Astro (The Jetsons)

Astro is a canine character on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, The Jetsons. He was designed by Iwao Takamoto, and originally voiced by Don Messick. In the Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law episode "Back to the Present", Astro was voiced by Wally Wingert. Astro was more advanced than present-day dogs, in that he had a rudimentary grasp of the English language, albeit with r's in many places it shouldn't be, or replacing other letters. For example, "I love you, George" would be "I ruv roo, Reorge".

History

Astro's Appearance as a galactic Police dog from Astro and the Space Mutts. (1981)

Astro was found by Elroy in the fourth Jetsons episode, "The Coming of Astro". When Elroy, Jane and Judy proposed keeping the dog to George, he was against it. To try and stay out of the "doghouse" with his family, he got an electronic dog. The electronic dog was supposed to be the new hairless, non-eating, protect your house, way to go. When a cat burglar tried to rob the Jetsons, the electronic dog attacked him (which he did to anyone wearing a mask). Elroy tried waking Astro to get him to stop the burglar as a way to prove himself, but Astro turned out to be more interested in hiding in fear. However, when trying to escape, the cat burglar put the mask on George. The electronic dog then proceeded to chase after George. It was Astro (who was trying to run from the cat burglar) that inevitably caught the criminal (by accident) by crashing into him. This prompted George to decide that the electronic dog was not the way to go. They gave the electronic dog to the police and kept Astro as part of their family.

Notes

• In the fifteenth episode, "Millionaire Astro", Astro is discovered to be Tralfaz, the long-lost pet dog of zillionaire J.P. Gottrockets.

• Astro also appeared as the main star in Astro and the Space Mutts, a segment of Space Stars.

• Astro's signature expression was "Ruh-roh!" (or "Ruh-roh, Reorge!") , supposedly the canine variant of "Uh-oh!" (expression of dismay). Scooby Doo's signature expression was "Ruh Roh Raggy!" (Uh Oh Shaggy!), who was also designed by Iwao Takamoto.

• A running joke at the end of an episode shows George Jetson walking Astro on an automatic dogwalker outside his apartment. Astro chases a cat causing the dogwalker to go fast; George loses hold of the dog leash; Astro and the cat jump to one side and both watch George forced to run for his life on the out of control dogwalker screaming for Jane to "stop this CRAZY THING!"

• In A Jetson Christmas Carol, Astro swallowed a sprocket while chasing the robot cat he received for Christmas and nearly died, until Mr. Spacely and his personal veterinarian arrived with medical help.

References

• Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, by Michael Mallory, 1998, published by Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc., distributed by Publishers Group West. ISBN 0-88363-108-3