No edit summary |
68.191.55.129 (talk) No edit summary Tag: Visual edit |
||
Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Snowy''' ({{lang-fr|'''Milou'''}} {{IPA-fr|milu|}}){{sfn|Peeters|2012|p=341|loc="Character Names in French and English"}} is a fictional character in ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'', the comics series by Belgian cartoonist [[Hergé]]. Snowy is a white [[Wire Fox Terrier]] who is a companion to [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]], the series' protagonist. He debuted on 10 January 1929 in the first installment of ''[[Tintin in the Land of the Soviets]]'', which was serialised in ''[[Le Petit Vingtième]]'' until May 1930. |
'''Snowy''' ({{lang-fr|'''Milou'''}} {{IPA-fr|milu|}}){{sfn|Peeters|2012|p=341|loc="Character Names in French and English"}} is a fictional character in ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'', the comics series by Belgian cartoonist [[Hergé]]. Snowy Thompson is a white [[Wire Fox Terrier]] who is a companion to [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]], the series' protagonist. He debuted on 10 January 1929 in the first installment of ''[[Tintin in the Land of the Soviets]]'', which was serialised in ''[[Le Petit Vingtième]]'' until May 1930. |
||
Snowy's conception was inspired in part by a Fox Terrier at a café Hergé used to frequent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snowy : Real life inspiration|url=http://us.tintin.com/meet-the-characters/snowy/|work=Characters of Tintin|publisher=Official Hergé website|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> Milou, Snowy's original French name, was the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend<ref name=f24>Farr (2007): 24</ref> (although Snowy is male).<ref name=f25>Farr (2007): 25</ref> |
Snowy's conception was inspired in part by a Fox Terrier at a café Hergé used to frequent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snowy : Real life inspiration|url=http://us.tintin.com/meet-the-characters/snowy/|work=Characters of Tintin|publisher=Official Hergé website|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> Milou, Snowy's original French name, was the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend<ref name=f24>Farr (2007): 24</ref> (although Snowy is male).<ref name=f25>Farr (2007): 25</ref> |
||
In the first eight Tintin adventures, Snowy regularly addresses his [[internal monologue]] to the reader. Hergé diminished Snowy's speaking role after the introduction of [[Captain Haddock]] in the ninth story, ''[[The Crab with the Golden Claws]]''.<ref name=f31>Farr (2007): 31</ref> |
In the first eight Tintin adventures, Snowy Thompson regularly addresses his [[internal monologue]] to the reader. Hergé diminished Snowy Thompson's speaking role after the introduction of [[Captain Haddock]] in the ninth story, ''[[The Crab with the Golden Claws]]''.<ref name=f31>Farr (2007): 31</ref> |
||
==Inspiration and design== |
==Inspiration and design== |
||
[[Terrier]]s were popular domestic dogs during the late 1920s and early 1930s. They were known for their intelligence and character, two traits which are also reflected in Snowy. Snowy was inspired by various breeds of terrier, especially the [[Wire Fox Terrier]]. A pure white [[Fox Terrier]] is highly unusual.<ref name=f23>Farr (2007): 23</ref> Hergé always draws Snowy at particular angles, usually three-quarters-on, to align his expressions with the panel. Snowy's size relative to humans varies between strips.<ref name=w37>Weta Workshop: 37</ref> |
[[Terrier]]s were popular domestic dogs during the late 1920s and early 1930s. They were known for their intelligence and character, two traits which are also reflected in Snowy Thompson. Snowy Thompson was inspired by various breeds of terrier, especially the [[Wire Fox Terrier]]. A pure white [[Fox Terrier]] is highly unusual.<ref name=f23>Farr (2007): 23</ref> Hergé always draws Snowy Thompson at particular angles, usually three-quarters-on, to align his expressions with the panel. Snowy Thompson's size relative to humans varies between strips.<ref name=w37>Weta Workshop: 37</ref> |
||
Hergé never had a dog in his family until his last years; however, in 1929 he was a regular at a café where the proprietor had a terrier. This dog was a major source of inspiration for Snowy. |
