Clifford the Big Red Dog#Videos

{{about|the children's book series|the character in other media|}}

{{Infobox book series

| name = Clifford the Big Red Dog

| image = Clifford the Big Red Dog logo.svg

| caption =

| books =

| author = Norman Bridwell

| country = United States

| language = English

| genre = Children

| publisher = Scholastic

| pub_date = 1963–2015

| media_type =

}}

Clifford the Big Red Dog is an American children's book series and media franchise focusing on the adventures of an 8-year-old blonde-haired girl named Emily Elizabeth and her titular pet: a gigantic, love-filled, red-furred dog named Clifford. It was first published in 1963 and was written by Norman Bridwell.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cflinc.net/photogallery/clifford2014.html|title=The Center for Learning, Inc. - CFL Clifford Visits September 19, 2015|last=LLC|first=The H.E.L.P.-I.N.G. Group|website=www.cflinc.net|access-date=2016-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313090550/http://www.cflinc.net/photogallery/clifford2014.html|archive-date=March 13, 2016|url-status=dead}} There are 91 books in the series, with the final two released posthumously after Bridwell's death in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Gail |date=2014-12-17 |title=The success story of a refreshingly ordinary man: Norman Birdwell, creator of ‘Clifford,’ dead at 86 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/17/the-success-story-of-a-refreshingly-ordinary-man-norman-birdwell-creator-of-clifford-dead-at-86/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Washington Post}} The premise has been adapted into animation, video games, stage productions, and live-action, with Clifford the Big Red Dog the most recent as of 2025. Clifford is the official mascot of Scholastic Corporation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/clifford-big-red-dog#cart/cleanup|title=Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell {{!}} Scholastic.com|website=Scholastic Teachers|access-date=2016-05-27}}

Concept and creation

The character was inspired by author Norman Bridwell's childhood desire to own a dog the size of a horse.{{Cite web |last=McKinney |first=Amy |date=2017-03-14 |title=Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Smithsonian |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/clifford-big-red-dog |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=National Museum of American History |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926184042/https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/clifford-big-red-dog |url-status=dead }} In 1962, Bridwell included paintings of what would become Clifford the Big Red Dog (who was named ‘Tiny’ at the time) in a portfolio of children's literature illustrations. In the process of showcasing his portfolio for publishing houses, Susan Hirschman at Harper & Row suggested Bridwell turned his drawings into a children's story. Bridwell then developed a story around the dog and his owner, which he would eventually submit to Scholastic. His wife suggested the name "Clifford" after her imaginary friend from her childhood, and Emily Elizabeth was named after Bridwell's daughter. The first book in the series was originally published by Scholastic in 1963.{{cite news |last=Macpherson |first=Karen |date=2009-10-31 |title=Books | Kids books: How 'Clifford, the Big Red Dog' started | Seattle Times Newspaper |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2010171200_kidsbooksclifford31.html |accessdate=2010-08-10 |publisher=Seattletimes.nwsource.com}}

