Bucky Bug is an anthropomorphic, enthusiastic beetle or bug and the main character of the comic strip of the same name in the Silly Symphonies, created by the Walt Disney Company. Bucky Bug is one of Disney's oldest comic strip characters, having first appeared in 1932.
Overview and Story[]
Bucky Bug was created by Earl Duvall. He debuted in the Disney Silly Symphonies comic strip on January 11, 1932. Bucky Bug was the first Disney character to have originated from a comic instead of a cartoon. Bucky can be considered the insect equivalent to Mickey Mouse, like June Bugg is to Minnie and Bo is to Goofy.
In the strip, Bucky was born as the 17th child to Pop and Momma Bug, and the only boy in a family of 16 sisters (which were all born on the same day). Bucky's father didn't consider himself a father until a son was born, despite his 16 other children. Bucky's name was actually chosen in a nationwide contest via mail. After the name was chosen, Bucky received his name in an envelope from the mailbox. The strip indicates that the people who have sent names in recieved gifts from the publisher.
Bucky was separated from his parents and sisters at the tender age of three months, when he decided to travel into the woods and lost his way. He soon met Bo, a tramp, who offered to look after him and become his mentor. Bucky traveled with Bo for some time, until the two settled down in Junkville. Bucky soon met June Bugg, the daughter of the city's mayor, and began courting her, although her father would not allow them to be together unless Bucky could get a respectable job. With the help of Bo, Bucky set up a blacksmith shop. Bucky eventually proposed to June, but her father still refused to allow the bugs to marry, as he wanted June to rather marry someone of high standing in society. However, because he liked Bucky, he made the bug a general in his army, as there were never any wars in Junkville for the army to fight, meaning that Bucky needed no military training.
Bucky prepared to marry June, but had to postpone the wedding due to an unexpected declaration of war on Junkville from the neighboring Flyburg. As he was now the general, Bucky was forced to lead the war, and, despite his lack of training, managed to lead Junkville to victory. Shortly afterward, he left Junkville, and returned to his parents, who had been evicted from their old home. After helping them build a new house and start a farm, Bucky returned to Junkville, and finally married June. They bought a house in Junkville, and Bucky soon reunited with Bo, who returned to Junkville with him. Bucky, along with his friends, have lived in Junkville ever since, often having further adventures (or misadventures) there.
Bucky and June marry.
The "Buckey Bug" strip continued for many months and ended with the marriage of Bucky Bug to Mayor Bugg's daughter, June (this may have been the first on-screen marriage of two recurring cartoon characters) on March 14, 1934.
Bucky Bug and June also had an appearance in the animated Silly Symphonies short Bugs in Love, although with slightly different character designs. Similar characters to Bucky and June also appeared in the 1934 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, Honeymoon Hotel, directed by Duvall and animated by Frank Tipper and Jack King.
Appearance[]
In the original comic strip, Bucky had the same overall body shape as Mickey Mouse, but with two insect antennas instead of ears, and sticky arms and legs. He wears blue pants without buttons, yellow shoes and had two red ladybug wings with white spots. He also wears gloves.
Bucky's appearance was revamped in later comics.
Trivia[]
- Buckey Bug was possibly the very first recurring comic character to be married on screen, and one of the few children's comic and cartoon characters that are married to their love interest, as opposed to being her boyfriend or fiancé. A famous example are Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who are famously together but never married.
- In Finnish, he is known as Ossian (nicknamed "Ossi").
- In Swedish, he is known as Sigge Småkryp.
- In Dutch, he is known as Tokkie Tor.
- In Indonesian, he is known as Toki Kumbang.
- In German, he is known as Karl Käfer.
- Bucky Bug resembles Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as a bug.