This article is about the character Rufus from Kim Possible. For other characters, see Rufus.
Rufus is a naked mole rat, the pet friend and soul brother of Ron Stoppable, and the tritagonist of the Kim Possible franchise.
Rufus lives almost full-time in Ron's pants pocket and accompanies him everywhere. For an animal, he is exceptionally intelligent, but average by human standards, and is capable of vocalizations approximating limited speech. It is unclear if his "speech" is actual or a case of "audience filter" and not understandable to anyone other than Ron himself.
He was bought by Ron at Smarty Mart, during Ron's quest for a pet which would not aggravate his father's allergies to animal fur.
Rufus is generally portrayed as pink, small, light, and very agile, which proves useful time and again. He shares several things in common with his owner: his love of Bueno Nacho food (and subsequently, the Naco), his ability to eat with practically no regard for the food he is eating, sharing Ron's disgust for others, and an overall laid-back, casual attitude. However, unlike Ron, he has been known to abandon this attitude at crucial times, often using quicker thinking than his owner.
Rufus tends to display frustration with Ron when he uses him in an embarrassing way or fails to give Rufus (or others) due credit. However, he has generally stuck by Ron in virtually every situation, and though he does not have the same fear, has the same overall dislike for monkeys. Rufus also possesses mystical monkey powers as he got his when he was in Ron's pocket, but never using them beyond displaying a greater degree of mastery of Yamanouchi ninja training than Ron, as well as once controlling the Lotus Blade. In the episode "Oh No! Yono!", he was the first one to be turned into a statue by Yono the Destroyer but was subsequently turned back.
Rufus likes romance, especially when it involves Kim and Ron. Almost every time Kim and Ron are romanticizing, he always gets emotional in a happy way. This is also apparent the other way around; if something comes in between Kim and Ron, he either gets angry, jealous or sad, depending on the situation. For example, when the synthodrone Eric charmed Kim, Rufus became angry and jealous. And when Kim and Ron officially became a couple, he was the one who pushed them together to the dance floor, and watched with Monique as they kissed the first time, with a big smile of happiness.
Physical Description[]
Rufus is a small, naked mole-rat at a height of about 4 inches tall. He has no hair and is completely pink. Buck teeth and whiskers protrude from his mouth and face. When Ron first bought him, Rufus' appearance more resembled that of an actual naked mole-rat: being wrinkled, eyes barely open, and considerably smaller.
Rufus was a special guest star on the Lilo & Stitch: The Series crossover episode "Rufus", where he was mistaken for Experiment 607 (Launch) by Jumba Jookiba. Rufus, of course, could not be Launch, as Ron was about twelve years old when he bought Rufus, while the experiments had only arrived at Earth about a year prior to the episode's events. Stitch confirmed the accusation false when he sensed Rufus wasn't his "cousin".
Rufus appears in the live-action film with Nancy Cartwright reprising her favorite role. Taking place before the animated series, Ron first meets Rufus in a science lab where he is in a terrarium for Naked Mole-Rats and adopts him as his pet. This is however out of the canon, because in "A Sitch in Time", Ron bought Rufus at the Smarty Mart when he was a preteen.
He is the pet and friend of Ron Stoppable, and almost all the time he travels in Ron's pant pocket. He agrees with Ron with almost everything, showing this through his actions, when Ron comments something.
Kim is Rufus' friend and can be considered a sidekick along with Ron. Kim acknowledges Rufus' talents as a great help, and she protects him when Ron is unable to, showing she cares about him about as much as she cares about Ron.
Eric, Dr. Drakken's synthodrone meant to charm Kim and drive a wedge between her and Ron, became one of Rufus' greatest enemies. While at first Rufus seemed to like him, when he called naked mole rat cool, he began to despise him, when he and Kim grew close. After his true colors were revealed, he openly declared that naked mole rat is gross. This is what prompted Rufus to destroy him by puncturing his leg.
Debutante[]
Debutante, Camille Leon's hairless cat, playfully adores Rufus. Even though it seems to be a one-sided love, at the end credits of the episode "Trading Faces", Rufus and Debutante are both seen dining at a fancy restaurant, but Rufus seemed a little uneasy about it. In "Chasing Rufus", their relationship becomes closer, as they expressed regret for separating to return to their respectful owners.
Gallery[]
Disney Fanon Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Rufus (Kim Possible).
Trivia[]
Nancy Cartwright voices Rufus for the third character after Bart Simpson on The Simpsons and Chuckie Finster on Rugrats and All Grown Up.
Rufus originated from an earlier television series concept from Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. He was to be one of several characters in a series set in a petting zoo with the lead star being a platypus named Duck Williams. Rufus was then switched over to a show that focused solely on a colony of mole rats before getting recycled in Kim Possible as Ron's pet and sidekick.
