Clifford The Big Red Dog - The Characters

The Characters

• Clifford: a male red dog whose appearance, disposition, and behavior are based on a giant "all-around" dog. Friendly, outgoing and helpful. He sometimes gets into trouble because of his size or is tempted into trouble by his friends and those he meets. His size, like giants in medieval legends, is inconsistent—he is often shown as being about 25' tall from paws to head, but can appear far larger: in one episode he removes the top of the lighthouse and swims out with it to guide the ferry through the fog to the dock. The character's name is based on the imaginary friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife. His owner is Emily Elizabeth, to whom he is devoted. He has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters. His character was created when an editor at Harper & Row advised him to write a story to go along with one of his pictures. She picked out his sketch of a baby girl and a horse-sized bloodhound and casually said, "There might be a story in this," Bridwell remembers.
• Emily Elizabeth: Clifford's owner. A friendly, curious, and helpful eight year-old girl. She is frequently portrayed riding on his back. The best skater on the island, and also very good at soccer. She was named for creator Norman Bridwell's daughter and based on the imaginary adventures of Bridwell's wife.