In 1927, Lantz set his sights on Hollywood. He briefly worked for film director Frank Capra and then as a gag writer for Mack Sennett. After this, he returned to directing animated cartoons, this time under Charles B. Mintz for the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series. By 1929, however, Universal decided to remove Mintz and produce the Oswalds directly on the studio lot under new management. While schmoozing with Universal president Carl Laemmle, Lantz wagered a poker bet against the movie mogul for ownership of the new animation studio. In the end, Lantz won and the studio was his.

      After the Oswald series ran its course, Lantz decided to try out a few new characters. His most successful creation came in 1940 with Woody Woodpecker – the zany bird whose memorable laugh became an instant success with the American theater-going public. Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, and Wally Walrus were just some of the other creations that the Lantz studio brought to the silver screen.

      Walter Lantz passed away in 1994 but the cartoons he produced and directed still seem as fresh and funny today as they did when they were first released. This comprehensive website, online since 2002, serves as an encyclopedia of every single cartoon produced by Lantz and his talented staff. Our goal is to make it as complete as possible. So browse around and learn about the men and women who made these shorts the bona fide classics of today.