Things You Didn't Know About 'Where's Waldo?'
Created by illustrator Martin Handford in 1987, Waldo – who has no last name, like Madonna or Cher – has been the subject of seven massively-successful books. He's also appeared in a variety of Handford's other publications, including comic strips, activity books, and sticker books.
For a brief period, Waldo even had his own magazine in which he traveled to new countries and educated young readers about each destination's culture, history, and locale. When it comes to world travel, Waldo gives Carmen Sandiego some serious competition.
To many, the eccentric figure is just another face in the crowd. But the facts about Where's Waldo? reveal a backstory as vibrant as the hundreds of images into which he so seamlessly blends.
No One Knows Where He Came From
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressIn line with Waldo's furtive nature, no one is entirely certain who came up with the idea for the character in the first place. Initially, publisher Walker Books was looking for a picture book that readers could interact with. In 2011, Walker Books' Donna Casanova told the Independent:
The company was getting ready for Bologna Book Fair and, just a week or so before, someone – several laid claim to being the 'someone' – said, 'Wouldn't it be good if you were looking for an individual within that crowd scene, rather than just looking at a crowd?' Everybody thought there was something in that.
It Takes Eight Weeks To Produce One Puzzle
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressMuch like Waldo himself, franchise illustrator Martin Handford is difficult to track down. He almost never engages with the public, perhaps because he's working hard to hone his craft.
In a rare 1990 telephone interview, Handford described his work schedule to the New York Times:
I wake up at 2 in the afternoon and work until 6 in the morning... I work in stages across the page, from left to right. I start out with a list of about 20 gags I want to put in a picture, but more come to me as I am working.
In a more recent interview, Handford revealed the amount of work he puts into every illustration; it takes him roughly eight weeks to produce a single puzzle. He also explained his methodology for hiding Waldo, saying, "As I work my way through a picture, I add Wally when I come to what I feel is a good place to hide him."
There's Allegedly A 'Where's Waldo?' Movie In The Works
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressThere have been rumors of a Where's Waldo? movie for decades. In 2016, the imagined film came one step closer to reality.
That year, Seth Rogen began talks to produce a big-screen version of Waldo with frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. The movie will be made at MGM and will be live-action, not animated.
As of 2018, no plot or further details publicly exist.
There Was A 'Where's Waldo?' Cartoon On CBS
Video: YouTube
CBS produced one season of a Where's Waldo? cartoon in 1991. Townsend Coleman provided the voice of Waldo, and Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garret is the voice of Waldo's magical friend Wizard Whitebeard. The series ran for 13 episodes, and was eventually picked up for reruns on Nickelodeon.
In 2018, DreamWorks announced plans to produce a new incarnation of the Waldo animated series. "Where’s Waldo? has tremendous equity around the world, and the ability to bring a character like Waldo to life on screen for a new generation is incredible," said Universal Kids president Deirdre Brennan.
You Can Find Waldo On Google Earth
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressPerhaps proving Google's ability to locate and monitor everyone on the planet, Waldo can be found on Google Earth.
It's actually an art project by Canadian artist Melanie Coles; in 2008, she painted a massive Waldo replica on the roof of a building in Vancouver and asked people to track it down via Google Earth.
She then released detailed instructions on how others could create their own larger-than-life Waldos and strategically "hide" them for discovery on Google's satellite imagery. People proceeded to make and hide Waldos everywhere from Antwerp to San Francisco.
A Topless Sunbather Got Waldo Banned From Libraries
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressIn 1992, a mother from Nashua, NH, discovered what appeared to be a topless sunbather strewn amid a Waldo puzzle. The mother was horrified, particularly when she noticed the topless woman's tiny illustrated nipple.
Puritanical outrage ensued, and Waldo ended up getting banned from numerous libraries. For most of the 1990s, Where's Waldo? books held a prominent position on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 Most Challenged Books.
Waldo Goes By Many Names All Across The Globe
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressIf you went to England and looked for a Where's Waldo? book, you wouldn't find one, even though the creator and original publisher are British. This is because Waldo is known as Wally in the UK.
Perhaps in an effort to maintain a low profile, Waldo's name changes from country to country. In Croatia, he's Jura. In France, Charlie. In Germany, Walter. In Norway, Willy. In Vietnam, Văn Lang.
Ireland And Japan Hosted The Largest Waldo Gatherings Ever
Video: YouTube
A lot of people love Waldo, but Ireland and Japan seem to have a special fondness for the bestriped world traveler.
In 2011, 3,872 people dressed as Waldo descended on Dublin for the Street Performance World Championship. Japan smashed that record in 2017 when 4,626 Waldo lookalikes assembled in Nagasaki. Allegedly, some attendees burst into tears when they broke Dublin's record.
There Are Tons Of Supporting Characters In The 'Waldo' Books
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressYou'd be forgiven for assuming the other figures who appear in the pages of Where's Waldo? are random creations from the brain of the illustrator. After all, each puzzle contains countless unique characters.
In reality, there are actually several recurring characters who pop up in puzzle after puzzle, giving Waldo his own supporting cast. Wenda and Wilma are female friends of Waldo's and his dog's name is Woof. The Wally Watchers are Waldo's official fan club who follow their idol around endlessly.
Even Waldo Has Enemies; His Arch-Rival Is Named Odlaw
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressAre you even famous if you don't have a celebrity nemesis? In the case of Waldo, his sworn enemy is the near-identical Odlaw.
Odlaw hails from Maine, where he lives in a swamp with other Odlaws. Whereas Waldo's shirt features red and white stripes, Odlaw's is black and yellow; the perfect compliment to his dastardly mustache. The pair's beef stems from Odlaw's desire to obtain Waldo's walking stick.
Many Schools And Colleges Have 'Where's Waldo?' Societies
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressOver the years, Waldo has become an unofficial mascot for elementary school libraries around the world. He's made books cool for generations of young readers. As such, many schools develop Waldo clubs and societies, but the practice isn't limited to primary education.
At the University of Exeter in England, there is a Where's Wally? society in which members dress up as their idol and play hide-and-seek. When you join, you get a free hat. Score!
Waldo Was Once A Spokesperson For Life Cereal
Photo: Martin Handford / Candlewick PressIn 1991, Waldo joined forces with Life cereal, becoming the face of the beloved breakfast brand.
In the years that followed, Waldo puzzles began to appear on the backs of boxes, and sometimes Waldo-themed toys came packaged inside. Every box also included a Waldo trading card.
Waldo's last appearance on a Life box came in 1997, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the first Waldo book's publication. Today, the cereal boxes are collector's items.