Hergé never had a dog in his family until his last years; however, in 1929 he was a regular at a café where the proprietor had a terrier. This dog was a major source of inspiration for Snowy. |
||
Snowy's original French name ''Milou''—an abbreviation of Marie-Louise—is borrowed from the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend, Marie-Louise Van Cutsem. Marie-Louise's father disapproved of Hergé's low [[social standing]], and the young couple's relationship consequently deteriorated. Nevertheless, Hergé remained fond of Marie-Louise, and made her the namesake of Tintin's most trusted friend. The name ''Snowy'' was chosen for English-language translations not only because of the dog's colour,<ref name=f24/> but because it's a five-letter word that fits in the [[speech balloon]]s.<ref name=t309-10>: 309-10</ref> |
Snowy Thompson's original French name ''Milou''—an abbreviation of Marie-Louise—is borrowed from the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend, Marie-Louise Van Cutsem. Marie-Louise's father disapproved of Hergé's low [[social standing]], and the young couple's relationship consequently deteriorated. Nevertheless, Hergé remained fond of Marie-Louise, and made her the namesake of Tintin's most trusted friend. The name ''Snowy'' was chosen for English-language translations not only because of the dog's colour,<ref name=f24/> but because it's a five-letter word that fits in the [[speech balloon]]s.<ref name=t309-10>: 309-10</ref> |
||
==Character== |
==Character== |
||
Throughout the series, Snowy is Tintin's [[sidekick]] and companion on journeys.<ref name=rohit>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/51740/adventures-of-tintin-season-one-the/?___rd=1 |title=The Adventures Of Tintin: Season One |publisher=[[DVD Talk]] |date=22 November 2011 |last=Rao |first=Rohit |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> Along with Tintin he is the only character to appear in all of the [[comic albums]].<ref name=f23 /> In the debut album ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'', Snowy is a source of [[comic relief]].<ref name=f25 /> Throughout the first eight stories Snowy is the series' co-star;<ref name=f31/> he is able to understand human language, and communicates with speech bubbles. His verbal responses to various situations include jokes, expressions of fright, and pleas to Tintin to exercise caution. In the early albums he takes an interest in mechanics and geography; in ''[[Tintin in the Congo]]'', he makes biblical references.<ref name=f30>Farr (2007): 30</ref> As a dog, he also sniffs, tracks, chases, and bites. |
Throughout the series, Snowy Thompson is Tintin's [[sidekick]] and companion on journeys.<ref name=rohit>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/51740/adventures-of-tintin-season-one-the/?___rd=1 |title=The Adventures Of Tintin: Season One |publisher=[[DVD Talk]] |date=22 November 2011 |last=Rao |first=Rohit |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> Along with Tintin he is the only character to appear in all of the [[comic albums]].<ref name=f23 /> In the debut album ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'', Snowy Thompson is a source of [[comic relief]].<ref name=f25 /> Throughout the first eight stories Snowy Thompson is the series' co-star;<ref name=f31/> he is able to understand human language, and communicates with speech bubbles. His verbal responses to various situations include jokes, expressions of fright, and pleas to Tintin to exercise caution. In the early albums he takes an interest in mechanics and geography; in ''[[Tintin in the Congo]]'', he makes biblical references.<ref name=f30>Farr (2007): 30</ref> As a dog, he also sniffs, tracks, chases, and bites. |
||
The character of Snowy evolved through the course of the Tintin series. In early works he exchanges dialog with other characters, including animals, and provides a running commentary on the situation. His character then became affected by the introduction of Captain Haddock in ''[[The Crab with the Golden Claws]]''. Before Haddock's appearance, Snowy was the source of dry and cynical side-commentary, which balanced out Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective. When Haddock entered the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, and Snowy gradually shifted into a more light-hearted role, having dialog only with Tintin.<ref name=f31 /> |
