Why do (most) cartoon characters have four fingers?

Question

In a considerible amount of television cartoon shows, the characters only have FOUR fingers! Although this somewhat suits them, (for some reason), why do they only have four fingers?

From kids shows, like The kids next door, Ed,Edd 'n' Eddy, Spongebob squairpants, Camp Lazlo, you name it.

To toddler shows, like Stanly, the Little einsteins, Mickey mouse, PB'n'J otters,...

Even some adult shows, like Popetown, the Simpsons, Drawn together,....

Answer 1

The first 3 answers are indeed correct - it is more difficult to draw, I would like to elaborate a bit though.

Look at old portraits of famous people. Usually the ones in the portrait have only ONE HAND painted, most are of just the bust and stop at the end of the sleeve.

Reason being for this - it took more time to get the hands and fingers to match -AND - IT WAS MUCH MORE COSTLY TO PAINT THE HANDS. The price was a key factor - two hundred years ago - it might have cost $10.00 to have a portrait painted of just the bust; and,

$15.00 to have one hand included with a nice ring or whatever; but,

$50.00 to have both hands painted.

Please realize that a cartoon is thousands of pictures painted, each just a little different than the previous one and when flipped - it gives the impression of movement.

Hands would come out with more of a blur than crisp and clear as shown with 4 or 3 fingers - AND,

The time to get 5 fingers to match up accurately would be cost prohibitive.

Hope this shed a little more light on your question - the first 3 answers though were indeed correct.

Peace;

Aintmyfault
.

Answer 2

many cartoon characters have only four fingers on each hand simply because a five fingered hand is too hard to draw without looking disfigured! its surprising that one finger would make such a difference, but its true. it also helps take away the realism of a character, making them more fun and make-believe. of course, some shows such as South Park dont bother and only give the characters thumbs.

Answer 3

Two answers: it is easier to draw (according to the Late, Great Walt Disney;
and look at how many toes/fingers most critters have. Of course, cats have 5 on the front, 4 on the back, so which should one use?

Answer 4

“the conventional sketch short demands 50,000 drawings. in case you’re working with a 5-fingered character, drawing each digit incredibly provides up in terms of time and funds. yet while your character has 4 hands on each hand quite of 5, that’s one hundred,000 fewer digits to caricature. Or as one internet site places it, it’s “accountant-based thinking that forces any such great style of sketch characters to flow via existence with in user-friendly terms 4 hands.” 2 of the earliest lively characters, Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse, have been the two drawn with 4 “hands” consistent with “hand,” and later characters oftentimes accompanied healthful. yet as this ‘toon internet site states, “There’s no sketch bible which you would be able to seek for suggestion from that states that anybody characters have 4 hands.”

Answer 5

Probably easier to draw--besides when you create a character it can be whatever you want it to be.