You’d have to look far and wide to find a child who doesn’t like elephants! An animal so big, so extreme, and which comes with a nose that can do things was destined to be a pop culture favorite. Here are some the “biggest” elephant characters, past and present.
10. Elmer
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant is the star of a series of popular children’s books by David McKee. First published in 1989, the books focus on how it’s okay to be different. The Elmer books were turned into a series on British television. Elmer was also the name of an elephant puppet who appeared on Chicago TV in the 50s and 60s.
9. Shep
In the 1967 TV series George of the Jungle Shep was George’s “pet”. The comically stupid title character thought Shep was a dog and treated him as such. Shep responds by acting like a dog. Shep also appeared in the 2007 version of the TV show and in the live-action 1997 movie.
8. Snorky
Snorky is a member of The Banana Splits Club, a musical group of four costumed characters in The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, a TV show that aired from 1968 to 1970. The series was put back into production for The Cartoon Network in 2008.
7. Colonel Hathi
Hathi is an older elephant who leads an elephant clan in the Indian jungle of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. In the 1967 Disney movie, he is called Colonel Hathi as he drills his troop of elephants and tries to relive his younger days in the Maharajah’s service. The word hathi means “elephant” in Hindi.
6. Manny
Manfred, one of the main characters in the Ice Age movies is a woolly mammoth, an extinct member of the elephant family that roamed North America and Europe until about 10,000 years ago (a small subspecies survived until 1700 BC). In the second movie of the series, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Manny fears he is the only one of his species left until he finds a mate, and later on encounters a small herd of mammoths.
5. Stampy
Bart Simpson won Stampy the elephant in a radio contest. His life as a pet didn’t last long, but everyone remembers Stampy. He appeared in three episodes of The Simpsons TV show and The Simpsons Movie, and is also referred to in other episodes.
4. Tantor
Ungawa! Tantor, a word meaning “elephant” is the elephant that Tarzan calls when he needs to stomp something flat, or catch a ride through an area with no vines to swing on. Tantor appeared in the original Edgar Rice Burroughs books, various live-action films, and in Disney’s animated Tarzan movies.
3. Babar
Babar is an orphan elephant who grew up to be king of the forest after his education by humans in the big city. He and his wife/cousin Celeste raise a family and teach them life lessons through their adventures. The series of French children’s books by Jean de Brunhoff began in 1931. Brunhoff wrote seven Babar books before his death in 1937, and his son Laurent de Brunhoff continues the series to this day.
2. Dumbo
Dumbo, the title character of the 1941 Disney feature film, was born with abnormally large ears. He is ridiculed for his deformity until the other elephants learn he can use those ears to fly! Like Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, the story of Dumbo shows children that it’s okay to be different. The film is also known for the tear-inducing separation of a child from its mother, which is a recurring thread in most Disney classics.
1. Horton
Dr. Seuss’ elephant Horton appeared in two of his books, Horton Hatches the Egg in 1940 and Horton Hears a Who! in 1954. In both books, Horton endures ridicule and hardship in order to do the helpful and ethical thing with no promise of a reward. Despite the facts that the book contained barely 2,000 words, Horton Hears a Who was adapted into a feature film in 2008.
Then there are the characters who are supposed to be some other kind of animal, but we recognize them as elephants anyway.
Mr. Snuffleupagus
Mr. Aloysius Snuffleupagus is known to his friends on Sesame Street as Snuffy. In his first two seasons on the show, adult humans never saw Snuffy, leading the audience to believe he only existed in Big Bird’s imagination. The Snuffleupagus species differs from the elephant in their lack of big ears.
Heffalumps
Heffalumps (along with Woozles) were originally part of Tigger’s tall tale which became shape-shifting elephantine goblins that haunted Winnie the Pooh’s dreams. The Heffalump cartoon dream sequence is reminiscent of Pink Elephants on Parade from the movie Dumbo. The Heffalumps finally got their own movie in 2005 called, surprisingly enough, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie. In this adventure, the denizens of the Hundred Acre Wood get to know a young Heffalump named Lumpy and make friends.