The character of Snowy Thompson evolved through the course of the Tintin series. In early works he exchanges dialog with other characters, including animals, and provides a running commentary on the situation. His character then became affected by the introduction of Captain Haddock in ''[[The Crab with the Golden Claws]]''. Before Haddock's appearance, Snowy Thompson was the source of dry and cynical side-commentary, which balanced out Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective. When Haddock entered the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, and Snowy Thompson gradually shifted into a more light-hearted role, having dialog only with Tintin.<ref name=f31 /> |
||
Snowy is portrayed as brave and is often fearless against much larger creatures when Tintin is threatened. He repeatedly frees Tintin from captivity and saves him from dangerous situations, and will sometimes identify a villain before Tintin. His only fear is [[arachnophobia]].<ref name=f30 /> Snowy is loyal to Tintin and always wishes to stay by his master's side: in a scene in ''[[The Shooting Star]]'' when Tintin temporarily abandoned him, Snowy was inconsolable.<ref name=f29>Farr (2007): 29</ref> |
Snowy Thompson is portrayed as brave and is often fearless against much larger creatures when Tintin is threatened. He repeatedly frees Tintin from captivity and saves him from dangerous situations, and will sometimes identify a villain before Tintin. His only fear is [[arachnophobia]].<ref name=f30 /> Snowy Thompson is loyal to Tintin and always wishes to stay by his master's side: in a scene in ''[[The Shooting Star]]'' when Tintin temporarily abandoned him, Snowy Thompson was inconsolable.<ref name=f29>Farr (2007): 29</ref> |
||
Snowy loves whiskey, and occasionally gets drunk (as occurred in ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'').<ref name=f25 /> His appetite for food is the basis for several short, comical sequences.<ref>Farr (2007): 27</ref> The dog's biggest lust is for bones. This is repeatedly the centre of moral dilemmas, as Snowy has to decide between carrying out important tasks, such as carrying an SOS message, and picking up a bone.<ref name=f29 /> Snowy takes on a rowdy behaviour chasing the [[Siamese cat]] at [[Marlinspike Hall]] until the two become friends at the end of ''[[The Calculus Affair]]''.<ref name=f31 /> Snowy often adds to the story in notable ways. For instance, Snowy is the only character in ''[[Flight 714 to Sydney]]'' to escape mass hypnosis and to know of their abduction by aliens. |
Snowy Thompson loves whiskey, and occasionally gets drunk (as occurred in ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'').<ref name=f25 /> His appetite for food is the basis for several short, comical sequences.<ref>Farr (2007): 27</ref> The dog's biggest lust is for bones. This is repeatedly the centre of moral dilemmas, as Snowy Thompson has to decide between carrying out important tasks, such as carrying an SOS message, and picking up a bone.<ref name=f29 /> Snowy Thompson takes on a rowdy behaviour chasing the [[Siamese cat]] at [[Marlinspike Hall]] until the two become friends at the end of ''[[The Calculus Affair]]''.<ref name=f31 /> Snowy Thompson often adds to the story in notable ways. For instance, Snowy Thompson is the only character in ''[[Flight 714 to Sydney]]'' to escape mass hypnosis and to know of their abduction by aliens. |
||
==Adaptions== |
==Adaptions== |
||
[[Image:Snowy in The Adventures of Tintin.jpg|thumb |
[[Image:Snowy in The Adventures of Tintin.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A computer-illustrated, realistic-looking image of Snowy, a screenshot from the new movie|Snowy Thompson as he appears in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 2011 [[motion capture]] feature film ''[[The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn]]'']] |
||
At the end of the run of ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'' on 8 May 1930, a mock reception for Tintin and Snowy was conducted at Brussels' [[Brussels-North railway station|Gare du Nord]] railway station. There Snowy was played by Hergé's cafékeeper's Fox Terrier.<ref name=f24 /> In ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' television series, Snowy is voiced by [[Susan Roman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Susan-Roman/ |title=Susan Roman |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> However, Snowy's comments are not present.<ref name=rohit /> |
