby is like, with Goofy playing the fans and the jockeys.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Snapshot III, Old Moe At a circus, Dolores the Elephant wakes up her keeper, Goofy, to feed her. After that, Goofy prepares to give Dolores a bath, but she refuses, and hides from Goofy to avoid taking a bath.
Other appearances: Dolores the Elephant
1949 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy is the announcer in a tennis match, where the players (Big Ben and Little Joe), the court gardener and the spectators are also played by him. The Narrator encourages Goofy to buy some gym equipment to work out at home and build muscle, which includes a disc on which a coach explains the steps to follow.
Other appearances: Coach (voice), Narrator (voice)
1950 #TitleDirectorRelease The Narrator uses Mr. Walker (played by Goofy) as an example to show how people can go crazy behind the wheel of their cars.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice; referred to as "Mr. Geef") Goofy takes up photography as a hobby, with the Narrator giving directions. Goofy tries to photograph a bear, which ends up getting angry and chasing Goofy, who still tries to get the photo.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Humphrey the Bear (debut)
1951 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy wants to relax in a hammock in his garden. Seeing how comfortable it looks, Louie the Mountain Lion removes Goofy from the hammock to lie down himself. Soon a battle between the two begins in which one constantly tries to remove the other from the hammock in some way to be able to lie down in his place.
Other appearances: Louie the Mountain Lion Goofy builds a house to live in, while the Narrator explains the steps to follow in the construction.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) Goofy (under the name "George Geef") must leave work and go home when he comes down with a cold, eventually feeling terribly unwell.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Cold Virus, Mrs. Geef, Geef's Boss
Notes: Goofy's first appearance under the identity of "George Geef". An obese Goofy begins to have problems because of his weight, so he decides to go on a diet, but the food is still a temptation for him.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice) Goofy (as George Geef) is a fan of gambling because he thinks that this way he can become rich one day, but he always ends up losing money.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Mrs. Geef Goofy (George Geef) becomes a father, he finds it difficult to change diapers and prepare a bottle in the middle of the night. When his son grows up, things do not improve because the kid turns out to be quite naughty.
Other appearances: Goofy Junior (debut), Mrs. Geef, Narrator (voice); cameo of Mickey Mouse as an image in Junior's crib The Narrator tells the story of tobacco, and the smoking habit of people through the ages. In the current era, Goofy (in his George Geef identity) is a chain smoker who decides to quit when he starts to get sick of it, but he constantly suffers from the desire to smoke.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice)
1952 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy (in his identity as George Geef) takes his son hunting in the woods, where they begin to be stalked by Louie the Mountain Lion.
Other appearances: Goofy Junior, Louie the Mountain Lion Goofy (as George Geef) is stressed from his job, so he takes a vacation to an island paradise in Hawaii, where he decides to stay.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Geef's Boss The Narrator explains the events of any given day at a school, where the teacher, Goofy, has problems with George, one of his naughty students.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), George, Kids Pistol Pete wreaks havoc in the Old West. After Goofy inadvertently foils a heist of his on a stagecoach, Pete seeks revenge. In town, Pete begins chasing Goofy, who is hiding from him.
Other appearances: Pete, Lady, Coffin Seller; cameo of Goofy Junior Goofy adopts a dog he names Bowser. The Narrator explains Goofy's different actions to train him, although the dog is still a troublemaker.
Other appearances: Bowser, Narrator (voice) As he begins his vacation, Goofy goes on a road trip where he must soon have his car repaired. Also on his journey he has several unfortunate encounters with a caravan. During the night, he also has trouble finding an establishment where he can sleep.
Other appearances: Narrator (voice), Mechanic Goofy (as "Johnny Eyeball") is a private detective who is asked by a lady to help her find Al. In addition to having the problem of not knowing who Al is, both a police officer (Pete) and a mugger (a Weasel) continually demand that he stay away from Al's case.
Other appearances: Pete (as Al Muldoon), Weasel, Lady, Narrator (voice); cameo of Mickey Mouse in a magazine picture
1953 #TitleDirectorRelease Goofy (in his George Geef identity) takes care of the house while his wife is away, doing chores and taking care of their son. Soon, taking care of too many things at once begins to wreak havoc in the house.