Walter Lantz Productions was an American animation studio. It was in operation from 1928 to 1972, and was the principal supplier of animation for Universal Studios, now part of the media conglomerate NBCUniversal, owned by Comcast. Nowadays the company exists in name only as a subsidiary of Universal Animation Studios, handling the rights to the studio's characters and films.
Woody Woodpecker is a cartoon anthropomorphic woodpecker that has appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz Studio and distributed by Universal Studios between 1940 and 1972.
Walter Benjamin Lantz was an American cartoonist, animator, film producer, director and actor best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker.
Chilly Willy is a cartoon character, a diminutive penguin. He was created by director Paul Smith for the Walter Lantz studio in 1953, and developed further by Tex Avery in the two subsequent films following Smith's debut entry. The character soon became the second most popular Lantz/Universal character, behind Woody Woodpecker. Fifty Chilly Willy cartoons were produced between 1953 and 1972.
The Woody Woodpecker Show is a long-running 30-minute American television series mainly composed of the film series in animated cartoon escapades of Woody Woodpecker and other Walter Lantz characters including Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, and Inspector Willoughby released by Walter Lantz Productions. The series was revived and reformatted several times, but remained popular for nearly four decades and allowed the studio to continue making theatrical cartoons until 1973 when it shut down. It also kept the Walter Lantz/Universal "cartunes" made during the Golden Age of American animation a part of the American consciousness. The Woody Woodpecker Show was named the 88th best animated series by IGN.
Andy Panda is a cartoon character who starred in his own series of animated cartoon short subjects produced by Walter Lantz. These "cartunes" were released by Universal Pictures from 1939 to 1947, and United Artists from 1948 to 1949. The title character is an anthropomorphic cartoon character, a cute panda. Andy became the second star of the Walter Lantz cartoons after Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. He achieved considerable popularity until being eventually supplanted by Woody Woodpecker.
Wally Walrus is a fictional animated cartoon character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Hot Rod Huckster is the 57th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 5, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Real Gone Woody is the 58th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 20, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
A Fine Feathered Frenzy is the 59th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 25, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Convict Concerto is the 58th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on November 22, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Under the Counter Spy is the 56th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on May 10, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Alley to Bali is the 53rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 15, 1954, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Red Riding Hoodlum is the 75th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on February 11, 1957, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International. The short is based on the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, written by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.
Puny Express is an American cartoon, and the 33rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on January 22, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal-International.
Slingshot 6+7⁄8 is the 35th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 23, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Hot Noon is the 51st animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 12, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Frank Alfred Marsales was a Canadian composer best known for his work scoring many classic animated films by Warner Bros. Cartoons in the 1930s. He also worked with Walter Lantz Studios in the mid to late 1930s.
The first Space Mouse was a comic book character published from 1953 to around 1956 by Avon Publications. Space Mouse was also the name of a 1959 Universal Studios cartoon featuring two mice and a cat named Hickory, Dickory, and Doc. A second Space Mouse character was published by Dell Comics from 1960 to around 1965. The Dell Comics version was also featured in a 1960 cartoon produced by Walter Lantz, entitled The Secret Weapon.
Bye, Bye, Blackboard is the 196th and final animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 1, 1972, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal. Walter Lantz then closed down his cartoon studio for the last time.