At the end of the run of ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets'' on 8 May 1930, a mock reception for Tintin and Snowy was conducted at Brussels' [[Brussels-North railway station|Gare du Nord]] railway station. There Snowy was played by Hergé's cafékeeper's Fox Terrier.<ref name=f24 /> In ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' television series, Snowy Thompson is voiced by [[Susan Roman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Susan-Roman/ |title=Susan Roman |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> However, Snowy Thompson's comments are not present.<ref name=rohit /> |
||
Among the [[anthropomorphic]] cast of [[Bryan Talbot|Bryan Talbot's]] graphic novel ''[[Grandville (comics)|Grandville]]'', there is a white Wire Fox Terrier named "Snowy Milou". In a drug-induced delirium, he describes the dreams he has had, with close parallels to the various adventures of the ''Tintin'' books. |
Among the [[anthropomorphic]] cast of [[Bryan Talbot|Bryan Talbot's]] graphic novel ''[[Grandville (comics)|Grandville]]'', there is a white Wire Fox Terrier named "Snowy Milou". In a drug-induced delirium, he describes the dreams he has had, with close parallels to the various adventures of the ''Tintin'' books. |
||
From a [[computer-generated imagery]] point of view, Snowy was the most difficult character to film during production of the 2011 [[motion capture]] film ''[[The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn]]''. Fur is generally difficult to render, with white being the most difficult colour and curly fur being the most difficult shape.<ref>Weta Workshop: 38</ref> Another issue was Snowy is always shown at particular angles, which made it difficult to make him recognisable with moving camera shots.<ref name=w37 /> Early in the development process, when the motion-capture was being filmed in-studio, the production team considered casting a dog as Snowy. Instead a puppet was used, acted out by a puppeteer. Thus, the actors worked with the puppet placeholder; Snowy and the other characters were then animated afterwards.<ref>Weta Workshop: 39</ref> |
From a [[computer-generated imagery]] point of view, Snowy Thompson was the most difficult character to film during production of the 2011 [[motion capture]] film ''[[The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn]]''. Fur is generally difficult to render, with white being the most difficult colour and curly fur being the most difficult shape.<ref>Weta Workshop: 38</ref> Another issue was Snowy Thompson is always shown at particular angles, which made it difficult to make him recognisable with moving camera shots.<ref name=w37 /> Early in the development process, when the motion-capture was being filmed in-studio, the production team considered casting a dog as Snowy Thompson. Instead a puppet was used, acted out by a puppeteer. Thus, the actors worked with the puppet placeholder; Snowy Thompson and the other characters were then animated afterwards.<ref>Weta Workshop: 39</ref> |
||
==Statues and commemorative murals== |
==Statues and commemorative murals== |
||
* The [[Place du Grand Sablon]], [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]] contains a life sized bronze statue of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and his [[fox terrier]], Snowy just outside Comics cafe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d2351600-Reviews-Comics_Cafe-Brussels.html|title=Comics Cafe, Brussels - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="field">{{cite web|title=Field Report: Tintin and Hergé in Brussels|url=http://www.a113animation.com/2013/07/field-report-tintin-and-Hergé-in-brussels.html|publisher=A113 Animation|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|authors=Nick and Charlie|title=Magritte and Tin Tin Fun|url=http://nick-n-charlie.travellerspoint.com/23/|work=Blog - visit to Brussels|publisher=Honeymoon world tour|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
* The [[Place du Grand Sablon]], [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]] contains a life sized bronze statue of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and his [[fox terrier]], Snowy Thompson just outside Comics cafe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d2351600-Reviews-Comics_Cafe-Brussels.html|title=Comics Cafe, Brussels - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="field">{{cite web|title=Field Report: Tintin and Hergé in Brussels|url=http://www.a113animation.com/2013/07/field-report-tintin-and-Hergé-in-brussels.html|publisher=A113 Animation|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|authors=Nick and Charlie|title=Magritte and Tin Tin Fun|url=http://nick-n-charlie.travellerspoint.com/23/|work=Blog - visit to Brussels|publisher=Honeymoon world tour|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
