The classic Disney cartoon lineup has been host to a number of characters, many of whom are celebrating an incredible 90th anniversary this year, having debuted in 1928’s Steamboat Willie. One of the lesser-known characters from that short was none other than Clarabelle Cow, who first appeared as a simple farm cow on “Podunk Landing” before being given more of a personality.
Clarabelle, a creation of Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney, appeared in dozens of Disney animated shorts from the late 1920s into the early 1940s, though was generally relegated to supporting or other bit parts. She appeared in Plane Crazy, The Chain Gang, Blue Rhythm, Touchdown Mickey, On Ice, The Band Concert, Mickey’s Grand Opera, and many others, with her last appearance of that era of cartoons being in 1942’s Symphony Hour.
She also appeared in the Mickey Mouse daily comic strips starting in 1930, where she’d continue to make appearances well into the 1970s. She generally appeared alongside Horace Horsecollar, and the two were framed as a couple; however, in the 1960s, Clarabelle and Goofy became more of an item instead. In later cartoon appearances (such as Mickey, Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers), she clearly has a romantic relationship with Goofy, though she is still more often paired with Horace.
After Symphony Hour, Clarabelle wouldn’t appear in another cartoon until 1983’s Mickey’s Christmas Carol, where she was limited to just a non-speaking cameo role, seen dancing with Horace. She wouldn’t speak again until 1990s The Prince and the Pauper. Since then, she’s returned to a more regular supporting role in the various Mickey Mouse cartoon shows, such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and House of Mouse, as well as in the new Mickey Mouse shorts series. She has also appeared in video games such as Kingdom Hearts II and Epic Mickey.
These days, Clarabelle also makes appearances at the various Disney parks, though is not always available as a regular meet-and-greet – she and Horace will occasionally host a street dance in Frontierland, however. She is also featured during the holidays in the Magic Kingdom during “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” where she performs Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.”
While she’s never quite reached the popularity levels of other classic Disney animated characters, Clarabelle has certainly found a niche all her own.