==Characters==

Clifford is a male red dog whose appearance, disposition and behavior are based on a giant dog.{{Cite web|last=Noble|first=Barnes &|title=Clifford the Big Red Dog|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clifford-the-big-red-dog-norman-bridwell/1101094847?ean=9780590442978#TABS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126080204/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clifford-the-big-red-dog-norman-bridwell/1101094847?ean=9780590442978|archive-date=November 26, 2012|access-date=2016-05-27|website=Barnes & Noble}} The depiction of Clifford's size is inconsistent.{{efn|While he is often shown being about 25 feet (7.5 m) tall from paws to head, Clifford can appear far larger.}} The character's name is based on the imaginary childhood friend of Norman Bridwell's wife, Norma Bridwell.{{cite web|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/clifford.htm |title=Clifford the Big Red Dog – Don Markstein's Toonopedia |publisher=Toonopedia.com |date=2004-02-20 |access-date=2014-03-13}} Bridwell originally wanted to name the dog "Tiny", but his wife persuaded him that "Clifford" was better. Clifford's pet owner is Emily Elizabeth. Clifford has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters, all of whom are normal-sized dogs. Clifford was originally the runt of the litter, seemingly fated to be small and sick, but grew to an enormous size apparently due to Emily Elizabeth's love and care. Clifford's character was created when a Harper & Row editor advised Bridwell to write a story to go along with one of his pictures. Bridwell recalls she picked out his sketch of a baby girl with a horse-sized bloodhound, and casually said, "There might be a story in this" because there always was one.
Emily Elizabeth is Clifford's owner and human friend, an 8-year-old{{efn|12-year-old in the 2021 film as well as its sequel.}} girl.{{cite web|last1=Fashingbauer Cooper|first1=Gael|title=Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog, dies at 86|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/norman-bridwell-creator-clifford-big-red-dog-dies-86-1D80374114|publisher=Today|access-date=August 17, 2015|date=December 17, 2014}} She is frequently portrayed riding him like a horse. She was named for creator Norman Bridwell's daughter and based on the imaginary adventures of Bridwell's wife. The TV series adaptation gives her a surname, Emily Elizabeth Howard, and changes the background, with her receiving Clifford as a surprise present on her 6th birthday instead of picking him out as a Christmas present.

List of books

File:Norman Bridwell, Clifford the Big Red Dog artwork, 2011 CROPPED.jpg, creator and author of the Clifford the Big Red Dog book series.]]

Title	Year	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1. Clifford, the Big Red Dog	1963	The first ten Clifford books were given re-colored illustrations in 1985{{Citation needed\|date=November 2024}}
2. Clifford Gets a Job	1965
3. Clifford Takes a Trip	1966
4. Clifford's Halloween	1966
5. Clifford's Tricks	1969
6. Clifford, the Small Red Puppy	1972
7. Clifford's Riddles	1974
8. Clifford's Good Deeds	1975
9. Clifford at the Circus	1977
10. Clifford Goes to Hollywood	1980	Reissued in 2010 under the title: Clifford Is a Star
11. Clifford's ABC	1983
12. Clifford's Christmas	1984
13. Clifford's Family	1984
14. Clifford's Kitten	1984
15. Clifford and the Grouchy Neighbors	1985
16. Clifford's Pals	1985	Reissued in 2010 under the title: Clifford's Best Pals
17. Clifford's Manners	1987
18. Count on Clifford	1987
19. Clifford's Birthday Party	1988