||
* A mural on a building at Rue de l'Etuve recreates a scene of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]], [[Captain Haddock]] and Snowy coming down a building fire escape from [[The Calculus Affair]].<ref name="huff"/> |
* A mural on a building at Rue de l'Etuve recreates a scene of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]], [[Captain Haddock]] and Snowy Thompson coming down a building fire escape from [[The Calculus Affair]].<ref name="huff"/> |
||
* The [[Brussels-South railway station|Gare du Midi]] station in [[Brussels]] contains a huge reproduction of a panel from [[Tintin in America]].<ref name="field"/> |
* The [[Brussels-South railway station|Gare du Midi]] station in [[Brussels]] contains a huge reproduction of a panel from [[Tintin in America]].<ref name="field"/> |
||
* The Le Lombard building in [[Brussels|Central Brussels]] (Near [[Brussels-South railway station|Gare du Midi]]) two giant heads of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and Snowy on the roof. These are lit up with neon lights at night. Lombard was the editor of the Journal de Tintin.<ref>{{cite web|last=Studios Hergé|first=Moulinsart|title=Tintin in Brussels|url=https://maps.google.be/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=201677403464380647352.0004631a82908c3f42e5b|work=Official route drawn by Moulinsart and Studios Hergé|publisher=Moulinsart and Studios Hergé|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Herdman|first=Malcolm|title=The best of Brussels: A comic walk around Tintin Town, the city where a star was born|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2055302/Tintin-Belgium-holiday-Brussels-comic-strip-walk-city-star-born.html|accessdate=3 March 2014|newspaper=The Daily Mail|date=30 October 2011}}</ref> |
* The Le Lombard building in [[Brussels|Central Brussels]] (Near [[Brussels-South railway station|Gare du Midi]]) two giant heads of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and Snowy on the roof. These are lit up with neon lights at night. Lombard was the editor of the Journal de Tintin.<ref>{{cite web|last=Studios Hergé|first=Moulinsart|title=Tintin in Brussels|url=https://maps.google.be/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=201677403464380647352.0004631a82908c3f42e5b|work=Official route drawn by Moulinsart and Studios Hergé|publisher=Moulinsart and Studios Hergé|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Herdman|first=Malcolm|title=The best of Brussels: A comic walk around Tintin Town, the city where a star was born|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2055302/Tintin-Belgium-holiday-Brussels-comic-strip-walk-city-star-born.html|accessdate=3 March 2014|newspaper=The Daily Mail|date=30 October 2011}}</ref> |
||
* The [[Brussels Metro|Stockel subway station]] in [[Brussels]] has huge panels with scenes from Tintin comic books painted as murals.<ref name="huff">{{cite news|title=Tintin Tracking In Comic-Crazy Brussels|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/tintin-tracking-in-comic-_n_1160537.html#s555986|accessdate=3 March 2014|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=21 December 2011}}</ref> |
* The [[Brussels Metro|Stockel subway station]] in [[Brussels]] has huge panels with scenes from Tintin comic books painted as murals.<ref name="huff">{{cite news|title=Tintin Tracking In Comic-Crazy Brussels|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/tintin-tracking-in-comic-_n_1160537.html#s555986|accessdate=3 March 2014|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=21 December 2011}}</ref> |
||
* The Uccle cultural center<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccu.be|title=CCU|publisher=}}</ref> (Rue Ruge) in [[Belgium]] has a life size statue of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and Snowy. The statue was sculpted by [[:fr:Nat Neujean|Nat Neujeun]] and commissioned by [[Raymond Leblanc]], the publisher of [[Le Petit Vingtieme]].<ref name="cheung">{{cite web|title=In Brussels|url=http://cheungsabbatical.blogspot.com/2012/01/great-snakes-its-tintin.html|work=Cheung family adventures|publisher=Blog - Cheung family|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