Rufus was named after Ron's imaginary friend in preschool. He was "very big".
"Rufus" is a slang term meaning "red-haired".
Ron bought Rufus in his preteens.
Aside from Ron understanding him, it is unclear whether Rufus is actually able to speak words, or if the vocalizations are a production trick known as "perception filter" for the sake of the audience. This technique is often underscored in other franchises, where animals speak clearly between themselves, but then briefly shown from the perspective of humans as only making animal sounds.
Rufus has a few links to otherwise unconnected Disney characters. He shares the same name as Penny's tabby cat in The Rescuers, and Timon, the meerkat in The Lion King, was originally meant to be of the same species as him.
In A Sitch in Time, despite being with the time-lost Kim and Ron, Rufus had a sizable number of progeny, strongly implying that he has already procreated, or a lesser-assumed idea being that he was cloned, explaining the future Rufus descendants' worship of him. They refer to him as Rufus Prime, although, given the social nature of mole rat society, it may not be so surprising after all.
In the above movie, Rufus is asked by his descendants on what the meaning of life is, and Rufus replies, "Cheese," which prompts one Rufus to tell the other, "You owe me a buck."
According to the show's creators, Rufus' name is an ironic pun on the name of the naked mole rat's natural enemy, the Rufous beaked snake.
Rufus has Mystical Monkey Powers that he received in "Monkey Fist Strikes" because he was presumably in Ron's pants pocket when Ron became endowed with these powers, and Rufus was imbued with his own at that time. If he has some level of control over them, it may explain why he can hold his own in a fight and bite through things that a naked mole rat would normally be unable to bite through. However, in A Sitch in Time, he does so even before he gets these powers.
Shows/Movies:Kim Possible • "Rufus" (Lilo & Stitch: The Series crossover episode) • "Codename: Electric Haircut" (Fillmore! crossover episode) • Live-action film • Kim Hushable
Video Games:Kim Possible: What's the Switch? • Kim Possible: Kimmunicator • Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist • Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise • Kim Possible 3: Team Possible • Kim Possible: Global Gemini Books:Bueno Nacho • Showdown at Camp Wannaweep • The New Ron • Downhill • Killigan's Island • Attack of the Killer Bebes • Royal Pain • Tweeb Trouble • Extreme • Cloned • Code Word: Kim • The Kim Possible Files • Save the World Kit • Pick a Villain!: Badical Battles • Pick a Villain!: Game On! • Pick a Villain!: Masters of Mayhem • Pick a Villain!: So Not the Drama!
Disney Parks
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
Characters
Heroes:Kim Possible • Ron Stoppable • Rufus • Wade • Dr. Ann Possible • Dr. James Possible • Jim and Tim Possible • Mr. Stoppable • Mrs. Stoppable • Hana Stoppable • Monique • Steve Barkin • Bonnie Rockwaller • Brick Flagg • Ned • Nana Possible • Team Go • Martin Smarty • Artie Smarty • Team Impossible • Betty Director • Cousin Larry • Vivian Francis Porter • Felix Renton • Zita Flores • Master Sensei • Yori • Slim Possible • Joss Possible • Yono • Mego • Hego • Wego Twins • Steel Toe • Pain King • Professor Acari • Connie and Lonnie Rockwaller • Mrs. Rockwaller • Tara • Jessica • Hope • Marcella • Liz • Crystal • Franklin Barkin • Wayne • Shaun • Reuben Stoppable • Vinnie • Big Mike • Mr. McHenry • Junior • Prince Wally • Wanda Wong • Toshimiru • Alan Platt • Akute • Officer Hobble • Amelia • Pop Pop Porter • Kyoko Yoshiko • Nakasumi-San • Timothy North • SADI • Middleton High School Cheerleaders • Will Du • Cyrus Bortel • Oh Boyz • Roachie • Snake-Cat • Rabbit-Rhino • Athena
Villains:Dr. Drakken • Shego • Monkey Fist • Duff Killigan • Señor Senior, Senior • Señor Senior, Junior • Amy Hall • Gil Moss • Camille Leon • Frugal Lucre • Bebe • Adrena Lynn • Gemini • Professor Dementor • Fashionistas • Warmonga • Warhok • Edward Lipsky • Falsetto Jones • Nanny Maim • Hank Perkins • Jackie the Jackal • Aviarius • Fukushima • Knights of Rodegan • Malcolm Nevious • Electronique • Dr. Fen
