I'm biased for Mel Blanc, but that's not the only reason I love this cartoon! There are at least 5 versions of Woody Woodpecker that I recognize with my eyes. The crazy, demented redhead with the red chest/tummy, brilliant blue plumage, pretty green tail feathers, goofy green eyes, wacky teeth, big yellow feet and receding chin is my favorite of all. He was mistakenly thought to be "too ugly" or "too insane" to have any potential for audience appeal, and somehow, even after the audiences proved to love this nutjob of a bird, Version 1.0 lasted only 9 cartoons, gradually becoming less "ugly" and having a cuter face. By the time "Ace in The Hole" and "The Screwball" came along, Woody was a wee bit rounder, cuter, and not quite as homely. His last cartoon was "Ration Bored". His first appearance was in the Andy Panda classic, "Knock Knock" in which he plays a nameless woodpecker driving Andy and his dad bananas. From that first "Guess who?" I was hooked! An instant hit, he soon got his first starring role in this short, also known as "the Cracked Nut." Among the cuter baby robins and quails, and owls and squirrels is the community crackpot, Woody Woodpecker. Tired of being talked trash about, Woody decides to visit a psychologist to see if he really is a whack-a- doodle. He meets a Scottish Fox doctor who proves to be more demented than even Woody.As a cartoon connoisseur (sp?) I regard different "versions" of characters as different characters all together. As far as I'm concerned, the first and best "Woody" didn't live very long. After 9 shorts, the studio decided Woody's color scheme had to be toned down, so his red chest became white and he lost all those interesting bright colors. He became less "insane" yet more obnoxious. willfully stealing food and mooching off of folks like Wally Walrus and others rather than being innocently nutty. I have nothing against Ben "Bugsy" Hardaway, who is also said to be the inspiration for Bugs Bunny's personality, but this Woody #2 is the least of my favorites. I'll write more about him as I review the different shorts.

Woody Woodpecker (1941) ** 1/2 (out of 4) The title character makes his leading debut here. The film starts off in the woods as Woody is going around acting crazy as usual. The forest creatures bring up the fact that he's crazy so the screwy woodpecker goes to see a psychiatrist to see if he really is. This is a pretty good cartoon that has some funny moments but I think it's still a little less entertaining that some of the later entries in the series. It goes without saying but Mel Blanc does a wonderful job with the voice of Woody and that constant "pecking" is a terrific sound and really makes all of these shorts so memorable. I think a lot of credit should also be given to the supporting characters in the forest as well as the doctor. I think one of the best highlights is a simple joke as Woody not being able to say psychiatrist.

When this show was on I watched it every time I could! I thought that the characters were really funny and all had great personalities. The animation in My opinion was crisp, clean, and really clear. Not to mention beautiful! Most of the characters in this show are hilarious like Looney Tunes characters that we all love. in My opinion these characters are the funnies and talented ever seen. In fact, The things that goes on in this series' cartoons are in My opinion nuts which that is what makes them hilarious! There are so many to like and laugh at and the silly things they do! If you like the original Looney Tunes then I strongly recommend that you watch this show!

When Woody Woodpecker debuted as an antagonist for star Andy Panda in KNOCK KNOCK in 1940, his zany antics immediately captivated audiences. Shrewdly aware of the woodpecker's star potential, producer Walter Lantz cast him in his first solo cartoon, WOODY WOODPECKER. Under Lantz's uncredited direction, this cartoon discharges an authentically wacky and convulsive energy that's reminiscent of the contemporary Warner Brothers cartoons. Indeed one of the writers, Ben "Bugs" Hardaway had worked at Warner's before Lantz hired him.Most of the energy comes from Woody himself. He represents the uninhibited id as he darts all over the screen, pulls prankish stunts, sasses his antagonists, and employs his trademark laugh. And what an appropriately outrageous design for an outrageous character with his extremely long bill, buck teeth, goofy eyes, stumpy legs, and a garish mixture of blue, red, yellow and green all over his body. The brilliant Mel Blanc provides an appropriately loony voice that is as oddly endearing as it is funny. Thank to Blanc's work and the skillful animation, Woody Woodpecker never seems obnoxious; just a lovable nut. One senses his comic aggressiveness is not derived from malice but from a naturally manic temperament.Undoubtedly the highlight is in the beginning when Woody sings "Everybody Thinks I'm Crazy." The lyrics aren't sensationally funny, but Darrel Calker's jaunty music, Blanc's hilarious singing, and the comical animation of Woody's strutting make this a showstopper. In fact, this song would be Woody's theme in his early cartoons. Some one ought to do a cover of this song.Mel Blanc would've undoubtedly remained the voice of Woody Woodpecker until his death if Warner Brothers hadn't given him an exclusive contract. (However, he did later did Woody's voice on some children's records.) It's a pity because of all the actors I've heard do the woodpecker (I never heard Billy West's work on THE NEW WOODY WOODPECKER SHOW, Blanc was the most impressive. He conveyed a charismatic craziness that none of the other actors I've heard could capture. Although Lantz continued to produce fine Woody Woodpecker cartoons for some time, I feel the woodpecker lost a little pizazz when Blanc was replaced.