Woody Woodpecker and Friends

Specials

TV-PG

With arguably the most famous laugh of any cartoon character in history ("ha-ha-ha-HA-ha"), Woody Woodpecker pecked his way into our lives through a 1940 Andy Panda theatrical short entitled Knock Knock. Woody continued to appear in short films throughout the 40's and 50's, and in 1957, the Kellogg's company packaged these theatrical works into the syndicated package The Woody Woodpecker Show. Walter Lantz created the famed bird, and in the show's early days, the animator would host from his office, demonstrating how cartoons were made by showing the viewers at home such essentials as painting cels and drawing storyboards. Woody, an obnoxious mischief-maker, would usually star in the shorts, occasionally taking a backseat to his friends Andy Panda, Wally Walrus, Gabby Gator, Buzz Buzzard, Oswald the Rabbit, The Beary Family and Arctic penguin Chilly Willy.

Where to Watch Woody Woodpecker and Friends • Specials

7 Episodes

$21 a Day (Once a Month)
E1
$21 a Day (Once a Month)Woody Woodpecker makes an appearance in this cartoon, the first in Walter Lantz's Swing Symphony series. The story is built around a performance of the title song, an original by Felix Bernard and Ray Klages about army life. It's set at "Camp Pain," situated within the Toyland Army section of the Toy Department of the "Maybe So Dept. Store" and features the toy soldiers and animals on the shelves coming to life and joining in to do all the orchestral and vocal parts. There's nothing more to it than that, but it's a lively song with some great jazz bits and it benefits from creative musical arrangements by Darrell Calker, Lantz's talented longtime music supervisor.
Spook-a-Nanny
E2
Spook-a-NannyWoody and his friends celebrating Halloween as they sing the Spook-a-Nanny song.
The Secret Weapon
E3
The Secret WeaponThis short begins with King-Size in conference with his financial minister when a coded message arrives warning of an planned invasion by cats from the Planet Feline (pronounced Fa Lean). A call for Space Mouse is dispatched, He appears in the conference room instantly. The king orders him to go to Feline, disguised as a cat, and destroy their rocket ship.
Jungle Medics
E4
Jungle MedicsSam & Simian must help a lion but they was making many tricks to heart him.
Cartoonland Mysteries
E5
Cartoonland MysteriesCartoonland Mysteries is a 1936 Going Places documentary short. It features the making of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short Soft Ball Game, which was released the same year.
Walter Lantz presented with an Honorary Oscar
E6
Walter Lantz presented with an Honorary OscarRobin Williams presents an Honorary Award to Walter Lantz at the Oscars
A Conversation with Walter & Gracie Lantz
E7
A Conversation with Walter & Gracie LantzLong before TCM there was CLASSICS 34, an atmospheric cinéma showcase hosted by Chris Buchman for WNIT (PBS) in Elkhart, Indiana. In 1981 Walter and Gracie Lantz visited Chris for an engaging chat and to celebrate Woody Woodpecker’s 40th birthday. Act Two presents an overview of CLASSICS 34; and Chris Buchman recounts his first encounter with Walter Lantz, the origin of the Lantzes’ visit to his show and the unforeseen technical dilemmas of the taping session in his affectionate memoir WALTER & ME. Act Three highlights Chris’ pre-Classics 34 movie exhibitions including turns at Baltimore’s famous Peabody Bookshop & Beerstube, Corner Theatre and Johns Hopkins University. The Finalé is comprised of delightful vignettes from CLASSICS 34.