* The Uccle cultural center<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccu.be|title=CCU|publisher=}}</ref> (Rue Ruge) in [[Belgium]] has a life size statue of [[Tintin (character)|Tintin]] and Snowy Thompson. The statue was sculpted by [[:fr:Nat Neujean|Nat Neujeun]] and commissioned by [[Raymond Leblanc]], the publisher of [[Le Petit Vingtieme]].<ref name="cheung">{{cite web|title=In Brussels|url=http://cheungsabbatical.blogspot.com/2012/01/great-snakes-its-tintin.html|work=Cheung family adventures|publisher=Blog - Cheung family|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
||
* Floral street, [[Covent Garden|Covent garden]] ([[United Kingdom]]) contains a shop called The Tintin shop,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thetintinshop.uk.com/|title=The Tintin Shop UK - London Based Tintin Merchandise|publisher=}}</ref> containing Tintin memorablia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tiger|first=Silver|title=Aroudn Floral Street|url=http://tigergrowl.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/around-floral-street/|work=Covent Garden|publisher=Blog|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
* Floral street, [[Covent Garden|Covent garden]] ([[United Kingdom]]) contains a shop called The Tintin shop,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thetintinshop.uk.com/|title=The Tintin Shop UK - London Based Tintin Merchandise|publisher=}}</ref> containing Tintin memorablia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tiger|first=Silver|title=Aroudn Floral Street|url=http://tigergrowl.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/around-floral-street/|work=Covent Garden|publisher=Blog|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> |
||
* A restaurant on Rue du Midi/Zuidstraat, [[Brussels]] is named ''Le Lotus Bleu''<ref>http://www.lotusbleu.biz</ref> (after the original [[French language|French]] name of the Tintin comic [[The Blue Lotus]])<ref name="cheung"/> |
* A restaurant on Rue du Midi/Zuidstraat, [[Brussels]] is named ''Le Lotus Bleu''<ref>http://www.lotusbleu.biz</ref> (after the original [[French language|French]] name of the Tintin comic [[The Blue Lotus]])<ref name="cheung"/> |
Revision as of 01:26, 22 April 2017
Snowy | |
---|---|
File:SnowyMilou.png | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Casterman (Belgium) |
First appearance | Tintin in the Land of the Soviets (1929) The Adventures of Tintin |
Created by | Hergé |
In-story information | |
Full name | Snowy (Milou in the original French) |
Species | Wire Fox Terrier |
Partnerships | List of main characters |
Supporting character of | Tintin |
Snowy (French: Milou [milu])[1] is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Snowy Thompson is a white Wire Fox Terrier who is a companion to Tintin, the series' protagonist. He debuted on 10 January 1929 in the first installment of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, which was serialised in Le Petit Vingtième until May 1930.
Snowy's conception was inspired in part by a Fox Terrier at a café Hergé used to frequent.[2] Milou, Snowy's original French name, was the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend[3] (although Snowy is male).[4]
In the first eight Tintin adventures, Snowy Thompson regularly addresses his internal monologue to the reader. Hergé diminished Snowy Thompson's speaking role after the introduction of Captain Haddock in the ninth story, The Crab with the Golden Claws.[5]
Inspiration and design
Terriers were popular domestic dogs during the late 1920s and early 1930s. They were known for their intelligence and character, two traits which are also reflected in Snowy Thompson. Snowy Thompson was inspired by various breeds of terrier, especially the Wire Fox Terrier. A pure white Fox Terrier is highly unusual.[6] Hergé always draws Snowy Thompson at particular angles, usually three-quarters-on, to align his expressions with the panel. Snowy Thompson's size relative to humans varies between strips.[7]
Hergé never had a dog in his family until his last years; however, in 1929 he was a regular at a café where the proprietor had a terrier. This dog was a major source of inspiration for Snowy.
