Isn't that a pretty cover?
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| A vintage Lantz coloring book. Isn't that a pretty cover? |
A three-disc DVD compilation of Lantz shorts called the Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection was released on July 24, 2007 by Universal/MCA. The collection features a total of 75 Walter Lantz cartoons including the first 45 Woody Woodpecker cartoons (from "Knock Knock" to "The Great Who-Dood-It") as well as a handful of Andy Panda and Chilly Willy cartoons, rarely-seen Swing Symphonies ("Abou Ben Boogie" and "Pass the Biscuits Mirandy"), and black and white Lantz shorts ("Confidence" and "Hells Heels"). A second volume was released in April 2008 including 45 more Woody Woodpecker shorts (from "Termites from Mars" to "Jittery Jester") alongside several Lantz classics ("The Poet and Peasant"), rarities ("She Done Him Right"), and fan favorites ("Half-Baked Alaska"). Click here to order volume one and click here to order volume two, both from Amazon.com. For further information see the official Woody Woodpecker website from Universal Home Video or check our DVD and video guide.
Where can I watch Walter Lantz cartoons on television?
Unfortunately, there is currently no place on television to watch these cartoons in the United States.
Why don't you mention the "New Woody Woodpecker Show" that aired on FOX Kids on this site?
The classic theatrical cartoons released by the Walter Lantz Studio from 1929 to 1972 are the main focus of this website. Therefore, we do not cover the "New Woody Woodpecker Show". The program ran from 1999 to 2000 with over 40 episodes produced, but most were never even broadcast in the United States.
Where can I find Woody Woodpecker/Chilly Willy merchandise?
For vintage merchandise, there is always a bunch of stuff for auction on eBay.
Newer merchandise is a little harder to find. There is very little available. However, the Universal Studios theme parks have a wide variety of merchandise featuring the Lantz characters, especially Woody Woodpecker and Chilly Willy, in their various gift shops – things like postcards, dolls, figures, keychains, stationary, magnets, t-shirts, etc.. They are definitely your best source for new merchandise. It's too bad you have to hop a plane to Orlando or California to buy the stuff.
Applause currently has a nice looking line of Chilly Willy plush dolls. They should be available in various gift shops. Keep an eye open for those.
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| Andy Panda contemplates his retirement plans. |
Unfortunately, if you are looking for Andy Panda merchandise, you're out of luck (see the next question).
So, what's become of Andy Panda?
Universal has apparently retired Andy. In 1999, Universal gave the Lantz characters a make-over when new, updated character designs were made for use on the new Woody Show for Fox. These designs are what are used on most new merchandise made since 1999. Andy was not among the characters who got redesigned and has been notably absent from the recent show and all new merchandise. Even though Andy's career in theatrical cartoons ended in 1949, thanks to reissues of his old cartoons in various forms (television and 16mm home movie prints) and his popularity in comic books, he was still featured prominently alongside the rest of the Lantz characters on merchandise and at the Universal theme parks through the mid-1990s. These days he's nowhere to be found.
Who exactly owns Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?
The character of Oswald and the 26 Disney-produced Oswald cartoons are owned by The Walt Disney Company. This was the result of a deal between Disney and NBC Universal for the latter to secure sportscaster Al Michaels for NBC Sports in February 2006. Universal still owns the 26 Winkler Oswalds and the 140 Lantz Oswalds. Since the deal, they have released 11 Lantz Oswalds on the Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection DVD series in 2007-2008. The existing Disney Oswalds, meanwhile, have been released by Disney on the Walt Disney Treasures - The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit DVD set which can be ordered on Amazon.com. It is uncertain whether the Winkler Oswalds will ever be released on DVD.
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| A Castle Films ad for 8mm and 16mm cartoons. |
Castle Films was a company that released the Lantz cartoon shorts to the home movie market in the form of 8mm and 16mm prints. Castle Films would sometimes retitle the cartoons (for example, "Ski For Two" was renamed "Woody Plays Santa Claus"). It is unknown why Castle Films would rename some cartoons and not others. If you have any idea, feel free to contact us.
Most of the black and white Lantz cartoons in circulation have "Oswald Rabbit" titles which are obviously not the originals. Do you know where do they came from?
The "Oswald Rabbit" titles were used by a company called Guild/Firelight. During the early 1950s, the distributor released a large package of black and white Lantz cartoons to the television and home movie markets. The only black and white shorts excluded from the package were the first 26 Lantz releases (from "Race Riot" in 1929 to "Henpecked" in 1930).
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Pierre Bear was a character who only appeared in one cartoon, "After the Ball" (1956). Despite the French name, Pierre had a distinctive Daws Butler Southern accent. When Castle Films got ahold of the Lantz library, they, for whatever reason, decided to give the character his own box art. Since Pierre had only appeared in one short, Castle decided to distribute the Windy and Breezy Bear cartoons under the Pierre Bear banner as well.
Is Smedley a dog or a polar bear?
Smedley is a DOG and not a polar bear. See our Chilly Willy page for more information.
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| As you can see, Smedley hates being called a polar bear... |
What are the lyrics to "The Woody Woodpecker Song"?
The Woody Woodpecker Song
Words and music by George F. Tibbles and Ramey Idriss
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| It makes the other woodpeckers swoon... |
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| Come on now, everybody sing! |
Which cartoon featured the line: "If Woody had gone straight to the police, this would never have happened!"?
The cartoon was called "Bunco Busters" (1955). Directed by Paul J. Smith.
Which cartoon involves the man and his dog getting each other's personalities due to the wrong injection of plasma?
The cartoon in question is called "Crazy Mixed-Up Pup" (1955). Directed by Tex Avery.
Which cartoon features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit singing the German folk song "Johnny Schmoker"?
The cartoon in question is called "The Fowl Ball" (1930). Directed by Walter Lantz and Bill Nolan.
Several Lantz filmographies list "Sons of the Saddle", "Song of the Caballero", "Strange As It Seems", "Fanny the Mule", "To the Rescue", "Foiled", "A New Deal", "S.O.S. Icicle", and "Gold Dust Oswald" as part of the studio's 1930-35 output. Why aren't these cartoons listed here?
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| Any similarities between Woody and a real woodpecker is strictly coincidental! |
Who provided the voice of Woody?
Mel Blanc (the voice of hundreds of cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny) provided the voice of Woody in his first few cartoons. Ben Hardaway (who was also a storyman for Lantz) provided Woody's voice for the rest of the 1940s (although Blanc's laugh was used in the cartoons for this period as well). Starting in 1951, Grace Stafford (Lantz's wife) would play the voice of Woody until her death (oddly, Blanc's "Guess Who?" was used in the opening credits until the series ended in 1972). In Fox Kid's "New Woody Woodpecker Show", Billy West (voice of Stimpy on "The Ren and Stimpy Show") played Woody on the program.
What kind of woodpecker is Woody?
That's simple, he's a cartoon woodpecker.