Banthas
In the Star Wars universe, Banthas are huge beasts of burden used on the desert planet Tatooine, and exist on other planets as well. Banthas are covered in fur, have no trunk, and sport curly horns instead of tusks. An Asian elephant named Mardji played a Bantha in the first Star Wars movie in 1977.
Oliphaunts
Oliphaunts (also known as mûmakil) are beasts from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth that appear to be elephants but are many times the size of everyday elephants. They are seen used in battle in the second and third movies of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
See also: 10 Famous (real life) Elephants.
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So how did they disguise Mardji’s trunk when they dressed it up as a Bantha? The picture makes it look as though the costume wouldn’t accommodate it.
posted by Brigid on 1-14-2010 at 9:45 am
Anyone remember The Wuzzles there was an half elephant half Kangaroo named Eleroo. Wow that brings me back!
posted by Jo on 1-14-2010 at 10:02 am
I have to say, when I saw the title of your post, I was really hoping to see Elephant from Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Elephant Show on there.
Thinking back, they never did explain why the three of them lived together in a house with an elephant.
posted by Karen on 1-14-2010 at 10:03 am
What about Denali from Gumby? Although he’s a Mammoth, I’d never want to have a run-in with some Blockheads without him.
posted by Mike on 1-14-2010 at 10:11 am
What about the symbol of the Republican Party? It’s definitely part of our pop culture, at least for the Republicans. Me, I’m a Democrat.
posted by Jo-Ann Burton on 1-14-2010 at 10:17 am
“He appeared in three episodes of The Simpsons TV show and The Simpsons Movie, and is also referred to in other episodes.”
and many MF blog comments! Thanks so much for including Stampy – I was really going to be upset if it wasn’t on there (the Republican party’s elephant, not so much…)
posted by OkieMelissa on 1-14-2010 at 10:30 am
“The Snuffleupagus species differs from the elephant in their lack of big ears.”
and their fur?
Is there more than one Snuffy out there? I never really followed the show, so not sure if he ever had company…
posted by OkieMelissa on 1-14-2010 at 10:32 am
How about Eleroo from the Wuzzles??? He was half elephant and half kangaroo…
posted by Saryna on 1-14-2010 at 10:45 am
Yes, Snuffy’s family members make occasional appearances on Sesame Street. Not that I have seen them… I was in high school when Snuffy debuted!
posted by Miss Cellania on 1-14-2010 at 10:45 am
Banthas are seen as elephant? I always saw them as giant yaks (psst-its the horns).
posted by wayne on 1-14-2010 at 10:45 am
Yeah, I always thought the Banthas were more along the lines of the North American Bison. Thick fur, horns, no trunk – that’s a bison to me.
And Snuffy’s little sister (or cousin) has made many appearances on the Street.
posted by Bert on 1-14-2010 at 11:53 am
I always saw an elephant in a Bantha, probably because of the way it moved. I didn’t know until yesterday that Lucas used an elephant. But I only included it when someone else suggested it.
I need to find a younger circle of friends to ask about lists. The people that come to my blog are a bit older, I think.
posted by Miss Cellania on 1-14-2010 at 12:32 pm
So glad to see Stampy there! Classic Simpson’s episode.
posted by Nerak on 1-14-2010 at 12:50 pm
Snuffy had a little sister (although her name escapes me at the moment); when she debuted, the episode focused on the arrival of a little brother or sister, and how Snuffy’s excitement over being a big brother vanished with jealousy that the baby was getting more attention. Snuffy’s Mom also appeared in a couple episodes.
posted by Mary on 1-14-2010 at 1:24 pm
Throatwobbler Mangrove kinda looked like an elephant too. Just his nose though.
posted by Dinosaur on 1-14-2010 at 1:28 pm
I dont see on this list the elephants in the movie 300
posted by all Romeo on 1-14-2010 at 1:37 pm
Babar’s wife/cousin Celeste? Anyone else find it odd that Babar is married to his cousin? Maybe it’s an elephant thing.
