Chip and Dale (also rendered as Chip 'n' Dale or Chip an' Dale) are two chipmunk cartoon characters created
at Walt Disney Productions in 1943. Their names are a pun based
on the name of the famous 18th-century cabinet maker and furniture
designer Thomas Chippendale. This was suggested by Bill
"Tex" Henson, a story artist at the studio.
Of the two, Chip is portrayed as being safe, focused, and having
a mind for logical scheming. Dale, by contrast, is more goofy, dim-witted and
impulsive, and has a very strong sense of humor. Originally the two had a very
similar appearance, but as a way to tell them apart, some differences were
introduced: Chip has a small black nose (which somewhat resembles a chocolate
"chip", as befitting his name) and two centered protruding teeth,
whereas Dale has a large dark red nose and his prominent canine teeth showing.
Chip is also depicted as having smooth hair on top of his head while Dale's
tends to be ruffled.