Woody Woodpecker (franchise)
Woody Woodpecker is an American media franchise that originally started in 1940 with the release of the short film Knock Knock. Created was the Franchise by Walter Lantz and produced by Walter Lantz Productions and were distributed by Universal Pictures.
| Woody Woodpecker | |
|---|---|
| Created by | |
| Original work | Knock Knock (1940) |
| Owner | |
| Years |
|
| Print publications | |
| Comics | Dell Comics (1942–1974) Gold Key Comics (1962–1984) Harvey Comics (1991–1994) |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | Woody Woodpecker (2017) |
| Short film(s) | Woody Woodpecker shorts (1940-1972) |
| Web series |
|
| Animated series |
|
| Television special(s) |
|
| Direct-to-video | |
| Games | |
| Video game(s) | List of video games |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Theme park attraction(s) | Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster |
The franchise revolves around about the humorous adventures and interactions of Woody Woodpecker and his friends like Winnie Woodpecker, enemies like Buzz Buzzard and other characters. The stories revolve around Woody's cheeky and often chaotic pranks, his attempts to solve problems, and his interactions with other characters such as Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, Winnie Woodpecker, Knothead, Splinter, Buzz Buzzard, and others.
History edit
Woody Woodpecker was made by Walter Lantz, an American animator and cartoonist. He made his first appearance in the short film "Woody Woodpecker" in 1940. Woody's popularity grew, and he soon became a star in his own right. He appeared in numerous animated shorts, often finding himself in humorous and chaotic situations. Walter Lantz Productions entered into a deal with Universal Pictures in 1940 that allowed Universal to distribute the Woody cartoons.
In 1985, Universal Pictures acquired the rights of Woody Woodpecker and Walter Lantz Productions and added this to his portfolio. Since then, Universal has continued to used Woody and also used Woody in the Theme Parks. Woody Woodpecker is not so much represented in television/movie, but more in other, such as in the Universal Studios Theme Parks or merchandising. Universal has since produced new adaptations, including television series and a live-action/CGI hybrid film released in 2017, keeping Woody's legacy alive for new generations to enjoy.
Short films edit
Animated series edit
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Woody Woodpecker Show | October 3, 1957 |
| The New Woody Woodpecker Show | May 8, 1999 |
| Woody Woodpecker | December 3, 2018 |
Films edit
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Woody Woodpecker | October 5, 2017 |
| Untitled Woody Woodpecker sequel[1] | Upcoming |
Video Games edit
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Crazy Castle | |
| Woody Woodpecker's Frustrated Vacations | October 1996 |
| Woody Woodpecker Racing | November 22, 2000 |
| Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park | August 14, 2001 |
| Universal Studios Theme Parks Adventure | December 7, 2001 |
Universal Studios Theme Parks edit
Woody Woodpecker is very popular at the Universal Studios Theme Parks. Universal Studios Florida is the only park with rides, areas and meet and greet.
| Title | Opening date | Closing date |
|---|---|---|
| Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster | March 13, 1999 | January 15, 2023 |
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort have no rides, just only events and meet and greet.
References edit
- ^ Slatter, Sean (2021-09-12). "Universal 1440 Entertainment's 'Woody Woodpecker' sequel filming in Victoria". IF Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-10.