Cheshire Cat

The Cheshire Cat is a magical cat and supporting character from the book and film adaptions of Alice in Wonderland. He is known for having a mischievous grin.

History

Alice first encounters it at the Duchess's house in her kitchen, and then later outside on the branches of a tree, where it appears and disappears at will, engaging Alice in amusing but sometimes vexing conversation. The cat raises philosophical points that annoy or baffle Alice. It does, however, appear to cheer her up when it turns up suddenly at the Queen of Hearts' croquet field, and when sentenced to death baffles everyone by having made its head appear without its body, sparking a massive argument between the executioner and the King and Queen of Hearts about whether something that does not have a body can indeed be beheaded.

At one point, the cat disappears gradually until nothing is left but its grin, prompting Alice to remark that she has often seen a cat without a grin but never a grin without a cat.

Adaptions

1951 film

In the 1951 Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat appears as a supporting character. He is a pink and purple striped cat. He is briefly first seen while Alice meets the flowers. He later appears in Tulgey Wood, narrating the legend of the Jabberwocky. He later appears in the Queen of Hearts's court, disguising himself as jewelry.

1995 film

In the Jetlag Productions version of the film, he is depicted as an orange tabby.

2010 film

In the 2010 Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat is a grey and cyan tabby cat.

2016 film

In the 2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass, the Cheshire Cat is a grey cyan tabby cat also known as Chessur.

Gallery

The Cheshire Cat in Disney's 1951 film Alice in Wonderland