Patrick McDonnell

About

Mutts

This daily newspaper comic strip, created by Patrick McDonnell in 1994, is centered on the day-to-day adventures of two companion animals: a dog named Earl and a cat named Mooch. Earl and Mooch interact with each other, their human guardians and a large cast of neighborhood animals.

Mutts explores the special bond between animals and their guardians, and the endearing friendship of Earl, the dog, and Mooch, the cat. It strikes a delicate balance between joy, fun and responsible social commentary. Mutts has been recognized for its distinctive style, heartwarming humor and compassionate advocacy for animal issues.

Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, was a fan of this strip, saying that it's "one of best comic strips of all time."

Awards and Distinctions:

Comic Strip Excellence Awards

The National Cartoonists Societyrsquos highest honor, The Reuben, for Cartoonist of the Year (1999)

Six (6) Harvey Awards for Best Comic Strip

Germanyrsquos Max and Moritz Award for Best International Comic Strip

Swedish Academy of Comic Artrsquos Adamson Statuette

Recipient of The National Cartoonists Society Award for "Best Newspaper Comic Strip"

Environmental and Animal Advocacy Awards

Two (2) Genesis Awards from The Ark Trust

The HSUS Hollywood Genesis Award for Ongoing Commitment

PETArsquos Humanitarian Award

Sierra Club Award

Some Honors for Patrick and MUTTS in 2015

Helen Hayes Award for The Gift of Nothing play (at The Kennedy Center) ndash Best Adaptation

Andrew Carnegie Award for excellence in childrenrsquos video

Best Illustrated Books Lists: New York Times; Publishers Weekly

The Skunk: A New York Times Notable Book for 2015

Wanda Gag Honor for best read-aloud picture book

International Literacy Associationrsquos 2015 Childrenrsquos Choice Award

Harvey Awards nomination for best comic strip

Recognized in Dog Fancy Magazine as one of the top 25 ldquoDog World Changersrdquo

His art graced the cover of School Library Journal for their Best Books 2015 issue

Characters

Earl, the dog

Based on Patrick’s late Jack Russell Terrier, Earl is a small mutt with a big heart, who cheerfully tugs at the leash on the walk of life. Earl is Mooch’s innocent friend, as well as a witness to Mooch’s antics and sometimes reluctant participant. He loves ‘his Ozzie.’

Mooch, the cat

Earl's feline pal, the kitty with a fuzzy way of thinking and exclaiming "Yesh!" when really excited. Mooch's guardians are Frank and Millie. Lively, animated, confident, silly. A smorgasbord of emotions. Dances with enthusiasm and sings a lot. Mooch is the curious instigator of action, while the ever-loyal Earl often gets pulled into the fray.

Frank

The husband of Millie, Mooch's cantankerous caretaker who calls Mooch “the cat.”

Millie, the Lady

Frank's good-natured wife and Mooch's doting guardian.

Shtinky Puddin' (aka Jules)

The orphan kitty who is the animal advocate of the strip. Shtinky’s obsession is saving the tiger. He also stars in Hug Time, a New York Times best-selling picture book.

Guard Dog

A tough, tethered dog with a soft heart. Guard Dog has a mission: to remind people that it’s wrong to chain a dog.

Woofie

The big, energetic dog who has a lot of wuv and sloppy kisses to give.

Sid, the fish

The bowl-bound goldfish in Frank and Millie’s home. Sid’s world is very small.

Doozy

The young girl on the block who befriends all the animals, especially Guard Dog.

Noodles

A rough and tough feral alley cat with a heart of gold. Noodles is a mentor to Shtinky.

Sourpuss

The cat who stays under the couch and avoids Mondays.

Crabby

The world’s crabbiest crustacean who loves to use salty cartoon language. @#$% !

Butchie

The pugnacious proprietor of the Fatty Snax Deli, where Earl and Mooch like to hang out.

Ozzie, the Man

Earl's guardian and best friend. "He's the guy who feeds me, gives me treats, rubs my belly, and takes me for rides — my Ozzie."

The Squirrels

Bip and Bop are pure nutty mayhem. They help the unaware passerby achieve enlightenment via the acorn BOP!

Shnelly

The demure housecat, known only by her ears, who is the object of Mooch’s affection.

Chickpea and Chickpea's Brother

The lovable adopted duo that starred in a Shelter Stories series.

Mussels Marinara

A wise-cracking all-muscle shellfish who is friends with Crabby.

The Shphinx

A prophesying wonder of the world, or Mooch with a kitchen towel on his head. You decide.

Author

Patrick Mcdonnell

New York Times best-selling author Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the award-winning MUTTS comic strip. Always striking a delicate balance between lighthearted fun and responsible social commentary, MUTTS has been recognized by critics and popular press alike for its distinctive style, heartwarming humor, and strong yet non-preachy stance on important animal and environmental issues.

Created in 1994, Mutts appears in more than 700 newspapers and in 20 countries. It has been described by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz as one of the best comic strips of all time. McDonnell has received numerous awards for this comic, including the National Cartoonists Society’s highest honor, The Reuben, for Cartoonist of the Year. MUTTS has also won awards for its environmental and animal advocacy. The Mutts cartoons have been published in more than 25 compilation books in the United States and in numerous collections throughout the world.

The Gift of Nothing was McDonnell’s first children’s book, and it quickly became a New York Times bestseller. The book was transformed into a children’s play, commissioned by The Kennedy center in 2014, and won a Helen Hayes Award for Best Adaptation. McDonnell has produced nine additional picture books (including the 2012 Caldecott Honor-winning Me...Jane, a biography of Jane Goodall) and Thank you and Good Night, a New York Times Notable Book for 2015. McDonnell has collaborated withauthor Eckhart Tolle on Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teaching from Our Dogs and Cats.

MUTTS is currently under development as an animated feature-length film for Twentieth Century Fox. McDonnell was involved in character design for the Pixar animated film Up. His drawings for the film were reproduced in The Art of Up.

McDonnell and MUTTS will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Shelter Me on PBS which will be aired on May 7, 2016.

McDonnell has appeared on CNN, The “Today” Show, PBS and on Oprah Winfrey’s “Super Soul Sunday.” He is a member of the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals and the Charles M. Schulz Museum. His MUTTS characters have been enlisted for campaigns by the United States Marines (Toys for Tots), and the American Library Association (‘Read!'). They appear on New Jersey Animal Friendly license plates and in animated Public Service Announcements for The Shelter Pet Project. His work has also been animated for a PSA for the New York Philharmonic. McDonnell’s website, Mutts.com, promotes his animal- and earth-friendly philosophy and strives to strengthen the bond we all share with animals.

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