20. Clifford's Puppy Days	1989
21. Where Is Clifford?	1989
22. Clifford's Happy Days: A Pop-Up Book	1990	Pop-up book
23. Clifford's Word Book	1990
24. Clifford, We Love You	1991
25. Clifford's Animal Sounds	1991
26. Clifford's Bathtime	1991
27. Clifford's Bedtime	1991
28. Clifford's Peekaboo	1991
29. Clifford Counts Bubbles	1992
30. Clifford Follows His Nose	1992
31. Clifford's Happy Easter	1992
32. Clifford's Noisy Day	1992
33. Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit	1993
34. Clifford, I Love You	1994	Pop-up book
35. Clifford the Firehouse Dog	1994
36. Clifford's First Christmas	1994
37. Clifford and the Big Storm	1995
38. Clifford's First Easter	1995
39. Clifford's First Halloween	1995
40. Clifford's Sports Day	1996
41. Clifford's First Autumn	1997
42. Clifford's Spring Clean-Up	1997
43. Clifford's First Valentine's Day	1997
44. Clifford's Peek-And-Seek Animal Riddles	1997
45. Clifford and the Big Parade	1998
46. Clifford Keeps Cool	1998
47. Clifford Counts 1 2 3	1998
48. Clifford Makes a Friend	1998
49. Clifford: Where Is the Big Red Doggie?	1998
50. Clifford's First Snow Day	1998
51. Oops, Clifford!	1998
52. Clifford and the Halloween Parade	1999
53. Clifford Grows Up	1999
54. Clifford's Best Friend: A Story about Emily Elizabeth	1999
55. Clifford's Big Book of Things to Know	1999
56. Clifford's First School Day	1999
57. Clifford Barks!	2000
58. Clifford to the Rescue	2000
59. Clifford Visits the Hospital	2000
60. Clifford's Opposites	2000
61. Clifford's Schoolhouse	2000
62. Clifford's Big Red Reader	2001
63. Clifford's Furry Friends	2001
64. Clifford's Happy Mother's Day	2001
65. Clifford's Puppy Fun: A Lift-the-Flap Board Book with Stickers	2001
66. Clifford's Valentines	2001
67. Clifford Runs to Story Time	2001
68. Clifford and the Bath \|2002 \|
69. Clifford's Busy Week	2002
70. Clifford Goes to Dog School	2002
71. Clifford's Neighborhood: Lots to Learn All Around Town	2002
72. A Little Book About Red \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
73. Cleo's Fudge Cakes \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
74. Clifford and the Squirrel \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
75. Clifford Loves Me!	2003
76. Clifford's Class Trip	2003
77. Clifford's Day with Dad	2003
78. Emily Elizabeth Can't Trade \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
79. Get That Lunch Box \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
80. Good Sports \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
81. Jumping in Puddles \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
82. Mac the Knight \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
83. The Singing Birds' Show \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
84. Spring Is in the Air \|2003 \|Phonics Reading Program
85. Clifford's First Sleepover	2004
86. Clifford Goes to Washington	2005
87. Clifford's Puppy Days: Christmas Angel	2005
88. Clifford the Champion	2009
89. Clifford Makes the Team	2011
90. Clifford Goes to Kindergarten	2015	Published posthumously{{cite news\|last1=Weber\|first1=Bruce\|title=Norman Bridwell, Creator of 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' Books, Dies at 86\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/books/norman-bridwell-creator-of-clifford-the-big-red-dog-books-dies-at-86.html?_r=0\|accessdate=December 20, 2014\|work=The New York Times\|date=December 16, 2014\|quote=Two additional Clifford books, “Clifford Goes to Kindergarten” and “Clifford Celebrates Hanukkah,” are scheduled for publication by Scholastic in 2015.}}
91. Clifford Celebrates Hanukkah	2015	Published posthumously

