The Mystery Cartoon Character Game, ongoing.

You got it, Glowworm, it's Salty the Seal. I only knew him from "Mickey and the Seal" (one of my faves!) but I found out he was in a couple of other shorts as well, and was featured in an episode of "House of Mouse."

I also only knew him from "Mickey and the Seal" which is quite a cute short. I love the ending with all the seals in the bathtub--except for Salty--he's in the shower.

Anyhow, I also don't have a Christmas related character (I may try to do one later, we shall see) but I do have one related to this season.

1. It is a cold night.
2. I pick a fight with an unwelcome guest in my house.
3. In the end someone gets kicked out--it's neither of us.

I know I've seen this one, but I just can't place it.

It's Sylvester the dog from Hare Force.

The unwelcome guest is Bugs.
In the end, the old lady is the one who gets kicked out.

Yes, that is Sylvester the dog from "Hare Force." That dog's name always caused a slight double take from both my dad and I due to a certain cat sharing the same name.

OK, I got one.

My friends told me that something isn't true.
When I asked my Dad about it, he told me to write to the Sun.
I got a response.


PS: I loooove the holiday trimming around our avatars!

Ah, I was thinking of posting this character myself. It's Virginia O'Hanlon from "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus."

1. Her schoolmates, except for Amy and Pee Wee, told her Santa didn't exist.

2. Her dad advised her to write to Francis Church, the editor of The New York Sun at that time.

3. She did get a response, confirming St Nick's existence.


BTW, I have my own copy of her letter and the reply taped to my fridge. It is, after all, reprinted annually in newspapers throughout the country.

You got it! It's Virginia O'Hanlon.

Take it away.

Ok. These clues should be easy:

1. We get our toys on Christmas Day.

2. What happens next leaves us heartbroken.

3. Our bad day turns good when the relative of a classic character shows up.

Last three clues, since I have no more:

4. Our short was released during the Depression, which may explain its plotline.

5. The title is also a song heard at the beginning and the end.

6. Our tender little tale later resurfaced on a Christmas special hosted by a guy who had his own playhouse on Saturday mornings.

The orphans from, Christmas Comes But Once a Year.

Yes, Saltyboot you nailed it! Now for an explanation of the clues:

1. The little darlings got their toys all right.

2. But when they began playing with them, each and every one fell apart. This was enough to make them cry their eyes out.

3. Enter Grampy, from the Betty Boop cartoons. He resolved the crisis by making toys out of ordinary household objects.

4. The short was released on December 4, 1936, at the height of the Great Depression. Hence a possible reason for the poor quality playthings.

5. "Christmas Comes But Once A Year" is sung at the beginning and end of the cartoon.

6. After many years of absence from TV, it resurfaced in 1988, on "The Pee Wee Herman Christmas Special."

It was also the first Christmas-themed theatrical short I ever saw on the small screen.

So you're up again, Saltyboot. Great job! You've earned a full stocking.

Thanks emeraldisle, I love my stocking stuffed!
Anyway...

We all saw Santa on Christmas Eve and hitched a ride on his sleigh.
When we got to Santa's house, we decided to help him out while he's sleeping.
However, I'm more clumsy than helpful.

I think I know, but once again, I'll step aside for someone else.

Sorry it took me so long to post the next set. Here are the last three.

The short I'm in happens to be the stars' debut.
The group of kids I'm with are very diverse.
I don't have a voice, but the star does and her voice actress had done other famous characters.

Well, I guess I'll post the answer after all. It's the Dutch boy from "Santa's Surprise."

1. He and several other kids hitched a ride on Santa's sleigh after seeing him.

2. When they got to his house, they set about cleaning it up, and even shining his boots.

3. The Dutch boy was extremely clumsy, accidentally breaking some dishes.

4. "Santa's Surprise" was the first Little Audrey cartoon.

5. The kids were indeed ethnically diverse, coming from America, Hawaii, China, Holland, Africa, and Japan.

6. The Dutch boy didn't speak, but little Audrey did. She was voiced by Mae Questal, who was also the voices of Betty Boop, Olive Oyl, and a few other female characters.

That is correct! Now it's your turn.

Thanks, Saltyboot. Now here's one that's really and truly easy as pie:

1. My name is a common greeting.

2. I've had more animated series in my own country than in America, but my toys and other related merchandise caught on big throughout the world.

3. I'm a little white furball with a pretty red bow.

Yep, it's an easy one. I'm going to wait and see who else knows the answer.

It's gotta be Hello Kitty.

(this line of text is only because something won't let me post unless I have 30 characters, and I can't think of anything to say, as the clues speak for themselves)