Scruffy
A 1980s animated film, originally shown as a three-part series during ABC’s "Weekend Specials". It was based on The Tuesday Dog by Jack Stoneley. It follows the life of Scruffy, an orphaned puppy left to fend for herself on the streets. While the animation is simple by modern standards, the film is nevertheless a poignant discussion of the lives of stray animals. Despite being made with children in mind, there is little sugar-coating, and the film is often as bleak and depressing as it is heart-warming and touching.
Tropes used in Scruffy include:
- Adaptation Expansion: The human villain Catlan and his dog Caesar were created just for the special. Also, Tibbles' mugging attempt was added in.
- Crapsack World: Certainly has its moments.
- Earn Your Happy Ending
- Family-Unfriendly Death: Poor, poor Tibbles.
- In the book, he died of natural causes.
- Gender Equals Breed: Scruffy and Butch’s puppies.
- Getting Crap Past the Radar: The following exchange is more than a bit suspect.
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Sam: Hey Butch, who’s he? Oh! Hehe, my mistake; you’re a "her", not a "him"! My name’s Sam! *bumps noses* What’s yours? |
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- Heel Face Turn: Caesar after his owner abandoned him.
- Humans Are the Real Monsters: The hunters that shot Duchess. They even think Scruffy herself (as a puppy) is posing a threat to the sheep! What the hell?
- Incurable Cough of Death: Tibbles has one.
- Killed Off for Real: Scruffy’s mother, Duchess. Also, Scruffy’s homeless master, Tibbles.
- Lovable Rogue: Butch.
- Never Say "Die": Averted.
- May–December Romance: Scruffy and Butch.
- Narrating the Obvious: The narrator.
- Please Don't Leave Me
- Please Wake Up
- Pounds Are Animal Prisons: Played with. The dog catchers do seem evil at first, but they really don't want to put the dogs to sleep. It's just an unfortunate part of their job.
- Puppy Dog Eyes: Scruffy. What do you expect?
- Tear Jerker: And how!