Termites from Mars | |
---|---|
Directed by | Don Patterson |
Story by | Don Patterson Walter Lantz |
Produced by | Walter Lantz |
Starring | Grace Stafford Dal McKennon |
Music by | Clarence Wheeler |
Animation by | Ray Abrams Laverne Harding Paul J. Smith |
Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Universal International |
Release date | December 8, 1952 |
Running time | 6' 19" |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Termites from Mars is the 44th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on December 8, 1952, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International. [1]
An astronomer, searching the heavens with his telescope, suddenly sees a squadron of spaceships emerging from the planet Mars that are heading directly toward the Earth. He spreads the news, and in no time, the alarm is being sounded by wireless, telegraph, radio and TV, alerting the whole nation of threatened invasion. Meanwhile, Woody's busy cleaning up his apartment in the trunk of a tree while watching his TV set. Suddenly, a Walter Winchell-type announcer interrupts the program to announce to the ships at sea and all people everywhere that termites from Mars have invaded Earth. The announcer states that the ships are heading for the forests.
At the base of the tree in which Woody lives, a ship comes to rest, and out come termites. Woody closes all of the doors and windows. When he cautiously opens one window, the termites swam into his apartment and begin their work of destruction. Before you know it, the Martian invaders are eating up everything in sight. Every piece of furniture disappears; only the food remains, which the termites devour. Woody endeavors to fight them with a blowtorch, but the space gun is the superior weapon, and Woody's thwarted in every manner.
Finally, in an office, where the termites have destroyed all but the glass top of the desk, Woody discovers a termite chewing on Scotch tape, in which the termite becomes all fouled up. Woody gets a bright idea, grabs the roll of tape and holds it up. In no time, the termites, as well as the spaceships, are stuck to the tape. He spreads the tape throughout the forest, thus turning the tables on the termites, saving the day and winning the battle.
At the finish of the picture, Woody opens up his own business: a termite control company. Woody also has the termites doing practical things. He sells the termites as “Little Wonder Termite Tools,” to be used as can and bottle openers, pencil sharpeners, record needles, scissors, mousetraps, etc.- while he sits relaxed at a desk directing their endeavors.
Woody Woodpecker is an animated character 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.
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.
The New Woody Woodpecker Show is an American animated comedy television series that was based on the animated short film series created by cartoonist and animator Walter Lantz. It was created and developed by animator Bob Jaques, and co-developed by and storyboard artist Kelly Armstrong. Jaques co-directed the first 13 episodes alongside Alan Zaslove, until the 14th episode, where Zaslove becomes the sole director until the show's cancellation. It was produced by Universal Cartoon Studios and aired from May 8, 1999 until July 27, 2002 on Fox's programming block Fox Kids in the United States. It was overshadowed by the likes of Digimon.
Pantry Panic is the third animated cartoon short in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on November 24, 1941, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.
The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection: Volume 2 is a three-disc DVD collection of theatrical cartoons starring Woody Woodpecker and the other Lantz characters, produced by Walter Lantz Productions for Universal Pictures between 1932 and 1958. The set was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on April 15, 2008. Included in the set are seventy-five cartoon shorts, including the next forty-five Woody Woodpecker cartoons, continuing the production order from Volume 1. The other thirty cartoons include five Andy Panda shorts, five Chilly Willy shorts, five Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts, five Musical Favorites, and ten Cartune Classics.
Don Patterson was an American producer, animator, and director who worked at various studios during the Golden age of American animation, including Disney, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio, Walter Lantz Productions, and Hanna-Barbera. He was the older brother of animator Ray Patterson.
Arts and Flowers is the 73nd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on November 19, 1956, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
The Unbearable Salesman is the 77th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series, with Knothead and Splinter. Released theatrically on June 3, 1957, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Round Trip to Mars is the 80th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 23, 1957, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Tree's a Crowd is the 87th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 8, 1958, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Destination Meatball is the 39th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on December 24, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Scalp Treatment is the 42nd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 18, 1952, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Buccaneer Woodpecker is the 46th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 20, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Tomcat Combat is the 89th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 7, 1959, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Ballyhooey is the 100th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 20, 1960, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
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.
Five and Dime is a 1933 cartoon short by Walter Lantz Productions, and stars Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It is the 74th Oswald short produced by Lantz and the 125th overall.
Woodpecker from Mars is the 69th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 2, 1956, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
Mars is a 1930 short animated film in the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series.