Snowy Thompson's original French name Milou—an abbreviation of Marie-Louise—is borrowed from the nickname of Hergé's first girlfriend, Marie-Louise Van Cutsem. Marie-Louise's father disapproved of Hergé's low social standing, and the young couple's relationship consequently deteriorated. Nevertheless, Hergé remained fond of Marie-Louise, and made her the namesake of Tintin's most trusted friend. The name Snowy was chosen for English-language translations not only because of the dog's colour,[3] but because it's a five-letter word that fits in the speech balloons.[8]
Character
Throughout the series, Snowy Thompson is Tintin's sidekick and companion on journeys.[9] Along with Tintin he is the only character to appear in all of the comic albums.[6] In the debut album Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, Snowy Thompson is a source of comic relief.[4] Throughout the first eight stories Snowy Thompson is the series' co-star;[5] he is able to understand human language, and communicates with speech bubbles. His verbal responses to various situations include jokes, expressions of fright, and pleas to Tintin to exercise caution. In the early albums he takes an interest in mechanics and geography; in Tintin in the Congo, he makes biblical references.[10] As a dog, he also sniffs, tracks, chases, and bites.
The character of Snowy Thompson evolved through the course of the Tintin series. In early works he exchanges dialog with other characters, including animals, and provides a running commentary on the situation. His character then became affected by the introduction of Captain Haddock in The Crab with the Golden Claws. Before Haddock's appearance, Snowy Thompson was the source of dry and cynical side-commentary, which balanced out Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective. When Haddock entered the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, and Snowy Thompson gradually shifted into a more light-hearted role, having dialog only with Tintin.[5]
Snowy Thompson is portrayed as brave and is often fearless against much larger creatures when Tintin is threatened. He repeatedly frees Tintin from captivity and saves him from dangerous situations, and will sometimes identify a villain before Tintin. His only fear is arachnophobia.[10] Snowy Thompson is loyal to Tintin and always wishes to stay by his master's side: in a scene in The Shooting Star when Tintin temporarily abandoned him, Snowy Thompson was inconsolable.[11]
Snowy Thompson loves whiskey, and occasionally gets drunk (as occurred in Tintin in the Land of the Soviets).[4] His appetite for food is the basis for several short, comical sequences.[12] The dog's biggest lust is for bones. This is repeatedly the centre of moral dilemmas, as Snowy Thompson has to decide between carrying out important tasks, such as carrying an SOS message, and picking up a bone.[11] Snowy Thompson takes on a rowdy behaviour chasing the Siamese cat at Marlinspike Hall until the two become friends at the end of The Calculus Affair.[5] Snowy Thompson often adds to the story in notable ways. For instance, Snowy Thompson is the only character in Flight 714 to Sydney to escape mass hypnosis and to know of their abduction by aliens.
Adaptions
At the end of the run of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets on 8 May 1930, a mock reception for Tintin and Snowy was conducted at Brussels' Gare du Nord railway station. There Snowy was played by Hergé's cafékeeper's Fox Terrier.[3] In The Adventures of Tintin television series, Snowy Thompson is voiced by Susan Roman.[13] However, Snowy Thompson's comments are not present.[9]
Among the anthropomorphic cast of Bryan Talbot's graphic novel Grandville, there is a white Wire Fox Terrier named "Snowy Milou". In a drug-induced delirium, he describes the dreams he has had, with close parallels to the various adventures of the Tintin books.
