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After the Grinch stole the Who’s presents and Christmas didn’t demise, everyone knows his heart grew three times its size. But how’s he changed through the years you see? Let’s find out now, animated and full of glee!
warning: spoilers ahead!While both a bald-headed bird and a sneaky salesman share the Grinch’s name, in his official first book appearance, he’s pear-shaped, with ruffled neck fur, and slip-on shoes. His head is rounded, with an upper hair tuft, bushy brows, and red eye-whites. He wears a simple Santa disguise to steal Christmas alongside his make-shift Reindeer, Max. But after having his trademark change of heart, he sits down to feast with the Whos.
In the animated retelling, he’s less plump, lacks a finger digit, and has a shorter neck with a furry ruffle. His muzzle is smaller, his hair longer, and he has yellow eye-whites and red pupils. He’s also painted a solid green colour, and his Santa suit now has matching shoes. Plus, he has some meme-worthy expressions.
In the prequel cartoon, the Grinch is less saturated, has a plump bottom, gains a finger digit, and lacks shoes. His facial features are more circular, and he has a shorter hair tuft, orange eye-whites, and longer brows that can apparently fly away. He can also magically become small or tall. He plans on wreaking havoc on Halloween, but is stalled by a kid who ends up stealing Max.
In his third special, he’s drawn cheaply, lacks the neck ruffle, has stumpy hands, a wispy hairdo, amber eye-whites, and darker fur. He faces off against the Cat in the Hat, but after he’s reminded of his mother, he ceases in his Grinch-y ways.
The first Musical Grinch has a bulbous body, with muted colours, scaly legs, prominent cheekbones, and an upper ponytail. Although, this version’s features are streamlined and brightened in the modern years. The 1998 Musical Grinch has some growing pains, but eventually a splotchy version with a painterly face stuck, a design shared by the Broadway and touring version.
In the Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, a muppet-y Grinch has thick brows and rarely seen stubby legs. This Grinch is often the foil to the Cat in the Hat.
In the live-action remake, the Grinch has a furry body, with a bloated belly and oversized feet. He has a cat-like muzzle, rotten teeth, curly brows, green irises, and quaffed hair. He sports a perfect Who disguise, comfy robes, a dress – whoops – I mean a kilt, lederhosen with an ugly Christmas sweater and leafy crown, a crash test suit, and his classic Santa getup. He’s also seen as an...a- adorable? baby. And a young child, who gets teased by his classmates and isolates himself from the Whos. In the film's climax, after returning his ill-gotten goods, this Grinch gains a friendship with Cindy Lou Who and wins the affection of his childhood crush.
This film spawned video game adaptions, including: a Gameboy sprite version, a box-y PlayStation release, and a pixelated DS game.
The original Seussical’s Broadway Grinch wears a cozy green cardigan, has a matching hairdo, and cool shades.
The 2018 animated Grinch has a cute design, with a striped torso, no visible shoes, friendly eyes, and a sparse hairdo. He often wears a scarf or matching tie, and also fashions an exercise outfit, a plaid getup, and a burglar suit, while his Santa disguise has a bushy beard. In memories, he’s seen as an orphaned child who was never given a happy Christmas. This Grinch briefly befriends a chunky reindeer, and is less of a meanie and more of a town nuisance.
The filmed Musical version loses the painterly touch, has wider hips, straightened hair, and a circle tip nose. He wears a green vest, platform shoes, as well as a yellow and red scarf, with matching socks. He also dons a Cowboy Who-disguise, and a sultry Santa Suit. Although this Grinch is a little too handsome to take seriously.
A parody Grinch appears in “The Mean One”. This feral version has less prominent brows, a flatter hairdo, and wears a patchy Santa suit with pointy shoes. This creature slashes anyone who celebrates Christmas and is impervious to most weaponry. But in the end, the forgiveness of a young woman makes his heart explode.
Resembling the 2018 Grinch, the latest video game Grinch has a larger head, with yellow eyes, dark brows, and spikier fur. Plus he can use a sweet jetpack!
The Grinch adds elements from the cartoon adaptations in the official book sequel, and he’s still loving Christmas!
And with Family Guy, Tiny Toons, and Simpsons galore, Mad, Robot Chicken, and so much more! From theme parks to promos, the Grinch is here to stay— He’s a pop culture legend, and he’s not going away!
Check out our other holiday animations, such as Krampus and Gremlins! Shout out to Disney Dan for his video covering the live-action Grinch costumes, find that video linked below. So which Grinch is your favourite? Hit like, subscribe, and tap that little bell!
The Grinch is a holiday legend, but after diving deep into every Grinch adaptation I’m ready to rank the best and worst onscreen Grinch media!