June 18th, 2021 
Michael Lyons 
His name may not immediately come to mind when thinking about exemplary examples of fatherhood, but he certainly is the most earnest…and funniest.
Goofy, one of Disney’s most enduring and endearing characters has become associated with the role of being a Dad through the years. In honor of Father’s Day this weekend, what follows are some highlights of some of Goofy’s paternal adventures.
Fathers Are People (1952)
Goofy transitioned to a very suburban role in several short subjects of the 1950s. In this one, he takes on the role of a father. He plays the character of “George Geef” (voiced by Bob Jackman) and in the span of the short subject, we see his journey from the dad in the hospital handing out cigars when his son is born through the trials and tribulations of raising a young boy.
Director Jack Kinney (who helmed a majority of these Goofy shorts) brings his sly knack for satire to the proceedings, using moments of cartoon slapstick, such as changing a diaper turning into surgery, to poke fun at parenting.
As George Geef is forced to walk through a minefield of scattered toys and attempts to use reverse psychology (that backfires, of course) on his son, Fathers Are People shines a comical light on universal experiences for Dad’s everywhere.
Also, listen closely for child actor Bobby Driscoll (So Dear to My Heart and Peter Pan) as Junior and voice acting legend June Foray as Mrs. Geef.
Father’s Day off (1953)
Here, Goofy agrees to take care of Junior and things around the house while mother goes out…and the results are disastrous.
The traditional “Goofy voice” provided by Pinto Colvig is back here. The short is peppered with plenty of clever sight gags: Goofy dusts the coffee table, only to have the cloud of dust settle back down on it like a mini-rainstorm, and after an attempt to clean a wall only makes things worse, Goofy simply moves the giant, furniture sized radio in front of the stain.
Again, directed by Kinney (with June Foray returning as Goofy’s wife and Fred Flintstone himself Alan Reed as a radio announcer), Father’s Day Off is most definitely of another time, with jokes about amorous, kissing milkmen, and the stereotype of “women drivers,” the short needs to be viewed through the 1950s lens in which it was made.
Father’s Week-End (1953)
This short (another directed by Kinney) will hit home with any Dad who has tried to sleep in on Sunday. Goofy (once again referred to as “Geef’) just wants to spend the seventh day resting, but his son, the telephone, the vacuum, and nosy neighbors get in the way.
Despite his efforts to retire for the day, he takes his son to the jam-packed beach (literally, the sand is umbrella-to-umbrella). After, Goofy and his son wind up at the carnival. In addition to Colvig and Foray returning, listen for Billy Bletcher (most famous as Pete) as an angry sailor).
Through it all, the short continues a barrage of sharp, satirical sight gags (particularly one at the end where every car exits at the same time to go home).
Quaintly of its time (particularly when Goofy lounges in his living room, surrounded by the Sunday paper), there’s much here to relate to, especially for parents who seek out those moments to unwind.
Aquamania (1961)
From director Wolfgang Reitherman, who would helm some of the studio’s most prominent animated features of the 60s and 70s, comes this short in which Goofy (referred to as “Mr. X”) becomes obsessed with boating
The short takes satiric jabs at this obsession (Goofy’s house has fallen into disrepair, but his boat is immaculate) and concludes with Goofy inadvertently entering a waterskiing contest with his son driving the boat. Beautifully animated cartoon action ensues, particularly a gag with an octopus who becomes entangled with Goofy.
Aquamania would be the last cartoon short from this era at Disney in which Goofy was the star. Colvig returned to voice Goofy, with child actor Kevin Corcoran, featured in many Disney projects at the time, as his son. Former Disney animator-turned-actor John Denher provides the narration.
Additionally, the short would mark the first use of the xerography animation technique at Disney, which would be utilized at the studio for some time after.
Goof Troop (1992)
Goofy returned to fatherhood over thirty years later with this popular television series, which ran from 1992 through 1993 on both The Disney Afternoon and as part of ABC’s Saturday morning line-up.
The show centered on Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer), now a single dad, raising his adolescent son, Max (voiced by actress Dana Hill). Created by Robert Taylor and Michael Peraza, Jr, the show co-starred Pete and his son, PJ, who was best friends with Max.
Goof Troop took a comical look at father-son relationships, as Max, like many adolescents, struggles with his dad being so…well…Goofy.
The series was so popular that it inspired… A Goofy Movie.
A Goofy Movie (1995)
The movie that came and left theatres quickly in the spring of 1995 has developed quite the following over three and a half decades later. With good reason, as it is filled with all we love about Goofy, coupled with a humorous and heartwarming story about how to best bridge the generation gap.
Goofy (Farmer) decides to bond with Max (now a teenager and voiced by Jason Marsden) by taking his son on a road trip to an old family getaway spot, Lake Destiny. Max has other plans and wants to attend the concert of the popular singer Powerline.
Directed by Kevin Lima, who would later direct Tarzan and Enchanted for Disney, A Goofy Movie is as jovial and likable as its title character. Filled with sharp, well-executed humor (the Bigfoot and “Lester’s Possum Park” scenes are highlights), A Goofy Movie deserves the fan base that continues to grow with each passing year. A 20th-anniversary cast reunion at Disney’s “D23 Expo” in 2015 was filled with 1,000 devotees in attendance.
The movie carries on a long tradition of Goofy as a father. Through his comical mishaps and missteps in this parental role, he always has the best intentions, heart in the right place, and cares for his family.
The lyrics from the song “I 2 I,” from A Goofy Movie seem to sum this up perfectly: “If we listen to each other’s heart/We’ll find we’re never too far apart.”
Happy Father’s Day!
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