Laugh-Out-Loud Cats
Encyclopedia
Laugh-Out-Loud Cats is a series of cartoon
s created by Adam "Ape Lad" Koford that features two anthropomorphic hobo
cats named Kitteh and Pip. The series consists of mostly single-panel cartoons that combine internet memes associated with LOLcats (from which the series takes its name) and other forms of internet slang
and contemporary humor with a visual style that pays homage to early 20th century comic strip
s such as Krazy Kat
. In January 2008, Koford published a small run of Meet the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats, the first Laugh-Out-Loud Cats book. In 2009, a second book was published by Abrams ComicArts: The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats Sell Out, with an introduction by comedian John Hodgman
. As of April 2010, Koford has posted over 1,500 panels, which are presented on his blog HOBOTOPIA and on Flickr
.
describes it, is "that two hobo cats from a long-lost early-20th-century comic speak in 21st-century net-slang". The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comics are presented by Adam Koford as having been produced originally by "A. Koford", his grandfather Aloysius Gamaliel Koford, for a short-lived syndicated newspaper comic strip that started in 1912. Koford has pointed to a number of influences on the series (or rather, "cultural touchstones [that] show evidence of being influenced by my great-grandfather's handiwork", as he puts it): the 1973 road movie
Paper Moon
and the 1941 comedy film Sullivan's Travels
, the character design from the 1910s comic strip Old Doc Yak
by Sidney Smith
, the cartooning style of Hank Ketcham
and Al Wiseman
from Dennis the Menace
, and the work of cartoonist B. Kliban
.
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s created by Adam "Ape Lad" Koford that features two anthropomorphic hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
cats named Kitteh and Pip. The series consists of mostly single-panel cartoons that combine internet memes associated with LOLcats (from which the series takes its name) and other forms of internet slang
Internet slang
Internet slang is a type of slang that Internet users have popularized, and in many cases, have coined. Such terms often originate with the purpose of saving keystrokes. Many people use the same abbreviations in texting and instant messaging, and social networking websites...
and contemporary humor with a visual style that pays homage to early 20th century comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
s such as Krazy Kat
Krazy Kat
Krazy Kat is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George Herriman, published daily in newspapers between 1913 and 1944. It first appeared in the New York Evening Journal, whose owner, William Randolph Hearst, was a major booster for the strip throughout its run...
. In January 2008, Koford published a small run of Meet the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats, the first Laugh-Out-Loud Cats book. In 2009, a second book was published by Abrams ComicArts: The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats Sell Out, with an introduction by comedian John Hodgman
John Hodgman
John Kellogg Hodgman is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long's personification of a Mac in...
. As of April 2010, Koford has posted over 1,500 panels, which are presented on his blog HOBOTOPIA and on Flickr
Flickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
.
Concept and influences
The basic concept of Laugh-Out-Loud Cats, as a review by The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
describes it, is "that two hobo cats from a long-lost early-20th-century comic speak in 21st-century net-slang". The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comics are presented by Adam Koford as having been produced originally by "A. Koford", his grandfather Aloysius Gamaliel Koford, for a short-lived syndicated newspaper comic strip that started in 1912. Koford has pointed to a number of influences on the series (or rather, "cultural touchstones [that] show evidence of being influenced by my great-grandfather's handiwork", as he puts it): the 1973 road movie
Road movie
A road movie is a film genre in which the main character or characters leave home to travel from place to place. They usually leave home to escape their current lives.-History:...
Paper Moon
Paper Moon (film)
Paper Moon is a 1973 American comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was adapted from the novel Addie Pray by Joe David Brown, and the film was shot in black-and-white. The film is set during the Great Depression in the U.S. states of Kansas and...
and the 1941 comedy film Sullivan's Travels
Sullivan's Travels
Sullivan's Travels is a 1941 American comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges. It is a satire about a movie director, played by Joel McCrea, who longs to make a socially relevant drama, but eventually learns that comedies are his more valuable contribution to society. The film features...
, the character design from the 1910s comic strip Old Doc Yak
Old Doc Yak
Old Doc Yak was a comic strip by Sidney Smith that centered around a talking goat. The origin of the character was Buck Nix, a goat Smith drew in 1908 for the Chicago Evening Journal. For three years, Nix romanced a she-goat called Nanny...
by Sidney Smith
Sidney Smith (The Gumps)
For the British expert on the Yoruba people of Nigeria, see Professor Robert Sidney Smith.Robert Sidney Smith , known as Sidney Smith, was the creator of the influential comic strip, The Gumps, based on an idea by Captain Joseph M. Patterson, editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune.He was born...
, the cartooning style of Hank Ketcham
Hank Ketcham
Henry King "Hank" Ketcham was an American cartoonist who created the Dennis the Menace comic strip, writing and drawing it from 1951 to 1994, when he retired from drawing the daily page and took up painting full time in his studio at his home. He received the Reuben Award for the strip in 1953...
and Al Wiseman
Al Wiseman
Al Wiseman was an American cartoonist who worked on both comic strips and comic books, notably his long stint on the Dennis the Menace comic books....
from Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (U.S.)
Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham. It debuted on March 12, 1951 in 16 newspapers and was originally distributed by Post-Hall Syndicate...
, and the work of cartoonist B. Kliban
B. Kliban
-External links:* * *...
.
External links
- HOBOTOPIA - official site
- the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats - archive on Flickr
- The Webcomic Overlook #38: Meet the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats (printed book) - review of first book