Yogi Bear
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yogi Bear is a fictional anthropomorphic bear who appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series is set in the fictional park of Jellystone.
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[edit] History and origins of character
Yogi made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. He became popular, and in 1961 was given his own show, which also included the segments Snagglepuss and Yakky Doodle. Hokey Wolf replaced his segment on The Huckleberry Hound Show. There was a musical animated feature film, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!, in 1964. Over the years he appeared in many other spin-off series as well, including Yogi's Gang (1973), Yogi's Space Race (1978), Galaxy Goof-Ups (1978), Yogi's Treasure Hunt (1985),The New Yogi Bear Show (1988), the "Fender Bender 500" segment on Wake, Rattle and Roll (1990), and Yo Yogi (1991).
In 1999, Canadian animator John Kricfalusi created and directed two Yogi cartoons, which were A Day in the Life of Ranger Smith and Boo Boo Runs Wild. Both shorts aired that year on the Cartoon Network as part of a Yogi Bear special. Boo Boo Runs Wild features a fight between Yogi and Ranger Smith, which was heavily edited for broadcast for both violence and suggestive situations. A third Yogi cartoon from Spumco was planned and storyboarded, but was not finished. In 2003, Spumco created another Boo-Boo cartoon, Boo-Boo and the Man, which was made with Macromedia Flash and released on Cartoon Network's website.
[edit] Personality
Like many Hanna-Barbera characters, Yogi's personality and mannerisms were based on a popular celebrity of the time. Art Carney's Ed Norton character on The Honeymooners was said to be Yogi's inspiration. Yogi's name is a nod to the famed baseball star Yogi Berra.
The plot of most of Yogi's cartoons centered around his antics in the fictional Jellystone Park, a takeoff on the famous Yellowstone National Park. (There had been a 1941 Bugs Bunny cartoon, Wabbit Twouble, that used the more obvious name "Jellostone" Park, a play on both the national park and the trademark of the popular gelatin dessert.) Yogi, accompanied by his reluctant best friend Boo-Boo, would often try to steal 'Picanick' baskets from campers in the park, much to the chagrin of Park Ranger Smith. A girlfriend bear, Cindy, turned up sometimes, and normally disapproved of Yogi's antics.
Stretching literary license significantly, the relationship of Yogi and Boo-Boo could be compared to that of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, in the context of the whimsical, adventurous leader and the practical sidekick. Hanna and Barbera would repeat this formula many times, notably in the later series Quick Draw McGraw.
[edit] Catchphrases
Besides often speaking in rhymes, Yogi Bear is well-known for a variety of different catchphrases, including his pet name for picnic baskets ("pic-a-nic baskets") and his favorite self-promotion ("I'm smarter than the average bear!"), although he often overestimates his own cleverness. He also liked to say, "Hey there, Booboo!" as his preferred greeting to his humbler sidekick.
[edit] Influence
Yogi has had an influence on popular culture. He has made several cameos on television shows such as Family Guy, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. A Martian rock was named after him. Yogi Rock was discovered in 1997. In the initial photos the rock had the appearance of a little bear facing away. There was even a song called "Yogi Bear."
[edit] Broadcasts
Yogi Bear is currently aired by Cartoon Network's sister channel, Boomerang, worldwide.
There was also a Hanna-Barbera Personal Favorites video where William Hanna and Joseph Barbera picked their favorite Yogi Bear episodes, including the very first one, "Yogi Bear's Big Break", and Yogi meeting some storybook friends: The Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Little Red Riding Hood.
[edit] Voices
The Classic Era:
- Daws Butler as Yogi Bear (1958-87)
- Don Messick as Boo-Boo Bear, and also Ranger John Francis Smith (using his natural voice) (1958-97)
- Julie Bennett as Cindy Bear (1960-1988)
The Modern Era:
- Greg Burson as Yogi Bear (1988-present)
- John Kricfalusi as Boo-Boo Bear (1999)
- Corey Burton as Ranger Smith (1999)
- Mary Ellen Thomas as Cindy Bear (1999)
[edit] Comic books
Over the years, several publishers put out Yogi Bear comic books.
- Gold Key Comics was first, with a title that ran 33 issues from 1962-70.
- Charlton Comics then did a title for 35 issues from 1970-77.
- Marvel Comics did a title for 9 issues in 1977.
- Harvey Comics then did several titles for a total of 10 issues in 1992-94.
- Archie Comics regularly featured Yogi Bear stories in the anthology comics Hanna-Barbera All-Stars and Hanna-Barbera Presents. After the cancellation of both titles, Archie put out a separate Yogi Bear comic that only got one issue.
- DC Comics semi-regularly featured Yogi in Cartoon Network Presents.
[edit] DVD Release
On November 15, 2005, Warner Home Video released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.
| Cover Art | DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Yogi Bear Show- The Complete Series | 35 | November 15, 2005 |
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[edit] Parks
Yogi Bear lends his name to a chain of recreational vehicle and camping parks, "Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts", with the first opening in 1969 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and as of 2006, had over 70 locations in the United States and Canada. There is also one remaining restaurant from the chain bearing Yogi's name, "Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken", in Hartsville, South Carolina. In both cases, Hanna-Barbera licensed the name and likenesses to the respective companies.
