Hollywood Studio Animation IV: Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers Studios

Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944)




Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears (1944)



Key Concepts:

-While every other studio (including Warner Bros.) was copying Disney, WB began to produce cartoons that valued humor above all else.

-The WB production routine was very collaborative. Animators and directors shared ideas on stories gags and style.

Key Figures:

Leon Schlesinger (Director)

Tex Avery (Supervisor/Director)

Bob Clampett (Supervisor/Director)

Chuck Jones (Supervisor/Director)

Robert McKimson (Supervisor/Director)

Frank Tashlin (Supervisor/Director)

Friz Freleng (Supervisor/Director)

Carl Stalling (Music)

Mel Blanc (Voices)

Michael Maltese (Writer)

Spotlight: Tex Avery

Fred 'Tex' Avery was interested in exaggeration, speed and humor.

Red Hot Riding Hood (1943) -Features Avery's 'Wolf' character



Screwball Squirrel (1944)




Avery is widely known for his gag creation and use of exaggeration (both visual and narrative).

Examples of Avery's unique style:

-Squash and Stretch.
-Humor is more important, it's all about the jokes.
-Over-the-top action.
-Fast! Fast music/tempo. Fast action- back to back gags.
-Sexuality.
-Violence.
-Surrealism- anything is possible, things appear out of nowhere.

Spotlight: Chuck Jones

Chuck Jones began his career as a cel washer, working with Ub Iwerks. Jones is the definitive WB director, his strength was realistic rendering of emotion in his characters and he had a distinct graphic style.

Duck Amuck (1953) - calls attention to the animation process.



Features Daffy Duck with a Bugs Bunny cameo.

What's Opera, Doc? (1957)



Features Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
-Uses over 100 different shots/set-ups.
-Took a long time to create.
-Known as one of the greatest Studio shorts.

Fun Fact: The WB animation studio's nickname was Termite Terrace.

Ready Set Zoom: Chuck Jones

Chuck Jones' Ready, Set, Zoom the 6th Road Runner cartoon, followed the hugely popular Stop, Look and Hasten, arguably one of the best cartoons of the series. Chuck Jones & Michael Maltese open this episode of the classic cartoon with a highly unusual sight... a stationary Road Runner.

Stop, Look and Hasten (1954)



Ready, Set, Zoom (1955)