The cartoon that famously featured a laughing dog was primarily Wacky Races, where the character Muttley was known for his distinctive wheezy laugh. He also featured prominently in the spin-off series, Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.
Muttley: The Iconic Laughing Canine
Muttley is one of the most recognizable animated dogs in cartoon history, largely due to his peculiar, snickering laugh. As the sidekick to the villainous Dick Dastardly, Muttley's laugh served as a comedic counterpoint to Dastardly's constant failures.
Key Characteristics of Muttley:
- Distinctive Laugh: Muttley's laugh is a wheezy, snickering sound, often heard when his cohort, Dick Dastardly,'s elaborate schemes would inevitably go awry. This made his laugh a hallmark of Dastardly's comedic misfortunes.
- Loyal yet Sarcastic: While generally loyal to Dastardly, Muttley often displayed a sarcastic streak, sometimes even directly mocking Dastardly's incompetence through his laughter or actions.
- Anthropomorphic Traits: Muttley is an anthropomorphic dog, walking on two legs and capable of expressing a wide range of human-like emotions and behaviors, including his signature laugh.
Appearances of Muttley:
Muttley's most famous appearances include:
- Wacky Races: In this Hanna-Barbera cartoon from 1968, Muttley was the co-pilot and general assistant to Dick Dastardly in their Mean Machine race car, consistently trying to win races through cheating, only to fail.
- Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines: A spin-off series where Dastardly and Muttley, as members of the Vulture Squadron, tried (and failed) to stop a carrier pigeon named Yankee Doodle Pigeon from delivering messages. Muttley's laugh was particularly prominent here, often aimed at Dastardly's failed attempts to catch the pigeon.
His unique laugh and mischievous personality cemented Muttley's place as a memorable character in animation history.
| Character | Role | Distinctive Trait | Main Cartoon Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muttley | Dick Dastardly's sidekick | Wheezy, snickering laugh, often at Dastardly's expense | Wacky Races, Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines |
For more information on Dick Dastardly and his sidekick, Muttley, you can refer to their dedicated entries on Wikipedia.
