Cartooning and comics involve both static cartoon characters in comic strips and animated cartoon characters. Cartoonists draw comic strips while animators bring cartoons to life in motion. Famous early cartoon characters include Mickey Mouse. Comic strips like Peanuts were later adapted into animated cartoons and movies. Cartoon characters typically have exaggerated features and animals are often given human traits, like Tom and Jerry or Bugs Bunny. Many superheroes that originated in comics have also been featured in animated cartoons and live-action movies, such as Batman, Spiderman, and The Hulk. Manga, the Japanese word for print comics, has also become popular worldwide with examples like Pokemon and Sonic the

1. C artooning and C om ics !

2. A cartoon or cartoon character can be animated or in a comic strip in a
newspaper or book. The artists who draw cartoons are called cartoonists.
The artists who make cartoons move are called animators. Mickey Mouse
is one of the first and most famous cartoon characters.

3. Charlie Brown and Snoopy and all the Peanuts cartoons started off as a comic strip in
newspapers. They became so popular they were animated and made into cartoon movies on
TV and in movie theaters.

4. Cartoon characters are usually funny and have exaggerated features.
Cartoonists sometimes give animals human features.
• Tom and Jerry can talk and run around like people.

5. So do Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (I just love that Wascal Wabbit.)
Can you see how the cartoonist exaggerated the character’s features?

6. Check out the expressions on these Looney Tunes characters.

7. Now onto S u p e r H e roe s !
• Marvel Comics have a ton of Super Heroes!
• Who’s your favorite and why? (Really think about this. It could help you
when you start creating your own cartoon.)

8. Power Puff Girls! (a personal Favorite…)

9. Spiderman and Batman both have their own
movies.

10. S o d o Th e H u lk, G re e n Lante rn and Th or!

11. And we can’t forget Captain America!

12. Popeye The Sailor Man was an old-timey Superhero who came around in
1929. He started out as a comic strip (where did you find those, again?)
And then had his own cartoon show on TV and also a live-action movie.
• Popeye got his superhero strength from eating spinach.
• After Popeye came around people starting eating a LOT more spinach.

13. Manga is the Japanese word to describe print comics and cartoons. This
art form has been around since the 18th Century (1800s). China and Korea
both use the word Manga as well.
• Pokemon is a popular example of Manga that came to the US.

14. So is Sonic the Hedgehog! Sonic is also an example of an animal
Superhero. Can you think of any more?

15. Now, I don’t really know how Sponge Bob Square Pants fits into a
cartoon category…what exactly is he????

16. I do know that cartoonists and animators have to have amazing imaginations. Many cartoonists say they
got interested in cartooning as kids. To become a cartoonist all you need is creativity and to learn the
basics of cartooning, which we will learn and practice together. Who knows? You may be the next great
cartoonist or animator! Now let’s get started!