Raggedy Andy is the feisty little brother and closest companion of Raggedy Ann. He was created by Johnny Gruelle as "the Little Rag Brother of Raggedy Ann" and first appeared in the self-titled Raggedy Andy Stories in 1920. He would go on to become the co-star in all Raggedy Ann books afterwards, alongside his sister Raggedy Ann. He also makes regular appearances in film and TV adaptations, starting with Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy in 1941, as well as appearing in merchandise and the Broadway musical.
Background
The origins of Raggedy Andy are uncertain, but a common myth is that creator Johnny Gruelle was inspired to create the rag doll after seeing his young sons, Worth and Dickie Gruelle, play with his daughter Marcella Gruelle's beloved doll Raggedy Ann, with some accounts stating that the boys wanted their own boy doll to play with. The patent for Raggedy Andy was officially registered on August 24th, 1920. Unlike Raggedy Ann's rather detailed patent design, Andy's design was extremely simplified, perhaps to offer broader patent protection. The brother-and-sister bond between Ann and Andy was partially inspired by the characters Dickie and Dolly from Gruelle's "Mr. Twee Deedle" comics, a pair of siblings who would often accompany Mr. Twee Deedle on his adventures.
Raggedy Andy's debut book, "Raggedy Andy Stories", as well as the accompanying dolls produced by manufacturing company Beers-Keeler-Bowman, became an instant hit, refueling Raggedy Ann's popularity and proving that a brother-and-sister team was much more marketable than a stand-alone character.
Character wise, in the first few pages of "Raggedy Andy Stories", a letter written from the perspective of Johnny Gruelle's mother tells how Raggedy Andy once belonged to Gruelle's mother's childhood friend, Bessie. Bessie's doll was made by her mother a day or so after Raggedy Ann, and was named Raggedy Andy so that their names would sound alike. Gruelle's mother and Bessie would play with the two rag dolls very frequently, sometimes even putting dresses over Andy's boy clothes when the girls decided he and Ann should be sisters for the day.
Unfortunately, Bessie's family moved away a few years after. It is unknown what happened in the time between Bessie's move and Andy's eventual reunion with Raggedy Ann, but in the chapter "The Nursery Dance", Andy states that he had been shut up in a trunk in the attic for decades. He was never lonesome, however, as there was a family of mice in the corner of the trunk, and Andy would take care of the baby mice when the mama and daddy mice were away.
Personality
Books
Like his sister Ann, Raggedy Andy in the original Gruelle books is kind and selfless. Unlike Ann, however, Andy isn't afraid to give troublemakers a big "wallop" whenever one comes around to mistreat the Raggedys and their friends.
Film & TV
In the 1977 film, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, Raggedy Andy is portrayed as feisty, independent, and easily irritable. Unlike his sister, Movie Andy is fed up with how feminine and 'girly' the playroom is and is determined to prove himself as a 'strong, tough, and terrific boy'. He's also rather aloof when meeting new people and is not afraid to challenge them to a fight if pushed over the edge. Despite having a tough exterior and not getting along with many of the playroom toys, Movie Andy is highly protective of his sister, Raggedy Ann, and would do anything to keep her out of harm's way.
This is very similar to how he acts in the Chuck Jones shorts, The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile and The Great Santa Claus Caper. However, this version of Andy is a lot more snarky and sarcastic, often clashing with Ann's sweet personality in some cases. He is also not afraid to speak his mind, such as when he called out Aunt Agatha for keeping Ralph home on Halloween. Despite this, he and Ann still have a close sibling relationship and are always willing to go the extra mile to help those in need.
In both The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy and Snowden: Raggedy Ann & Andy's Adventure, Andy is characterized as a stereotypical annoying little brother. This change in demeanor is especially apparent in the former cartoon, as Andy is shown to be a bit of a brat and regularly whines and complains in any given situation. In fact, the plot of each episode is almost always kicked off by either Andy or Raggedy Dog's antics. In the latter cartoon, however, Andy's insolence is severely toned down, yet he still remains rowdy and gullible. Probably the strangest aspect of this special is Andy's newfound obsession with being an animal, which becomes the driving force for most, if not all of Andy's mischief throughout.
Raggedy Ann (Musical)
Similarly to his film counterparts, the Raggedy Ann musical Andy is stubborn and hot-tempered. He constantly gets himself into trouble and always finds a way to break the rules. He is also a bit of a showoff, craving the attention of others, and doesn't pick up on social cues. Despite his obvious naivety, Musical Andy still cares for Marcella and wants to help her out, even if he's not the most qualified person to do so.
His sibling bond with Ann in particular involves a lot more teasing and playful ridicule than previous incarnations, but they still love each other all the same. Andy may also be easily manipulated or tricked, as he gives in easily to Bat and her seductive charms, giving up the doll’s map to the doll hospital. Musical Andy seems to get along greatly with Panda, despite the two and their differences in opinion and personality. Andy holds a certain love for dynamite and explosives in general, seeming to bring them up every time he’s able to.
Physical Appearance
Raggedy Andy is similar in structure to his sister, being made out of rags and other types of fabrics. He has either orange or red yarn hair, and wears a sailor hat. His outfit consists of a gingham shirt that has a large plain white sailor collar with a black bowtie, paired with blue overalls under his shirt featuring white buttons on the front, and black shoes.
