Category: Characters

You know, I’ve mentioned Ralph before in previous posts, but I have yet to give him his own post. I aim to fix.

Technically speaking, Ralph only appeared in 2 classic shorts from the golden age. But, he also starred in two army recruitment films and an unaired TV pilot that was repackaged into a theatrical release. So he still makes the criteria for getting his own spot. Ralph is just like any ordinary boy. He as an active imagination and it showed in his two shorts. He was either daydreaming during school, or fantasizing at home. Both shorts are very creative and his first one is considered one of the 100 greatest Looney Tunes.

In the recruitment films, he was much older and a little bit more serious. Which just goes to show how much he grew up. And if you watch his shorts, listen carefully to his voice. Sound familiar? No, it’s not Mel. It’s Dick Beals, the same person who was Speedy Alka-Setzer. Ralph doesn’t get a lot of recognition these days. (I mean, why market a small boy, when a talking rabbit is far more profitable?) But he will always have a place in the hearts of those who are young at theirs.

Just like Beans before him, WB thought it would be this character that would become the star. First appearing in Chuck Jone’s “The Squaking Hawk” he was later used by Mckimson in the short “Walky Talky Hawky.” The short also starred a rooster who nobody expected to go anywhere beyond second banana. The short would actually go on to be nominated for the Acadamy award. It lost to “The Cat Concerto.” Dang Tom and Jerry! I love those guys and their shorts, but having the same plot constantly, doesn’t merit multiple awards!

This propelled the rooster (who was Foghorn,) to being the star. As for little Henrey? He stuck around, but he was never the main focus. He mostly appeared with Foghorn, but was also in Daffy’s “You never were Duckier” and “The Scarlet Pumpernickel“. (Although there, it was just a quick cameo.) And since I know a lot about animals, I will tell you: there is no such actual thing as a chicken hawk. The correct term is Red-tailed hawk. (Although I wouldn’t say no to “Buteo Jamaicencis“.

Just like Bugs, there was also a proto-Elmer. Just like the proto-Bugs, I consider this fellow a completely different character than the newer incarnation.

Egghead is a little man with a huge bulbous nose. His voice being similar to Joe Penner’s. He eventually would become Elmer. Heck, in one short he was called Elmer Fudd. Egghead may have fallen into obscurity but he can still be fondly remembered. (By some of us.) He stars in “Cinderella meets fella” which is one of “The 100 greatest Looney Tunes.” He also appeared briefly in “Looney Tunes back in Action.” Not only that, but he was in the brilliant “A day at the zoo,” “The Turn-tale wolf,” and our topic for next time: (which will be Friday. I wont make you wait too long) “Daffy Duck and Egghead.”

A quite minor character, but she appeared in at least 5 shorts, so she meets the requirements to be talked about.

In her first appearance she was actually billed as the next “star.” That never worked out too well. While usually labeled as Porky’s girlfriend, she was actually quite horrid to him in her first appearances. (Heck, she was once his sister/cousin!) Also, she went through a huge makeover. At first she looked like a skinny Porky with blush on. Ew. Eventually Clampett redesigned her into that second image above. Cute, eh?

By this point, she and Porky were a great couple. She never did go on to have the same fame, but she did live on as “Looney Tunes Comics”, “Baby Looney Tunes” and “The Looney Tunes Show” suggest. (I just heard that last one was cancelled. The good and misunderstood die too young.)

As we all know, when Disney started making cartoons popular and profitable, everyone wanted to join in. Alas, Warner Bros. did not have much luck creating a character to rival Mickey Mouse. Friz Freleng directed a short (“I Haven’t got a Hat”) that featured many characters. Surely one could become a star?

The character that the studio THOUGHT would be loved, was Beans. Aside from getting in predicaments, Beans didn’t really have much character. His name came from the fact that his “sidekick” was named Porky. Despite what I just said may sound like, I like Beans. One of his shorts (“A Cartoonists Nightmare”) is one of my favorite Looney Tunes ever. Beans never did become a well known star, but he did at least get to star in a few shorts before being forced into retirement.

Okay, I need to take a break from all these coyote cartoons. As much as we love them, I need some time to think of new ways to talk about essentially the same plot time after time. So I looked though my books for a character I had not yet talked about. Here he is.

Unlike Sylvester, Claude never got the same fame which is a shame. (Heh heh) Unlike the putty tat, Claude seems to be more of a foe, since it’s not unusual to his prey to be afraid of him. However, he’s a pretty big coward. Hubie and Bertie, Marc Antony and Frisky Puppy are all very talented at scaring him. Chuck Jones created some original characters that can’t be matched. Claude might not be one of them, but you still you have to love him.

Warner bros. had plenty of dog characters, but most of them would only get the honor of appearing in one cartoon. Maybe two. One of the lesser known that still makes my five appearance rule, is this canine.

Willoughby in one word is: stupid. I’m sorry, but he is. That does not mean I hate him. He is quite funny. He is a bloodhound I think, and the majority of his pictures were him hunting. Of course he would fail. Whether it was a quail, Bugs, or a fox, he never was able to catch what he was after. By far his greatest appearance (in my opinion) is “An Itch in Time.” (A short that I should really talk about soon.

As a final note, you might find it interesting to know that this dog was voiced not by Blanc, but by his creator,  Tex Avery.

This crazy girl had first appearance in “Bewitched Bunny”. Yeah, it was with Bugs, as was the majority of her appearances. Her name stems from the Disney witch of the same name. I think she’s the better character. Not just because she is a Looney Tune is she better, but she actually acts like a witch. Whereas the other one wasted a night helping kids get their candy back.

This girl is way crazy as well. The smallest hint of a joke and she jumps in the air cackling. Another cool thing is when she moves fast, she leaves a bunch of hair pins floating in the air. A wonderful witch if ever there was one.

(And I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to leave me a little feedback. I like to hear suggestions or just words of praise.)

Another post in a day? Yes siree pop, you lucky Looney-tics you.

This guy actually never had a name to begin with. He was just a Tasmanian devil that most people figured was an animal that the animators had just made up. It took a long time for him to be created: 1954! Also, despite his popularity, he only appeared in 5 shorts. (4 of which were with Bugs Bunny.) He was created because the animators wanted a new character and realized the only thing they had not used was a t.d. This design looks nothing like the real creature and that is part of his charm. I don’t know where they got his spinning skill, though. (Still, it’s freaking cool.)

Given the fact that lately,  I am talking about characters that appeared in Foghorn shorts, I figured I should talk about another one.

Prissy is a chicken who debuted in the Porky cartoon “An Egg Scramble”. Since then though, she seems to have moved to Foghorn’s barnyard. From what I have seen, this poor gal has never laid an egg or been married. This does not deter her though; she keeps on trying on both accounts. She also would be pretty cute, but that bonnet and her voice make her seem too old, but apparently she is young enough to try and woo Foghorn. Or, perhaps most likely she is just desperate.