The Cat in the Hat has a brand new movie out this month in theaters from Illumination. Only the latest in the company’s long line of Dr. Seuss adaptations, but only the second iteration for the character on the big screen. The less we remember about the Mike Myers 2006 movie the better, but it seems poignant to talk about how Bill Hader’s portrayal will carry the character into the next generation, and how the depiction may differ from his original standing.
Dr. Seuss’ Mascot: The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss dropped The Cat in the Hat in 1957. A children’s book centered around a boring rainy day for two children, brightened up by the entrance of a strange, eccentric, six-foot tall, talking cat. In a hat, obviously. Perking the children’s imagination, the cat lets loose a string of weird chaotic events much to the chagrin of the children’s pet fish. This first appearance would be followed up with a sequel book and basically the character becoming the mascot for Suess’ works.
Very much like a normal cat, he was a chaotic, curious, fun-loving and ultimately harmless companion to children that served to excite imagination and thinking in clever ways. This characterization would be solidified in later adaptations and other mediums, including the 1971 animated special. Allan Sherman brought a lightness and kindness to his tone. Though mischievous and a little destructive you never get a sense of maliciousness. Sherman keeps him playful and seemingly aloof until the end when you realize the Cat was in control the whole time.
Read a full review of the 1971 Cat in the Hat Special by Michael Lyons on Cartoon Research: Spotlight on “The Cat in the Hat” Television Special
This of course would be the standard portrayal for viewers in 1971, but how does this characterization hold up in the subsequent appearances?
The Grinch’s Opposite
With the animated success of How the Grinch Stole Christmas more Seuss TV specials were commissioned. Eventually in 1982 Universal aired a special starring the two most popular Seussian characters in The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat. The Cat’s unlimited optimism clashes with his polar opposite, The Grinch. After earning his ire in a small traffic dispute he attempts to simply ruin every fun or relaxing moment the Cat can attempt.
Though his characterization is still the same as his 1971 portrayal, this special does present a novelty in the form of a foil. A rival of imagination and weird, cockamamie inventions with these designed to ruin avenues of fun. It’s basically “BEEF” but with Dr. Seuss characters. This leads to the Cat’s endless positivity being challenged as his patience lapses and his temper slowly starts to wane against the green grumps machinations. Ultimately however his endless positivity wins out over the Grinch’s worst instincts and the special ends with a look at The Cat’s ability to de-escalate situations by staying positive and imaginative.
Martin Short’s Scientific Cat
The Cat in the Hat Know s a Lot About That is a PBS KIDS educational series that has The Cat piloting a cast of children to different curious, scientific, historical and kid friendly information. It’s targeted towards VERY young children. So things are not super informative apart from pre-schooler interests. And thus The Cat’s characterization is not any more complex than someone bussing the kids around to different settings.
It’s a bit of a shame considering they have Martin Short voicing him, so it seems like you could really cut loose with his wackier side. Or make him more of a Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus. Even if they don’t take full advantage of this educator role it’s definitely worth mentioning that this characterization is passive and a presenter of the situations for the children to explore.
Which leads us into the latest iteration that debuted this past Friday on November 6th.
Warner Bros’ Latest Rendition with Bill Hader
The new Cat in the Hat movie has just released in the US as of this writing and the trailer depicts a larger expanded adventure from the original book and 1971 TV Special. The Cat’s mysterious appearance to the brother and sister is actually explained by his involvement with a “Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC” (I.I.I.I.). Animals with clothes are abundant agents of this Institution and appear to despondent or bored children to invoke imagination and fun.
On the other side the plot is no longer content with the siblings just having a rainy day. They are a pair who have just moved to a new town, a new house and are beginning a new life. Yearning to go back to their previous life, they are visited by our titular “hero.” The hijinks that ensue lead to the loss of one of Cat’s gadgets, The Go-Backer, which can undo any mess by reversing time. The adventure hook is clear as The Cat needs to get the gadget back or he’ll be fired, and the kids want it to undo their move to a new town.
This of course is all fine. To fill up an hour and half of a movie you have to add motivation, plot, and so on. The characterization of Cat in the Hat is the more interesting aspect. Taking him in the direction of just one of many types of creatures that show up to a job for imagination feels like a commentary on what imagination is supposed to be. When you have to punch a clock in the act of inspiring children to have fun it feels counterintuitive. However this all feels deliberate.
The Cat appears to be someone who doesn’t play by the book for the I.I.I.I. so the course of the movie will likely call such a rigid system into question. Keeping the Cat as an agent of chaos even in the eyes of other beings that are supposed to match his actions keeps him in a familiar spot, while also giving him something to strive for. Showing a large corporate entity the error of its ways of inspiring imagination feels appropriate.
Bill Hader brings a need of belonging to The Cat’s attitude. His methods are not looked at as appropriate, and his “mess making” is a black mark on his record and reputation to his peers. Making him a much-less in control main character. He’s going to have to overcome this disconnect and prove that inspiration and imagination can come from messy methods.
It’s a proper evolution of the character. The Cat used to make a mess just to liven up a rainy day, and now he might have to make one just to remind the people who hired him how imagination works.
