Walter Lantz Productions

Credits

Descriptions by
garfield13

Captures by
Henrynguye5 and RSX-798

Background

Walter Lantz Studios, formerly known as "Universal Cartoon Studios", was founded in 1929 by director Walter "Walt" Lantz. The studio's first series was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit licensed from Walt Disney Productions. The company used an in-credit logo until 1938's Baby Kittens. The biggest characters from the studio were Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy and Andy Panda. The studio shut down in 1972 (by then, he later explained, it was economically impossible to continue producing them and stay in business as rising inflation had strained his profits), and Universal serviced the remaining demand with reissues of his older cartoons. By the time the studio shut down, Walt Disney Productions was the only golden age animation studio left in operation, which had already dissolved in 1986, though the animation unit still exists as Walt Disney Animation Studios.

1st Logo (December 19, 1938-November 25, 1940)

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Visuals: On a grey marble background is the text "A", Walter Lantz's signature, and below it was the show's title. Below it was a copyright stamp.

Variants:

• When Lantz switched to Technicolor production in 1939, the background became red, the text is yellow and the show's title is in blue. The text "IN TECHNICOLOR" is shown below the logo.
• On Lantz's first Technicolor cartoon, A Haunting We Will Go, the background is blue and the text is in orange.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Most B&W cartoons with the logo had fallen victim to plastering to the "Oswald Rabbit presents" card. However, most color cartoons should have this intact. First seen on Baby Kittens and last seen on Knock Knock.

2nd Logo (December 30, 1940-May 26, 1941)

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Visuals: On an cream-coloured pixelate background are the words:

A
WALTER LANTZ
Production
IN TECHNICOLOR

with the copyright disclaimer below. Surrounded it was a red border.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: It was seen on some cartoons from this time period. First seen on Syncopated Sioux and last seen on Dizzy Kitty.

3rd Logo (March 28-November 24, 1941)

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Visuals: The words:

A
Walter Lantz
PRODUCTION
IN
TECHNICOLOR

appear written with wood on a paint palette on an orange background with music notes swirling. The copyright disclaimer appears below.

Variants:

• On Woody Woodpecker, the logo is written on a tree trunk.
• On The Screwdriver, the text "UNIVERSAL PRESENTS" is shown above the logo.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Appears on the Woody Woodpecker cartoon Pantry Panic and the infamous Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat, the bookending releases with the logo were in the public domain. Also seen on other cartoons, like The Screwdiver and Salt Water Daffy.

4th Logo (December 1, 1941-May 11, 1942)

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Visuals: On a blue marble background is the text "A Walt Lantz" and below is either the "CARTUNE" text from the 1st logo, or a series of musical notes with the text "SWING SYMPHONY" behind it and "IN TECHNICOLOR" is shown below. A copyright disclaimer is shown below the logo.

Variants:

• On Goodbye Mr. Moth, the logo is on a red background.
• On Mother Goose on the Loose, the logo is on a similar pixelated background as the 2nd logo.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: First seen on $21.00 A Day Once a Month and last seen on Goodbye Mr. Moth.

5th Logo (June 1-October 19, 1942)

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Visuals: On a coloured background with a series of red outlined circles (similar to the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies) bullseye, there is a yellow circle with red and orange borders. Inside it was the text "A Walt Lantz" in a script font, and below it was the text reading either "Cartune" or "SWING SYMPHONY" and underneath is the text "IN TECHNICOLOR" below the logo. A copyright date is shown below the logo.

Variants: Mostly, it was the same pixel background as the last logo, but can appear on different coloured backgrounds like black, blue or a swirling background.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen on cartoons from the time period, from Nutty Pine Cabin to The Loan Stranger.

6th Logo (November 30, 1942-April 10, 1944)

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Visuals: On a blue Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies-esque bullseye, there is a light blue music note, with a sheet behind it. On the top left is the text "A WALT LANTZ", in the middle is the text reading either "Cartune" or "Swing Symphony" and on the bottom right is the text "IN TECHNICOLOR". Copyright information is shown below the logo.

Variant: On B&W prints, the text "IN TECHNICOLOR" is absent, and the logo is in B&W.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen on Walter Lantz cartoons from the period, from Boogie Woogie Sioux to The Barber of Seville.

7th Logo (May 15, 1944-March 25, 1949)

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Visuals: On a blue background with a bright light are the words "PRODUCED BY" and below is:

Walt Lantz

in big white letters. The copyright disclaimer appears below the logo.

Variants:

• Starting with Crow Crazy, the text now reads "Walter Lantz"
• Starting with Bathing Buddies, the words were changed to "A Walter Lantz PRODUCTION".
• Starting with Fair Weather Friends, the logo is on a simple blue background.
• On Musical Miniatures, the logo has music notes swirling on the background.
• Starting with Smoked Hams, a sign of Woody dressed as a viking, holding a sword and a shield and riding a white stallion with a red cape was added in the right side of the logo.
• When Walter Lantz got a deal with United Artists in 1947, the words "A UNITED ARTISTS RELEASE" were added between the words and the copyright disclaimer.
• On 16mm prints of old cartoons, the logo is in B&W.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Can be seen on Woody Woodpecker cartoons on The Woody Woodpecker Show. The variant with the United Artists byline is often replaced by reissue prints. First seen on Jungle Jive,

8th Logo (January 22, 1951-May 7, 1956)

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Visuals: On a wood background (or a customised one for non-Woody Woodpecker cartoons) are the words "A Walter Lantz "CARTUNE"" with the "Woody riding a stallion" sign on the bottom-right corner.

Variants:

• Later, the copyright disclaimer appears at the bottom of the logo.
• Later, the words were changed to "PRODUCED By Walter Lantz" and sometimes with "Color by TECHNICOLOR" below.
• Sometimes, the "Woody riding a stallion" sign is dropped.
• On I'm Cold (1954), the copyright disclaimer is dropped.
• On the last cartoons with the logo, the text says "A Walter Lantz PRODUCTION".

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Can be seen on Woody Woodpecker cartoons from the time.

9th Logo (June 4, 1956-September 1, 1972, 1976, 1987)

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Visuals: On a customised background (later fixed to blue) are the words "A Walter Lantz PRODUCTION" with the "Woody riding a stallion" sign now put on the left side of the screen.

Variants:

• On the first cartoons with the logo, the text says "PRODUCED BY Walter Lantz" over a orange background.
• On early cartoons, the "P" isn't larger.
• On the 1976 version of The Woody Woodpecker Show, the show's title and copyright date is shown above and below the logo.
• In 1987, the logo was resurrected, and the "Woody riding a stallion" sign is now on the bottom right.

Technique: A still, hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen on the remaining classic theatrical Woody Woodpecker cartoons.