posted by Erin on 1-14-2010 at 1:51 pm
What about Big AL??? OMG, he just won another National Championship, for cryin’ out loud!
posted by Tonewah on 1-14-2010 at 2:20 pm
Dinosaur, although it’s pronounced “Throatwarbler mangrove”, it’s actually Luxury Yacht. ;)
posted by Barbara on 1-14-2010 at 2:23 pm
If global warming is allowed to continu viturally unabated, we are certain to lose elephants even assuming humans survive. Won’t it be sad to have to explain to a child that once upon a time there were really animals that looked like Barbar or Horton? I loved the Barbar stories when I was a very small child (1940s) and later the two Horton books. I read Kipling’s “The Jungle Books” when I was six and had learned phonics. I loved all the creatures including the elephant (although Baghira was my favorite). Recnt studies have proven that elephants are extremely intelligent, can recognize themselves in a mirror and use it to inspect parts of their bodies, can recognize the bones of deceased ancestors and treat them ceremonially, and can communicate in a rather rich elephant vocabulary. What a loss their passing will be!
posted by Mary Thorman on 1-14-2010 at 3:46 pm
What about \Sidney the Elephant\ (aka \Silly Sidney\) from Terrytoons in the 60′s. One of his shorts was even nominated for an academy award.
http://www.toonopedia.com/sidney.htm
posted by Doc Moonlight on 1-14-2010 at 4:12 pm
To build on the argument that Oliphaunts are actually elephants, the Afrikaans word for elephant is “olifant”, and JRR Tolkien grew up in South Africa. Well, I don’t know if he fully grew up there, but he spent many childhood years there. I’ll bet that’s where he picked it up.
reCaptcha: isles back. The word isles is shaped like an elephant. At first I thought it was rigged haha
posted by PunKid on 1-14-2010 at 5:13 pm
@Miss, I am older, 53 to be close.
posted by gus on 1-14-2010 at 5:27 pm
The Dr. Seuss Horton books also form the main part of the plot of the Broadway musical “Seussical.” Horton is the main character in the show and the setting is the Jungle of Nool. It’s become a community theater staple here in Chicago, so I’ve seen it more times than I would really care to. Not really a bad show, but once is enough.
posted by Scott on 1-14-2010 at 5:34 pm
Great article I loved Dumbo that was a sweet movie he never needed the feather to fly. And Stampy on the Simpsons he was cute and at times kind of mean.
posted by Kari on 1-14-2010 at 7:40 pm
if YOU lived in a menage à trois with an elephant in the room, do you think you’d want to explain it to a weekly children’s audience?
posted by Rosi on 1-14-2010 at 7:46 pm
i think snuffy’s sister was alice
posted by Teresa is amazing on 1-14-2010 at 9:27 pm
Waaa, I want a pet Bantha! Soooo cute!
posted by Elsa on 1-14-2010 at 11:55 pm
Nice article but I feel like adding that Dr. Seuss and Horton are virtually unknown in Europe (apart from maybe in the UK) since we have plenty of children storytellers/bookwriters of our own. For my part I am in my thirties, teach in a primary school and had never heard of Horton before that movie came out a few years ago.
posted by Nick on 1-15-2010 at 3:38 am
I love Babar! Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut has a “Doctor Babar” sculpture made out of LEGOs at the entrance to the children’s hospital wing. It’s awesome.
posted by AmyD on 1-15-2010 at 1:33 pm
@Tonewah, I was thinking the same thing!
posted by Sara in AL on 1-15-2010 at 4:04 pm
I remember when Snuffy was invisible, i also recall a movie or episode where Snuffy finds his family and visits.
Also on Sesame St. Oscar has pet elephants living in the garbage can with him.
posted by SDK on 1-15-2010 at 4:28 pm
I’m a big fan of Jumbo the Elephant from the Bob and Tom radio show.
posted by Cait on 1-15-2010 at 5:13 pm
Facebook: \Sidney the Elephant (Silly Sidney)\
posted by Piero on 1-17-2010 at 2:51 am
What about the pink elephants on parade
posted by Bobby on 5-3-2010 at 12:01 pm