Krazy Kat is a comic strip created by George Herriman that appeared in weekday and Sunday U.S. newspapers between 1913 and 1944. After some success, as many comics, Krazy Kat had animated versions as a cartoon. The earliest Krazy Kat shorts were produced by William Randolph Hearst in 1916.
As someone said to me, and I agree, Krazy Kat is much funnier in the comics than a cartoon. You can take your own conclusions about it. George Herriman’s Krazy Kounty site at Coconino-Classics is a great place to start an “investigation” about it. It has a biography of Herriman, a list of resources, a gallery of images, scanned images of his other work “Mary’s Home From College” and 204 pages of Krazy Kat comics! (Thanks P-E Fronning)
After that amusing site go to the excellent site Krazy Kat: The Coconino County Home Page. That is the place for even more information about George Herriman, the Evolution of the Kat, many images and much more interesting content. Be sure to check all the pages.
What else? Wikipedia has more links, but what I would like to suggest is watch or/and download three very short episodes available of the 1916 cartoon version:
- Krazy Kat and Ignatz Mouse at the circus: download – watch it (or click in the video below)
- Krazy Kat goes a-wooing: download – watch it
- Krazy Kat, bugologist: download – watch it
When I was a kid, way back in the ’60s, there was a KK cartoon I used to watch on TV. I have no idea whether they were any good, as I haven’t seen them since.
Two things that intrigue me are the fact that KK’s gender is never revealed and the fact that he/she interprets Ignatz’ brick throwing as a sign of love.
Herriman was a genius. No one is making comics like this today. The only one who comes close is Pat McDonnell and his brilliant “Mutts.”
I discovered him just 2 weeks ago, after the P-E Fronning had suggested. I can’t confirm if they are good or not, since I love old stuff. I’m so fascinated for the old movies that I can’t judge them. But, as I said, the comics were better. It’s a pity that I didn’t found other animated versions of it. Thanks for the comment MadCatJoey.