Ever wondered why cartoon characters have only four fingers?

Question

Or at least most of them do....mickey, bugs, donald, daffy, etc!

Its like bugs bunny would meet batman and realize that batty has five fingers, bugs would probably think he's a freak!!!!!

Answer 1

According to the Simpsons, they are in an unevolved stage. That's why they have four fingers. But after future evolution, they'll eventually have five fingers. Of course, that's just the Simpsons' explanation. ^_^

Answer 2

Early animators realized that three fingers and a thumb were quicker and easier to draw than four fingers and a thumb but still looked OK.

Answer 3

I wondered that myself. I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to draw a 5-fingered cartoon character and make it look normal. And it is sorta hard to draw five fingers instead of four.

Answer 4

Because it's quicker and easier to draw fewer fingers. If they included all 5 fingers all the time the hands would appear abnormally wide.

Answer 5

Well, you see, that’s one of the things that the studio requires of them. When they sign their contract with Disney or Warner Bros, or whichever studio, the toon must prove their loyalty by cutting off their little finger, just like the Yakuza. Bad as DC and Marvel are, sometimes, they aren’t THAT bad.

(and they say there’s such a big difference between Western toons and Japanese anime….)


9 FEB 07, 0209 hrs, GMT.

Answer 6

Yea! Its a cartoonist thing if your character has five or more fingers your success rate will go down.

Answer 7

Animators are trying to differentiate between reality and fantasy?

Answer 8

umm, coz its a lot easier to draw them with only four fingers...

Answer 9

No...I have better things to do with my precious time like be on Y/A. Just kidding!

Answer 10

to save time while drawing