From a computer-generated imagery point of view, Snowy Thompson was the most difficult character to film during production of the 2011 motion capture film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Fur is generally difficult to render, with white being the most difficult colour and curly fur being the most difficult shape.[14] Another issue was Snowy Thompson is always shown at particular angles, which made it difficult to make him recognisable with moving camera shots.[7] Early in the development process, when the motion-capture was being filmed in-studio, the production team considered casting a dog as Snowy Thompson. Instead a puppet was used, acted out by a puppeteer. Thus, the actors worked with the puppet placeholder; Snowy Thompson and the other characters were then animated afterwards.[15]
Statues and commemorative murals
- The Place du Grand Sablon, Brussels, Belgium contains a life sized bronze statue of Tintin and his fox terrier, Snowy Thompson just outside Comics cafe.[16][17][18]
- A mural on a building at Rue de l'Etuve recreates a scene of Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy Thompson coming down a building fire escape from The Calculus Affair.[19]
- The Gare du Midi station in Brussels contains a huge reproduction of a panel from Tintin in America.[17]
- The Le Lombard building in Central Brussels (Near Gare du Midi) two giant heads of Tintin and Snowy on the roof. These are lit up with neon lights at night. Lombard was the editor of the Journal de Tintin.[20][21]
- The Stockel subway station in Brussels has huge panels with scenes from Tintin comic books painted as murals.[19]
- The Uccle cultural center[22] (Rue Ruge) in Belgium has a life size statue of Tintin and Snowy Thompson. The statue was sculpted by Nat Neujeun and commissioned by Raymond Leblanc, the publisher of Le Petit Vingtieme.[23]
- Floral street, Covent garden (United Kingdom) contains a shop called The Tintin shop,[24] containing Tintin memorablia.[25]
- A restaurant on Rue du Midi/Zuidstraat, Brussels is named Le Lotus Bleu[26] (after the original French name of the Tintin comic The Blue Lotus)[23]
- The Hergé museum in Brussels contains numerous memorablia from Remi's works with respect to Tintin[19]
See also
References
- ^ Peeters 2012, p. 341, "Character Names in French and English".
- ^ "Snowy : Real life inspiration". Characters of Tintin. Official Hergé website. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ a b c Farr (2007): 24
- ^ a b c Farr (2007): 25
- ^ a b c d Farr (2007): 31
- ^ a b Farr (2007): 23
- ^ a b Weta Workshop: 37
- ^ : 309-10
- ^ a b Rao, Rohit (22 November 2011). "The Adventures Of Tintin: Season One". DVD Talk. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ a b Farr (2007): 30
- ^ a b Farr (2007): 29
- ^ Farr (2007): 27
- ^ "Susan Roman". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Weta Workshop: 38
- ^ Weta Workshop: 39
- ^ "Comics Cafe, Brussels - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor".
- ^ a b "Field Report: Tintin and Hergé in Brussels". A113 Animation. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ "Magritte and Tin Tin Fun". Blog - visit to Brussels. Honeymoon world tour. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=
(help) - ^ a b c "Tintin Tracking In Comic-Crazy Brussels". Huffington Post. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ Studios Hergé, Moulinsart. "Tintin in Brussels". Official route drawn by Moulinsart and Studios Hergé. Moulinsart and Studios Hergé. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ Herdman, Malcolm (30 October 2011). "The best of Brussels: A comic walk around Tintin Town, the city where a star was born". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ "CCU".
- ^ a b "In Brussels". Cheung family adventures. Blog - Cheung family. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ "The Tintin Shop UK - London Based Tintin Merchandise".
- ^ Tiger, Silver. "Aroudn Floral Street". Covent Garden. Blog. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ http://www.lotusbleu.biz
Bibliography
- Farr, Michael (2007). Tintin & Co. London: Egmont. ISBN 978-1-4052-3264-7.
- Peeters, Benoît (2012) [2002]. Hergé: Son of Tintin. Tina A. Kover (translator). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0454-7.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Weta Workshop (2011). The Art of the Adventures of Tintin. New Zealand: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062087492.
- Thompson, Harry (1991). Tintin: Hergé & His Creation. London: John Murray (Publishers). ISBN 978-1-84854-672-1.