The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1944

"The Greatest Man in Siam" Release Date: 3/27/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation: Pat Matthews and Emery Hawkins Music: Darrell Calker Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Backgrounds: Phil DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-3 A "Swing Symphony" cartoon First onscreen credits for Art Heinemann and Phil DeGuard at Lantz

"The Barber of Seville" Release Date: 4/10/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation: Verne Harding and Les Kline Music: Darrell Calker Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-4 The first cartoon to use the famous opening where Woody pops out of a tree stump, animated by Emery Hawkins. The first cartoon to feature a new streamlined version of Woody. He is now cuter and less rough and wild. This short was ranked #43 in Jerry Beck's book The 50 Greatest Cartoons (1994).

"Jungle Jive" Release Date: 5/15/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Paul Smith and Emery Hawkins Music: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Pianist: Bob Zurke Notes: Production Number: D-5 A "Swing Symphony" cartoon This cartoon contains the last known recording by pianist, Bob Zurke. He died a month after recording the soundtrack for this cartoon in 1942.

"Fish Fry" Release Date: 6/19/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Verne Harding and Emery Hawkins Music: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-6 Academy Award nominee

"Abou Ben Boogie" Release Date: 9/18/44 Direction: James Cullhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Paul Smith Musical Arrangement: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Lyrics: Tot Seymour Music: Vee Lawnhurst Notes: Production Number: D-7 A "Swing Symphony" cartoon Some animation of the dancing girl by Pat Matthews is cropped out of Castle Films home use prints. [Thanks to Dave Mackey for this information] Click here to see "Abou Ben Boogie" sheet music.

"The Beach Nut" Release Date: 10/16/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Dick Lundy and Les Kline Music: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-8 First onscreen credit for Dick Lundy at Lantz The first appearance of Wally Walrus.

"Ski for Two" Release Date: 11/13/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Don Williams and Grim Natwick Music: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-9 First onscreen credit for Grim Natwick at Lantz First onscreen credit for Don Williams at Lantz since his depature in 1933. Reissued as "Woody Plays Santa Claus" by Castle Films

"The Painter and the Pointer" Release Date: 12/18/44 Direction: James Culhane Story: Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer Animation Layout: Art Heinemann Animation: Les Kline and Emery Hawkins Music: Darrell Calker Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard Notes: Production Number: D-11 This cartoon features a very different design of Andy Panda. Apparently, it failed to gain favor with audiences and was never used again for any subsequent releases. Andy's usual happy-go-lucky personality seems to have changed here as well. By his behavior, the "new Andy" could easily pass as Andy's evil twin brother.