Between 1940 and 1972, an anthropomorphic cartoon woodpecker known as Woody Woodpecker featured in theatrical short films made by the Walter Lantz Studio and released by Universal Studios.

He was developed in 1940 by Lantz and storyboard artist Ben “Bugs” Hardaway, who had previously worked at the Warner Bros. animation studio in the late 1930s on two other screwball characters, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Woody’s persona and style developed over time, from a crazy bird with an extremely garish design to a more sophisticated appearing and behaving figure in the spirit of Chuck Jones’ later Bugs Bunny adaptation. Woody was first voiced by Mel Blanc, who was followed by Danny Webb, Kent Rogers, Ben Hardaway, and ultimately Grace Stafford in the shorts (wife of Walter Lantz).

The Woody Woodpecker Show, which included Lantz cartoons bookended by fresh video of Woody and live-action footage of Lantz, was originally shown on television in 1957 under the title The Woody Woodpecker Show. Lantz lasted longer than most of his predecessors in producing theatrical cartoons, and Woody Woodpecker remained a mainstay of Universal’s release schedule until 1972 when Lantz eventually shuttered his studio.

Since then, the character has been reintroduced for special projects and events, as well as for The New Woody Woodpecker Show, a Saturday-morning cartoon television series that aired from 1999 to 2002 and starred prominent voice actor Billy West as Woody.

At 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Woody has a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, he had a cameo appearance among several other well-known cartoon characters.

Woody Woodpecker, like Mickey Mouse of The Walt Disney Company and Bugs Bunny of Warner Bros., is Universal Studios’ official mascot. Woody and his pals are also well-known in Universal Studios theme parks throughout the world, as well as at PortAventura Park in PortAventura World in Salou, Spain (they were originally brought to the park by Universal Studios, and remain there today despite Universal no longer have a financial stake in the park).

On November 25, 1940, Woody Woodpecker made his debut in the short Knock Knock. Andy Panda and his father, Papa Panda, appear in the animation, but Woody is the main character. The woodpecker continues to bother the two pandas for no apparent reason. Meanwhile, Andy tries sprinkling salt on Woody’s tail in the hopes of capturing the bird. Andy’s attempts succeed, and Woody is transported to a psychiatric facility” but not before his captors show to be much crazy than he is.

Knock’s Woody is a character in the novel Woody of Knock. Alex Lovy, an animator, created Knock. After signing a loyalty contract with Leon Schlesinger Productions (later renamed Warner Bros. Cartoons), the producer of Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, Woody’s original voice actor, Mel Blanc, stopped performing the character after the first three cartoons to work exclusively for Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

Download Woody Woodpecker Silhouette PNG Transparent Images background