Cartoon Characters Comprehension Pack PDF

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Cartoons Text focus: Information Text Cartoon Characters Over the years, cartoons have given us many memorable characters. Some were short-lived; others live on today despite being nearly 100 years old. Let’s take a stroll through time and see when certain characters were first d...

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Cartoons Text focus: Information Text Cartoon Characters Over the years, cartoons have given us many memorable characters. Some were short-lived; others live on today despite being nearly 100 years old. Let’s take a stroll through time and see when certain characters were first drawn. Mickey Mouse The famous mouse first appeared in a Disney short film called Steamboat Willie in 1928. The black and white film premiered in New York City. This was also an historic occasion because Walt Disney used the film to demonstrate a new piece of technology called “synchronised sound”. This was the first time that movement on the screen had been matched with sound effects and music. This was revolutionary to audiences that were used to listening to a small band or orchestra that was sitting inside the theatre with them. At first, Mickey was insolent; causing trouble wherever he went and not showing any respect. It wasn’t until he became a more popular character in his own series that he changed into the funny, kindhearted mouse that is so popular today. Bugs Bunny Warner Bros. was not going to be outdone by Disney. They saw how popular Mickey Mouse had become and how Walt Disney’s animation studio was dominating the cinemas; they needed a character of their own. On the 27th of July, 1940, Bugs Bunny was born. The character had already appeared in four films, but under different names and with different attitudes. His creators decided that they didn’t want him to be as wacky as he had been, so they made him far more casual and sarcastic. He used his famous catchphrase, “What’s up, doc?” from that very first appearance. The Transformers Transformers had been popular toys since their release in 1984. Children loved the idea of robots that could transform into cars, trucks and other vehicles. It was only natural that a television series would follow, and the early 1980s was a popular time for toy spinall resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com offs. The first Transformers episode aired in September 1984 and ran for three years. There have since been many more cartoons, films and comic books to continue the franchise. Homer Simpson Like the rest of the Simpson family, Homer made his first appearance in 1987. It wasn’t in The Simpsons, though. That series was still two years away. Instead, the family appeared in a short animated clip for The Tracey Ullman Show, which was a popular sketch show in America at the time. The violent duo Itchy and Scratchy also appeared as part of these short animations in 1988. They were the first other recurring characters. Homer has been voiced by Dan Castellaneta since the very first show. Peppa Pig The 31st of May, 2004. That was the date when many parents’ lives changed, and they had to learn the importance of muddy puddles and that a pig can be as sassy and grumpy as any other child. Peppa, George and their family oinked their way onto TV screens and have never looked back. Unlike many popular cartoons, Peppa Pig was created by an independent animation studio without any links to big companies. The creators wanted to create a main character that was a girl but was different to the princess and ballerinas seen in other cartoons; they definitely wanted her to be happy getting muddy and having adventures. VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. If something or someone is “memorable”, what does it mean? 2. What impression do you get of a movement described as a “stroll”? 3. Write a definition for “insolent”, based on the context in the text. 4. What is a “spin-off” in this context? 5. Find a word that is a humerous way of describing how Peppa and her family came to television screens. S R R I S VIPERS QUESTIONS Why was the screening of Steamboat Willie “historical”? When was the first episode of Peppa Pig aired? When did the Simpsons family first appear on screen? What evidence supports the idea that children and adults love The Transformers? How is Peppa different to other similar characters, according to the show’s creators? all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com