Christmas is just two weeks away, which means it's time for everyone's favorite cranky character to descend upon Whoville.
Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" tells the story of the Grinch, a mean-spirited anti-hero who attempts to steal Christmas in the town of Whoville. The Grinch later feels the true spirit of the holiday and, in the iconic words of Dr. Seuss: "the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."
Three movie adaptions have followed the Dr. Seuss book: the 1966 cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"; the 2000 live-action, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey and, most recently, the 2018 animation, "The Grinch."
In all three movies, one major detail remains consistent: the Grinch is always green. Here's one theory about how he got his signature look.
Why is the Grinch green?
Many know the Grinch for being mean and green, but few may know that Dr. Seuss originally drew the antagonist in black and white in his original 1957 story.
In 1966, animator Chuck Jones brought the book to life in the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" cartoon, in which he gave the Grinch his signature green color. It's rumored that Jones was inspired by his rental car at the time, which was the same shade of green.
In 1966, animator Chuck Jones brought the book to life in the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" cartoon, in which he gave the Grinch his signature green color. It's rumored that Jones was inspired by his rental car at the time, which was the same shade of green.
Apparently, Chuck Jones decided to make the character green when he produced The Grinch TV special in 1966 because he always received green rental cars. One film fan commented: "Damn...you literally blew my mind with that and it's so obvious I should have noticed this."
Many know the Grinch for being mean and green, but few may know that Dr. Seuss originally drew the antagonist in black and white in his original 1957 story.
The Grinch is depicted as a green, furry, pot-bellied, pear-shaped, snub-nosed humanoid creature with a cat-like face and cynical personality. In full-color adaptations, he is typically colored green. He has spent the past 53 years living in seclusion on a cliff overlooking the town of Whoville.
A shaggy, potbellied green yeti with an attitude problem, the Grinch lives in the rubbish dump and casts a baleful eye over the ersatz yuletide 'Who-bilation' of the rodent featured Whos in their suburban Shangri-La, Whoville.
For example, one of the characters pointed out the bottle of green hair dye the Grinch bought (implying he was getting old and needed to dye his greying hair). The act of hiding the physical effects of aging elicits sorrow and grief which shows a more human side of him.
On a special edition release of the film, the Grinch was yellow, not green. The original 1966 airing included integrated sponsor plugs from the Foundation for Full Service Banks at the beginning and ending of the special, in between the credits. These plugs have since been edited out of modern prints since the 70's.
To achieve the Grinch color, use 9 drops of blue food coloring and 29 drops of yellow food coloring (if you don't already have lime green food coloring or frosting).
In Dr.Seuss' original story book, the Grinch is black and white with pink eyes - it was only in the animated film (1996) that director Chuck Jones decided to make him green.
Seuss' tales. The Grinch is literally green with envy, a nasty old crank who looks down on the perpetually happy denizens of Whoville, while obviously wishing he could join in their caroling and merry-making. He has to find his bottom before he can grow — three sizes, heart-wise.
Seuss' Grinch was never green? In the original book, the Grinch was white with red eyeballs. When director Chuck Jones made the first movie he was inspired to make the evil character green because he was always given an ugly green car as a rental.
In the original book, the Grinch is illustrated as black and white, with hints of pink and red. Rumor has it that Jones was inspired to give the Grinch his iconic coloring after he rented a car that was painted an ugly shade of green.
However, the real reason behind his cold-hearted disposition is because he was picked on when he was a child; he was an outcast at school, was bullied by his classmate, Augustus Maywho and that the horrible treatment is what drove him over the edge to become the Christmas-hating and who-Hating person he was ever known.
Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
