Slimer
Encyclopedia
Slimer is a fictional
green ghost
featured in the 1984 supernatural comedy
movie
Ghostbusters
(as well as its 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II
), whose popularity soared from the subsequent spinoff
animated television series The Real Ghostbusters
. Slimer later starred in his own Slimer! cartoons when The Real Ghostbusters was extended to a one-hour format. Slimer also appeared as a representative of The Real Ghostbusters in the animated anti-drug television special, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
.
, based on his character "Bluto" from Animal House. His death precluded him from playing the starring role in Ghostbusters, the role later assumed by long-time friend Bill Murray
. In an endearing, yet strangely dark, moment of comedy, Murray's character, Peter Venkman, gets run down by Slimer. Venkman's use of "He slimed me..." instantly created a new verb to slime, which endures as popular slang
.
, while Frank Welker
voiced the green ghost in The Real Ghostbusters. In the short-lived late 1990s cartoon Extreme Ghostbusters
, Slimer's voice was provided by Billy West.
Slimer loves to eat almost anything, though his particular favorites are ice cream
and pizza
. However, it was revealed in the XGB episode Fear Itself that he is terrified of steamed Broccoli
.
Slimer's role on The Real Ghostbusters was expanded to make the show more "kid friendly" and hence the show was renamed Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters and was extended to a one-hour format. The show now featured Slimer! cartoon segments, focusing on the exploits of Slimer with some new characters, including neighborhood pets to the owner of the Sedgwick Hotel of the original movie. These Slimer segments were then followed by a normal Real Ghostbusters cartoon.
When the cartoon series was produced, in response to the name much given to the character by audiences, the writers renamed the green ghost "Slimer", and the name stuck on all subsequent Ghostbusters properties, although he was referred to as "Mean Green Ghost" early in the related toy line. He is officially titled "Slimer" in the end credits of Ghostbusters II although never referred to by that name in the actual film. Within the cartoon series, Ray actually names him "Slimer" to annoy Peter.
, a now-defunct Chicago firm. Artists included Mitch O'Connell and Mark Braun. Writers included Larry Parr who also wrote for the animated series.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
green ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
featured in the 1984 supernatural comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
(as well as its 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II
Ghostbusters II
Ghostbusters II is a 1989 science fiction comedy film produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. It is the sequel to the 1984 film Ghostbusters and follows the further adventures of a group of parapsychologists and their organization which combats paranormal activities...
), whose popularity soared from the subsequent spinoff
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
animated television series The Real Ghostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters is an American animated television series based on the 1984 film Ghostbusters. The series ran from 1986 to 1991, and was produced by Columbia Pictures Television, DiC Enterprises, and Coca-Cola Telecommunications. "The Real" was added to the title after a dispute with...
. Slimer later starred in his own Slimer! cartoons when The Real Ghostbusters was extended to a one-hour format. Slimer also appeared as a representative of The Real Ghostbusters in the animated anti-drug television special, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue is an animated drug prevention television special starring many of the popular cartoon characters from American weekday, Sunday morning and Saturday morning television at the time of this film's release...
.
John Belushi homage
According to the terminology of the movie, Slimer is technically a "focused, non-terminal repeating phantasm", or a "class-five full-roaming vapor". For years it has gone around Hollywood that Slimer was an homage to John BelushiJohn Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
, based on his character "Bluto" from Animal House. His death precluded him from playing the starring role in Ghostbusters, the role later assumed by long-time friend Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
. In an endearing, yet strangely dark, moment of comedy, Murray's character, Peter Venkman, gets run down by Slimer. Venkman's use of "He slimed me..." instantly created a new verb to slime, which endures as popular slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
.
Voice actors
In the first and second movie, Slimer was voiced by the film's director Ivan ReitmanIvan Reitman
Ivan Reitman, OC is a Canadian film producer and director. He is known for the comedies he has directed and produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.He is the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 2000.-Early life:...
, while Frank Welker
Frank Welker
Franklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
voiced the green ghost in The Real Ghostbusters. In the short-lived late 1990s cartoon Extreme Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters is an animated television series and a follow-up to the animated series Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters. It is a part of the film/TV Ghostbusters franchise...
, Slimer's voice was provided by Billy West.
The Real Ghostbusters
In the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters, it is explained how Slimer became an official member and mascot of the Ghostbusters. Venkman tells a reporter that Slimer helped him and the rest of the gang defeat ghostly versions of themselves, and that they decided to keep him. In the series it is stated that Slimer stayed with them "for strictly scientific reasons", as Egon Spengler says. In addition, Slimer is a good friend (if the only friend) of Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, who seems to act like an older brother to him.Slimer loves to eat almost anything, though his particular favorites are ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
and pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
. However, it was revealed in the XGB episode Fear Itself that he is terrified of steamed Broccoli
Broccoli
Broccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable.-General:The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of , refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage"....
.
Slimer's role on The Real Ghostbusters was expanded to make the show more "kid friendly" and hence the show was renamed Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters and was extended to a one-hour format. The show now featured Slimer! cartoon segments, focusing on the exploits of Slimer with some new characters, including neighborhood pets to the owner of the Sedgwick Hotel of the original movie. These Slimer segments were then followed by a normal Real Ghostbusters cartoon.
Naming
In the script for Ghostbusters, Slimer is never actually referred to by any name, so he was never given one. The creature's original moniker was simply The Onionhead Ghost, which the film crew semi-officially dubbed him because of his horrible odor which he used to scare a couple in a scene cut from the original movie. While not used to name the ghost, the term "slimer" is first used by Ray Stantz as he's describing the ghost storage facility to Winston Zeddemore.When the cartoon series was produced, in response to the name much given to the character by audiences, the writers renamed the green ghost "Slimer", and the name stuck on all subsequent Ghostbusters properties, although he was referred to as "Mean Green Ghost" early in the related toy line. He is officially titled "Slimer" in the end credits of Ghostbusters II although never referred to by that name in the actual film. Within the cartoon series, Ray actually names him "Slimer" to annoy Peter.
Ecto Cooler
Slimer was also notably the mascot for the Hi-C flavor "Ecto Cooler", which came out shortly after The Real Ghostbusters, and was colored green. Slimer remained on the box well after the Real Ghostbusters was canceled, but left the box in 1997, when the drink was renamed "Shoutin' Orange Tangergreen". Slimer also had a toothpaste called "Slimer" Toothpaste.Comic book
SLIMER! was briefly published by NOW ComicsNOW Comics
NOW Comics was a comic book publisher founded in late 1985 by Tony C. Caputo as a sole-proprietorship. During the four years after its founding, NOW grew from a one-man operation to operating in 12 countries, and published almost 1,000 comics books....
, a now-defunct Chicago firm. Artists included Mitch O'Connell and Mark Braun. Writers included Larry Parr who also wrote for the animated series.