Adaptations

Image:Clifford the Big Red Dog at the WhiteHouse Easter Egg Roll, 2007Apr09.jpg and children at the White House Easter Egg Roll, 2007.]]

File:Tom Tancredo with Clifford the Big Red Dog.jpg]]

=Videos=

Karl-Lorimar Home Video released the video Clifford's Sing Along Adventure in 1986, starring Arthur Howard and theatrical actress Jan Neuberger. Warner Home Video re-released it in the mid-1990s.

In July 1988, Scholastic Studios, Nelvana Limited, and Family Home Entertainment released Clifford's Fun with...,{{efn|Alternatively titled in the videos themselves as Clifford the Big Red Dog.}} an educational direct-to-video animated series. Six episodes were produced, focusing on fundamental concepts learned by young children: "The ABC Message Service" (letters), "Clifford's Birthday Surprise" (numbers), "The Scavenger Hunt" (shapes and colors), "The Rhyme Cat Rescue" (rhyming), "Clifford Goes to Hollywood" (sounds), and "The Pet Show" (opposites). Musician Brent Titcomb was the voice of Clifford, and actress Alyson Court was the voice of Emily Elizabeth.

=Television=

{{Further|Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000 TV series)|Clifford's Puppy Days|Clifford's Really Big Movie|Clifford the Big Red Dog (2019 TV series)}}

Scholastic Media produced a 65-episode adaptation shown on PBS Kids, which aired from September 2000 to February 2003. Clifford was voiced by John Ritter, and Emily Elizabeth was voiced by Grey DeLisle. There was also a 39-episode prequel series that took place during Clifford's puppyhood, broadcast in the same period three years later, with Lara Jill Miller as the voice of young Clifford. During that time, a theatrical film was released in February 2004 and served as the series finale, as there were not any new episodes released after John Ritter's death. However, a new series was released on December 6, 2019 for Amazon Prime Video and December 7, 2019 on PBS Kids with Adam Sanders and Hannah Levinson as the new voices of Clifford and Emily Elizabeth respectively.{{Cite web|title=Clifford The Big Red Dog returns in reboot|url=http://kidscreen.com/2018/05/16/clifford-the-big-red-dog-returns-in-reboot/|access-date=July 13, 2019|website=Kidscreen}}{{Cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=Jun 4, 2019|title=Scholastic's New 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' Launches in December|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/scholastics-new-clifford-the-big-red-dog-launches-in-december/|access-date=July 13, 2019|website=animationmagazine}} They are returning on CBC Kids and CBBC and TG4.

=Film=

==Unproduced Universal-Illumination version==

In May 2012, it was reported that Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment would make a live-action/CGI animated feature film based on the book. Matt Lopez had been hired to write the script, while Chris Meledandri and Deborah Forte would produce the film.{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Illumination and Universal Adapting 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/clifford-big-red-dog-illumination-universal-321711|access-date=May 9, 2012|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 8, 2012}} In July 2013, it was reported that Illumination had dropped the project.{{cite news|last=Debruge|first=Peter|title=Illumination Chief Chris Meledandri Lines Up Originals for Universal|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/illumination-chief-chris-meledandri-lines-up-originals-for-universal-1200564348/|access-date=July 18, 2013|newspaper=Variety|date=July 17, 2013|quote=At the same time, Illumination has scrapped several planned movie ideas. “Waldo” and a Tim Burton-helmed, stop-motion “The Addams Family” are dead. The company abandoned a Woody Woodpecker pic, and couldn’t crack “Clifford the Big Red bull.”}} Two months later, it was reported that the film was still in development at Universal and that there were negotiations to have David Bowers direct the film.{{cite news|last=Shaw|first=Lucas|date=September 13, 2013|title=David Bowers in Talks to Direct 'Clifford the Big Red Dog'; Illumination Drops Off (Exclusive)|newspaper=TheWrap|url=https://www.thewrap.com/david-bowers-to-direct-clifford-the-big-red-dog-for-illumination-exclusive/|url-status=dead|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917013735/https://www.thewrap.com/david-bowers-to-direct-clifford-the-big-red-dog-for-illumination-exclusive/|archive-date=September 17, 2013}}

On August 1, 2014, Universal scheduled the film for a release on April 8, 2016,{{cite web|title=The Clifford the Big Red Dog Movie is Coming in 2016|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=121356|publisher=ComingSoon.net|access-date=August 1, 2014|date=August 1, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808061654/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=121356|url-status=dead}} later to be delayed and its release date given to The Boss.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Melissa McCarthy's 'Michelle Darnelle' to Replace 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' for April 8, 2016|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/michelle-darnelle-release-date-melissa-mccarthy-1201393082/|access-date=June 25, 2015|work=Variety|date=January 5, 2015}} On June 30, 2016, it was reported by Deadline Hollywood that Paramount Pictures had picked up the rights for the film and the Universal iteration cancelled. According to the report, "Forte decided to take the material in a new direction," and "Universal let the option lapse." It was further announced that Justin Malen was hired to write the screenplay.{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title='Clifford The Big Red Dog' Movie Unleashed At Paramount With Scribe Justin Malen|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/clifford-the-big-red-dog-movie-paramount-justin-malen-1201781593/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 6, 2016|date=June 30, 2016}}

On September 25, 2017, it was announced that Walt Becker would direct the revived project, replacing Bowers."7 Days of Deals", The Hollywood Reporter, 27 September 2017, page 30. The Paramount iteration, which would eventually turn into the finalized film, was produced by Scholastic Entertainment and Paramount Animation.{{cite web|last1=N'Duka|first1=Amanda|url=https://www.deadline.com/2018/05/reel-fx-jared-mass-executive-1202398950/|title=Reel FX Rehires Jared Mass As Company Aims To Ramp Up Original Content Slate|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 26, 2018|date=May 29, 2018}}

