I Need to Know

why cartoon characters always wear those white gloves with the three lines on the back.

9 comments

  1. I used to have the five-fingered version when I was in that bell choir when I was 10. I guess this means that cartoon characters like playing bells. Either that or they’re afraid of germs. Another question that I think should be answered is why you can never see anything but a cartoon character’s eyes when the lights go out. Does everyone have eyes that glow in the dark?

  2. I don’t mind the gloves or the eyes so much. What I always wondered was why female cartoon characters need to have cleavage.
    What is with that??? Can’t Minnie Mouse find a modest blouse to wear?

  4. Three fingers instead of five is because the simpler hand (fewer fingers) is faster to animate. Less lines to draw as the hand reaches out to clasp something.
    White gloves — I believe that initially was to provide contrast so the viewer could see what the character was doing with its hands. Early animation was black & white, so there wasn’t the color contrast.
    Three lines down the back — you got me!!

  5. Oh, I thought three fingers because cartoon charcters just didn’t have four. LOL. Thanks for explaining. What about those glowing eyes.
    A;ex, that is how you always know there is a bad guy in the room, an extra set of eyes. LOL

  6. Perhaps the three lines help show that it’s the back of the hand.
    Also, didn’t white gloves have decorative seams or pleats down the back? Maybe the three lines allude to those.

  7. Yes, that is what the three lines are. I was just wondering why a naked rabbit or a mouse who wears nothing but shorts wears such fancy gloves?

  8. Pansy,
    It is because paws would destroy the anthopomorphism, but realistic hands would be too over the top. Gloves skirt the issue and allow opposible thumbs without being too shocking.

Comments are closed.