The Hot Dogs are a group of anthropomorphic hot dogs that appear in the 1929 Mickey Mouse short animated film The Karnival Kid. They are sold by Mickey Mouse at a carnival, and they behave like actual dogs in relation to their owner/trainer. They are the first characters to speak in a Mickey Mouse film, with the voice of composer Carl W. Stalling. Their catchphrase is "Hot dogs! Hot dogs!"
Background[]
The Hot Dogs are shown to have various personalities and abilities. Some of them are playful, some are mischievous, some are obedient, and some are rebellious. They can run, jump, bark, bite, and even sing. They also have different toppings and accessories, such as mustard, ketchup, relish, cheese, hats, and bows.
The Hot Dogs play a significant role in the plot of The Karnival Kid. They are the main source of income for Mickey, who sells them to the carnival-goers. They also help Mickey attract the attention of Minnie Mouse, the shimmy dancer, who orders one of them from him. However, when she bites into the hot dog, it screams and runs away. Mickey chases it and spanks it, causing Minnie to laugh and fall in love with him.
The Hot Dogs are also involved in several gags and jokes throughout the film. For example, one of them escapes from Mickey's cart and runs into a tent where a lion tamer is performing. The lion tamer mistakes it for a sausage and tries to feed it to the lion, but the hot dog bites the lion’s nose and runs away. Another gag involves Mickey using a hot dog as a harmonica to play music for Minnie.
The Hot Dogs are considered to be one of the most memorable and creative aspects of The Karnival Kid. They demonstrate the early use of sound and dialogue in animation, as well as the humor and imagination of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. They also foreshadow the later development of Pluto, Mickey's loyal dog companion.
Trivia[]
- A hot dog similar to the ones seen in The Karnival Kid can be seen in the Oswald short, The Sky Scrapper.
- The name has a pun. It's called Hot Dog because the hot dogs bark like a dog.
