Top five Woody Woodpecker cartoons

Woody the Woodpecker is one of the most popular cartoon characters dating from the early 1940s. Created by storyboard artist Ben Hardaway, Woody was produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures. Here, we take a closer look at the character's background and put forward our choices of the top five Woody Woodpecker cartoons.

Woody's evolution

A rounded and controlled character Ben Hardaway was a talented artist who had also been involved with the creation of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck at the Warner Bros. cartoon studio in the 1930s. Both Woody's design and his characteristics would gradually evolve from a flamboyant and slightly hideous looking bird to a much more rounded and controlled character. Woody was originally voiced by Mel Blanc and then by Ben Hardaway himself, before being succeeded by Grace Stafford, wife of Walter Lantz. The Woody Woodpecker Show, featuring the catchy Woody Woodpecker song written by George Tibbles and Ramey Idriss, was first aired in the US in 1957. Universal family Woody remained part of the Universal family, with regular releases, until Lantz closed his studio in 1972. The character has occasionally made new appearances since then for special productions such as the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and a Saturday morning cartoon, The New Woody Woodpecker Show, in the late 1990s.

Top five cartoons

As with any top listings, choices are coloured by personal preference. Woody's character changed considerably over the years, from someone intent on harming those against him to a much more caring personality who tried to do good deeds. This selection is intended to give viewers the chance to appreciate the full range of those different character traits from that golden age of cartoons. Top five 1. Knock Knock (1940) The very first appearance of Woody. The woodpecker pesters two pandas who eventually have their revenge. 2. The Barber of Seville (1944) Woody arrives at Tony Figaro's barber shop but finds the barber out for an Army physical. Woody takes over attempting to cut his hair and other customers'. 3. What's Sweeping (1953) Co-star Wally Walrus speaks in this episode which makes it such a rarity. The Walrus, like Woody himself, was virtually silent during this period, with only occasional dialogue being used. 4. Socko in Morocco (1954) Woody is a member of the Foreign Legion and must protect Princess Salami, whom an evil Sheik wants to kidnap. 5. Arts and Flowers (1956) Woody tries to paint a picture of a flower that will be hung in the museum, but his neighbour is jealous and tries to do better. All of the above are available on Woody Woodpecker DVD cartoons collection discs 1 and 2.