| Wilfred the Rabbit | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Wilfred |
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First Appearance |
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred Comic Strip (February 7th, 1920) |
|
Original Publisher |
Daily Mirror, Sunday Pictorial |
|
Created by |
Bertram Lamb and Austin Bowen Payne |
Origin[]
Wilfred the Rabbit was one the main character of the British comic strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. It concerned the adventures of an orphaned family of animals. Pip, who assumed the father role, was a dog, whilst the 'mother', Squeak, was a penguin. Wilfred was the 'young son' and was a rabbit with very long ears
The origins of the characters are mentioned in the cartoon strips. Squeak was found in the London Zoological Gardens after hatching on the South African coast years before. Pip was discovered begging by a policeman on the Thames Embankment and was sent to a dogs' home, where he was bought for half-a-crown. Wilfred was found in a field near his burrow and was adopted by Pip and Squeak, who were in turn looked after by Uncle Dick and Angeline, the housemaid of their family house on the edge of London.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Wilfred the Rabbit from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Pip, Squeak and Wilfred Comic Strip (1919-1929)
- Pip, Squeak & Wilfred Newspaper Supplement (1921-1924)
Public Domain Animated Appearances[]
- The Wonderful Adventures of Pip, Squeak & Wilfred (February 17, 1921-August 11, 1921)
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Pip, Squeak & Wilfred, Their "Luvly" Adventures (1921)
- Pip and Squeak Annuals (1922-1929)
- Wilfred's Annual (1924-1929)
- Uncle Dick's Annuals (1929)
Notes[]
- In 1927 the Pip, Squeak and Wilfred club began. It was named the Wilfredian League of Gugnuncs (WLOG) and organised many competitions and events for thousands of members, especially at British south-coast seaside resorts. 'Gugnuncs' is a combination of two baby-talk words used by Wilfred, who as a toddler-aged rabbit cannot speak properly, nunc being his version of uncle. There was a WLOG member's badge in blue enamelled metal featuring the long ears of Wilfred. Among the WLOG rules was one to never eat rabbit.