==2021 Paramount film==

On February 27, 2019, Paramount announced the film for a November 13, 2020 release, taking over the slot for the cancelled live-action/CGI Rugrats film.{{cite news |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title='Clifford the Big Red Dog' Movie Lands November 2020 Release Date |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/clifford-big-red-dog-movie-lands-november-2020-release-date-1191324 |access-date=28 February 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=27 February 2019 |language=en}} The film features child actress Darby Camp as Emily Elizabeth and Jack Whitehall as a new character, Uncle Casey, in their starring roles with Tony Hale as Zac Tieran, the main villain of the film.{{cite news | last=Kit | first=Borys | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jack-whitehall-darby-camp-star-clifford-big-red-dog-1213935 | title=Jack Whitehall, 'Big Little Lies' Actress to Star in 'Clifford, the Big Red Dog' Adaption (Exclusive) | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=May 28, 2019}}{{cite news|last=Musnicky|first=Sarah|url=https://www.nightmarishconjurings.com/2020/11/25/news-clifford-the-big-red-dog-get-a-first-look/|work=Nightmarish Conjurings|title=[News] CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG - Get a First Look|date=November 25, 2020}} On August 28, 2020, the film release was pushed back to November 5, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|date=August 29, 2020|title='Scream' Relaunch Eyes 2022 Release, 'Snake Eyes' Rolls To 2021 & More – Paramount Release Date Changes|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/scream-relaunch-eyes-2022-release-snake-eyes-rolls-to-2021-more-paramount-release-date-changes-1203026483/|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=Deadline}} with a 20-second teaser trailer released in November that year.{{Cite web|date=November 25, 2020|title=Clifford the Big Red Dog Makes His Live Action Teaser Trailer Debut|url=https://lrmonline.com/news/clifford-the-big-red-dog-makes-his-live-action-teaser-trailer-debut/|access-date=November 26, 2020|website=LRM|language=en-US}} The film was subsequently rescheduled to be released on September 17, 2021, but was again delayed due to concerns regarding the rise of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title=Marvel Movies Move Around In 2023 As Disney Makes Release Date Changes|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/marvel-movie-release-date-changes-eyes-of-tammy-faye-disney-theatrical-1234766379/|date=May 28, 2021}} The film premiered as a part of Paramount's Upcoming Slate Presentation at CinemaCon on August 26, 2021;{{cite web|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|first2=Nancy|last2=Tartaglione|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/clifford-the-big-red-dog-cinemacon-screening-1234822581/|title='Clifford the Big Red Dog' Showing Up At Paramount CinemaCon Presentation|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 26, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021}} it was later announced that the film would be released theatrically and digitally on Paramount+ on November 10, 2021.{{cite web|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/clifford-the-big-red-dog-returns-to-q4-release-schedule-will-go-day-date-in-theaters-on-paramount-1234843483/|title='Clifford the Big Red Dog' Returns to Q4 Release Schedule, Will Go Day & Date In Theaters & On Paramount+|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 23, 2021}}

=Video games=

Book series (2000)

Clifford's Reading
Clifford's Thinking Games

2000s TV series

Clifford's Learning Activities (2001)
Clifford's Musical Memory Games (2002)
Clifford's Phonics (2003)
Clifford's Big Puzzle Game (Wendy's Kids' Meal DVD game)

Notes

References

External links

[http://www.scholastic.com/clifford Official site of book series]
[https://pbskids.org/clifford Clifford | PBS Kids]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20010502084845/http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-bridwell-norman.asp/ Clifford's creation]

Category:Book series introduced in 1963

Category:Series of children's books

Category:American picture books

Category:Scholastic franchises

Category:Fictional dogs

Category:Fictional giants

Category:Scholastic Corporation books

Category:Children's books about dogs

Category:Giants in popular culture

Category:Fiction about size change

Category:Children's books about friendship

Category:Children's books adapted into television shows

Category:Children's books adapted into films