Rocky the Flying Squirrel
Encyclopedia
Rocket J. Squirrel, usually called by the nickname "Rocky", is the name of the flying squirrel
protagonist
of the 1959-1964 animated television
series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show (both shows often referred to collectively as The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
), produced by Jay Ward
. Rocky's sidekick is the cartoon moose
, Bullwinkle
. Both Rocky and Bullwinkle were given the middle initial "J" as a reference to Ward.
Rocky's personality was meant to be that of an upstanding, if slightly naive, all-American youth. As the brains of the "moose and squirrel" duo, Rocky often was shown as coming up with creative solutions to the various situations the duo found themselves in on their adventures. However, he is no less gullible toward Boris Badenov
's and Natasha Fatale
's disguises than Bullwinkle. The best he can do is to occasionally remark, "Those two look familiar!" or "That voice, where have I heard that voice?"
Besides his cleverness, Rocky also made extensive use in the series of his ability to fly, which was presented with, appropriate to his full name, a jet engine
sound effect (the original opening of Rocky and His Friends introduces Rocky as "that Jet Age aerial ace", complete with Rocky performing an air show for a crowd of spectators). His airborne abilities have been depicted inconsistently; some episodes presented this ability as limited to gliding (similar to a real flying squirrel), while others presented it as similar to that of Superman
(hovering in mid-air, ascending in altitude, carrying objects, etc.). According to the series, Rocky learned his aerial skills at Cedar Yorpantz
Flying School.
Rocky shared a house with Bullwinkle, in the fictional small town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, a parody of the real-life American town of International Falls, Minnesota
.
Rocky's most frequently used catch phrase was "hokey smoke!"
Veteran cartoon voice artist June Foray
was the voice of Rocky as well as the voice of Natasha Fatale and other characters. Foray continues to voice the character in current media, including The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
.
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the 1959-1964 animated television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show (both shows often referred to collectively as The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show is an American animated television series that originally aired from November 19, 1959 to June 28, 1964 on the ABC and NBC television networks...
), produced by Jay Ward
Jay Ward
J Troplong "Jay" Ward was an American creator and producer of animated television cartoons. He produced animated series based on such characters as Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, Peabody and Sherman, Hoppity Hooper, George of the Jungle, Tom Slick, and Super Chicken...
. Rocky's sidekick is the cartoon moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, Bullwinkle
Bullwinkle J. Moose
Bullwinkle J. Moose is a fictional character in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle, produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott...
. Both Rocky and Bullwinkle were given the middle initial "J" as a reference to Ward.
Rocky's personality was meant to be that of an upstanding, if slightly naive, all-American youth. As the brains of the "moose and squirrel" duo, Rocky often was shown as coming up with creative solutions to the various situations the duo found themselves in on their adventures. However, he is no less gullible toward Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov is a fictional character in the 1960s animated cartoons Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short. He is voiced by Paul Frees....
's and Natasha Fatale
Natasha Fatale
Natasha Fatale is a fictional character in the 1960s animated cartoons Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short...
's disguises than Bullwinkle. The best he can do is to occasionally remark, "Those two look familiar!" or "That voice, where have I heard that voice?"
Besides his cleverness, Rocky also made extensive use in the series of his ability to fly, which was presented with, appropriate to his full name, a jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
sound effect (the original opening of Rocky and His Friends introduces Rocky as "that Jet Age aerial ace", complete with Rocky performing an air show for a crowd of spectators). His airborne abilities have been depicted inconsistently; some episodes presented this ability as limited to gliding (similar to a real flying squirrel), while others presented it as similar to that of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
(hovering in mid-air, ascending in altitude, carrying objects, etc.). According to the series, Rocky learned his aerial skills at Cedar Yorpantz
Visual flight rules
Visual flight rules are a set of regulations which allow a pilot to operate an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than basic VFR weather minimums, as specified in the rules of the...
Flying School.
Rocky shared a house with Bullwinkle, in the fictional small town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, a parody of the real-life American town of International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,424 at the 2010 census....
.
Rocky's most frequently used catch phrase was "hokey smoke!"
Veteran cartoon voice artist June Foray
June Foray
June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
was the voice of Rocky as well as the voice of Natasha Fatale and other characters. Foray continues to voice the character in current media, including The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is a 2000 comedy film based on the television cartoon The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show by Jay Ward. The animated characters Rocky and Bullwinkle shared the screen with live actors portraying Fearless Leader , Boris Badenov , Natasha Fatale , and FBI agent Karen...
.