National Cartoonists Day 2024 (US): Explore its Facts, Dates and History

National Cartoonists Day 2024 (US): People celebrate National Cartoonist Day every year on May 5. If you prefer the comic strip over the news in the papers, then National Cartoonists Day is the perfect day for you! We hold this day in remembrance of the first comic strip featured in a newspaper (more on that later). It also honors all cartoonists, past and present, and their amazing creations.

National Cartoonists Day: History

Gus Edson, Otto Soglow, Clarence D. Russell, Bob Dunn, and other, a bunch of cartoonists, entertained the troops during the Second World War by doing small cartoon shows in hospitals in 1943. The group expanded and performed across hospitals and various military bases. Then, while they were flying to one of the military bases, Clarence D. Russell suggested that the group should form a club so that they could keep meeting even after World War II ended. The National Cartoonists Society (N.C.S.) was born in 1946.

In 1999, they launched a celebration and named it National Cartoonists Day. All cartoonists dedicated themselves to creating the cartoons. Polly Keener and Ken Alvine, co-chairpersons from the National Cartoonists Day Committee, came up with this idea, according to news articles. The first color newspaper cartoon called “Hogan’s Alley” inspired this special event.

The Sunday morning paper surprised its readers on May 5, 1895. The readers of the New York World discovered a big-eared, barefoot little boy with a mischievous grin in a single-strip, full-color drawing. Richard Outcault, an American comic strip writer and artist, created “Hogan’s Alley” and later “The Yellow Kid.” It became the very first commercially successful cartoon. Postcards, billboards, cigarette packs, and other product advertisements soon featured this famous character.

Reportedly, the name itself, “The Yellow Kid,” inspired the phrase ‘yellow journalism,’ although there is little evidence to prove this. Side note: ‘Yellow journalism’ refers to newspapers that sell newspapers through catchy headlines and exaggerations instead of relying on facts. The Yellow Kid series in 1898 made cartoons a popular newspaper feature by the end. The demand for talented cartoonists and illustrators subsequently increased as a result.

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National Cartoonists Day: FAQs

Who are the world’s best cartoonists?

Notable cartoonists are Charles Addams, Attila Adorjany, Sarah Andersen,

Do cartoonists earn money?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide concrete information regarding the salary of cartoonists. However, other sources indicate that cartoonists earn around $30,000 to $60,000 a year, and some earn even less.

Is becoming a cartoonist hard?

Many universities do not offer special programs to train cartoonists, although some educational institutes offer one-year, two-year certificate programs and a related degree. Some places do not require specific training for cartoonists, only good talent.

The Creators of the Greatest Cartoons of all Time and their Important Facts

1. The comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” ran from 1985 to 1995. Cartoonist Bill Watterson created this little boy and his stuffed tiger, which critics cited as ‘the last great newspaper comic.’ The comic strip ruled for 10 years, enjoying widespread popularity and influence.
2. They published the comic strip “Peanuts” from 1950 to 2000. Who doesn’t love Charles M. Schulz’s creations — Snoopy and the Gang — which continue to go strong (via reruns) even today?
3. They released the movie “Garfield” in 1978. Jim Davis created this iconic American strip, initially releasing it under the name ‘Jon.’ We don’t know about you, but we definitely want a greedy, snarky orange cat just like Garfield, and maybe we want an Odie too.
4. The comic strip “Zits” was created in 1997. Jim Borgman’s popular cartoon about teenage Jeremy Duncan and his life has debuted in over 200 newspapers and has won many awards for its realistic portrayal.
5. The comic strip “Dilbert” was created in 1989. Scott Adams created this satirical office-based comic strip, which many frustrated workers consider a cultural touchstone.