Dog Tax Dodgers

I'm really starting to get into Walter Lantz cartoons. It's probably because almost every one that I've seen has been very cartoony and also appealing to me, not only to look at but also because they're very funny. This cartoon is a good example of what I'm talking about. I thought it was funny just to see Andy Panda and Wally Walrus together in the same picture. They seem to work well together in this cartoon. I wonder if there's more like it?
Pat Matthews' animation is superb as usual and I really like how Andy looks in this era with Dick Lundy.

Andy Panda - Dog Tax Dodgers (1948)
by Cartoonzof2006

Drooler's Delight

This is one of my favorite Woody Woodpecker cartoons. No suprise, it also comes form my favorite director from Walter Lantz' studios, Dick Lundy. It's not just the jokes and the really loose animation from Pat Matthews that makes me like Lundy's cartoons. He really seemed to help put Woody at the peak of his cartoon career. I've noticed, not only does Woody look his best with Lundy, but also his voice has better acting to it. Before with people like Shamus Culhane, who also did some good Woody toons, his actor Ben Hardaway seemed to not have too much experience acting. Woody's voice with Culhane and before this cartoon seemed to lack emotion. Here and with other late Lundy cartoons, it's improving. Maybe Hardaway got lessons or something. Who knows?

Anyway, Drooler's Delight is a gem from this era of animation, and it's definitely worth the watch. After this, I think Woody gave a new meaning to "booby traps".


Here's a model sheet drawn by Fred Moore. (I think that's who drew this.)



EDIT: By the way, I've heard that Ed Love was the only one who animated this. He did a great job for being the only animator here!

Woody Woodpecker - Drooler's Delight (1949)
by Cartoonzof2006

The Barber of Seville

The first cartoon with the redesigned Woody Woodpecker as well as one of the best Woody cartoons ever. There's also wonderful animation from Verne Harding, Les Kline, Pat Mathews, and of course, Emery Hawkins. I also love the aria Woody sings at the end of the cartoon.

Would you trust this guy with a razor?

Woodey Woodpecker - The Barber Of Seville (1944)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Musical Moments from Chopin

One superb musical cartoon. I'm a sucker for cartoons timed to music, and at the Walter Lantz studio, no one does it better than ex-disney animator Dick Lundy. He really knew how to time actions with music. I think Lundy may have been in charge of the "Musical Minatures" series. This one in particular has various pieces from classical pianist Frédéric Chopin instead of focusing on just one piece of music.

Musical Minatures - Musical Moments from Chopin (1946)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006