Episodes
Season One:Crush • Sink or Swim • The New Ron • Tick-Tick-Tick • Downhill • Bueno Nacho • Number One • Mind Games • Attack of the Killer Bebes • Royal Pain • Coach Possible • Pain King vs. Cleopatra • Monkey Fist Strikes • October 31st • All the News • Kimitation Nation • The Twin Factor • Animal Attraction • Monkey Ninjas in Space • Ron the Man • Low Budget
Season Two:Naked Genius • Grudge Match • Two to Tutor • The Ron Factor • Car Trouble • Rufus in Show • Adventures in Rufus-Sitting • Job Unfair • The Golden Years • Virtu-Ron • The Fearless Ferret • Exchange • Rufus vs. Commodore Puddles • Day of the Snowmen • A Sitch in Time • A Very Possible Christmas • Queen Bebe • Hidden Talent • Return to Camp Wannaweep • Go Team Go • The Full Monkey • Blush • Partners • Oh Boyz • Sick Day • The Truth Hurts • Mother's Day • Motor Ed • Ron Millionaire • Triple S • Rewriting History Season Three:Steal Wheels • Emotion Sickness • Bonding • Bad Boy • Showdown at the Crooked D • Dimension Twist • So the Drama • Overdue • Roachie • Rappin' Drakken • Team Impossible • Gorilla Fist • And the Mole Rat Will Be CGI Season Four:Ill Suited • The Big Job • Trading Faces • The Cupid Effect • Car Alarm • Mad Dogs and Aliens • Grande Size Me • Clothes Minded • Big Bother • Fashion Victim • Odds Man In • Stop Team Go • Cap'n Drakken • Mathter and Fervent • The Mentor of Our Discontent • Oh No! Yono! • Clean Slate • Homecoming Upset • Chasing Rufus • Nursery Crimes • Larry's Birthday • Graduation
Objects
SADI • Neuro-Compliance Chip • Lotus Blade • Kimmunicator • Silver Cutlass • The Attitudinator • Amulet of the Monkey King • Molecular Muscle Enhancer • Naco • Diablo Sauce • Giant Laser Drill • Pop Pop's Mini Corn Dogs • Roth SL Coupe • Grappling hook
Locations
Middleton • Middleton High School • Middleton Mall • Bueno Nacho • Smarty Mart • Possible House • Stoppable House • Club Banana • Middleton Space Center • Middleton Medical Center • Camp Wannaweep • Yamanouchi Ninja School • Forbidden City Museum • Pickle on a Pike • Middleton Institute of Science and Technology • Middleton Magnetic Institute • Middleton Geological Center • Middleton Motor Lodge • University of Upperton • Canada • Tokyo • Japan
Songs
Call Me, Beep Me! • Could it Be • Rappin' Drakken • Naked Mole Rap • Say the Word • Pop Pop's Mini Corn Dogs (song) • It's Just You • A Ringlin' Jinglin' Christmas
See Also
Team Possible • Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
He Mele No Lilo • Heartbreak Hotel • Stuck on You • Suspicious Minds • (You're the) Devil in Disguise • Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride • Aloha ʻOe • Hound Dog • Burning Love • Can't Help Falling in Love • Rubberneckin' • I Need Your Love Tonight • A Little Less Conversation • Always • Aloha, E komo Mai • I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry • Jailhouse Rock • Don't Be Cruel
Locations
Hawaii • Honolulu • Kokaua Town • Lahui Beach • Lilo's House • Animal Shelter • Mrs. Hasagawa's Fruit Stand • Hula School • Mertle's House • Birds of Paradise Hotel • Kilauea Lighthouse • Rental Hut • Muscle Bay • Kiki's Coffee Hut • Macki Macaw's • Kauai Airport • Turo • Plorgonar • Prison Asteroid K-37 • Jumba's Lab • Lihue Airport • Izayoi Island • Okinawa New Town
Objects
Experiment Pods • Experiment Pod Container • Jumba's Computer • Plasma Blaster • Net Cannon • Galactic Cell Phone • Prison Capsule • Sample Extractor • Fusion Chamber • Projector • Uburnium • Time Machine • Protoplasmic Growth Ray • Plasmatic Englobulatron • Luggage • Scrump • Lilo's Experiment Book • Stitch's Spacesuit • Stitch's Necklace • Spiritual Stone
Vehicles/Spaceships
Jumba's Ship • Gantu's Ship • Police Cruisers • The Red One • Yellow Plantation Trucks • AHI Tanker Truck • Dr. Hämsterviel's Ship • Manta Shuttle • Hovercraft • X-Buggy • Federation Ship • B.R.B. 9000 • G.A.C.C. Ship
See Also
Tantalog language • Lilo & Stitch: "The 747 Sequence" • Pelekai ʻohana
