Why is the Grinch green? Here's how the Grinch might have gotten his signature color

Christmas is just two weeks away, which means it's time for everyone's favorite cranky character to descend upon Whoville.

Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" tells the story of the Grinch, a mean-spirited anti-hero who attempts to steal Christmas in the town of Whoville. The Grinch later feels the true spirit of the holiday and, in the iconic words of Dr. Seuss: "the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."

Three movie adaptions have followed the Dr. Seuss book: the 1966 cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"; the 2000 live-action, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey and, most recently, the 2018 animation, "The Grinch."

In all three movies, one major detail remains consistent: the Grinch is always green. Here's one theory about how he got his signature look.

Why is the Grinch green?

Many know the Grinch for being mean and green, but few may know that Dr. Seuss originally drew the antagonist in black and white in his original 1957 story.

In 1966, animator Chuck Jones brought the book to life in the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" cartoon, in which he gave the Grinch his signature green color. It's rumored that Jones was inspired by his rental car at the time, which was the same shade of green.

Where to watch 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' (1966)

The original "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" cartoon is streaming now on Peacock. It's also available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Where to watch 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)

Jim Carrey's live-action version of the Grinch is streaming on Peacock from Dec. 20‒31. It's also available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Where to watch 'The Grinch' (2018)

The most recent adaptation of Dr. Seuss' story is available to stream now on Peacock. It's also available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why is the Grinch green? Where to watch all 3 movies