by Len Morse

Created on: April 08, 2011

When talking about cats as film characters, most people probably conjure up images from their favorite animated films. Whether hand-drawn or created with the latest CGI technology, animated movie cats have captured many hearts and won numerous fans, some without even saying one word. Cat characters can be seen on IMDb (Internet Movie Database).

Animation easily allows cats to become the main characters, complete with speaking lines, personalities, fully developed backgrounds, and a wide variety of facial expressions. While some

famous felines are highly stylized, many animation studios seem to keep an eye towards maintaining a cat’s physical limitations and abilities. Many animated cats have become extremely popular with the help of movie production companies such as Disney, Dreamworks, Twentieth Century Fox, and others.

One of the most recognizable cats from films and television is the Pink Panther. The cartoon version of this tall, sophisticated feline would, without saying a word, easily stay one step ahead of the short, bumbling Inspector Clouseau, a cartoon version of the detective from the live-action Pink Panther movie series. Both animated characters appeared on “The Pink Panther and Friends” from 1969-1976. Later versions of the Pink Panther have benefited from the voices of Rich Little, Paul Frees, and Matt Frewer.

“The Jungle Book” (1967) is another animal-driven story that has inspired about a dozen new stories or re-makes in film and television, based on the original characters. The two big cats in this movie are Bagheera the Panther (Sebastian Cabot), and Shere Khan the Tiger (George Sanders). The responsible Bagheera volunteers to take man-cub Mowgli out of the jungle and back to the man-village for his own protection. Shere Khan, on the other hand, sees Mowgli as a potential threat and hunts down the boy. Tony Jay voices Shere Khan in “Jungle Book 2.”

A beloved Disney movie that has become a popular stage musical is “The Lion King.” Mufasa is king of the pride and an excellent ruler, who tries to teach his rambunctious son, Simba, how to keep a natural balance in his kingdom, to prepare the cub for his own leadership one day. Unfortunately, Mufasa’s jealous and conniving brother, Scar, has other plans. This 1994 Oscar-winning film can proudly boast the voice talents of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Moira Kelly, and Jeremy Irons. “The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride”

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