The Blue Racer
Encyclopedia
The Blue Racer is a series of 17 theatrical cartoons produced from 1972 to 1974.
, Sid Marcus, Bob McKimson, David Deneen, Bob Balser, Cullen Houghtaling and produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng
. The majority of the cartoons were animated at the DePatie-Freleng studio, except for two done overseas: Aches and Snakes at Australia's Filmgraphics studio, and Little Boa Peep at Spain's Pegbar Productions.
impersonating Paul Lynde
) tries unsuccessfully to catch a stereotypically-Japan
ese beetle (voiced by Tom Holland
), who is a black belt in karate
. Both characters spun off from Tijuana Toads
in "Hop and Chop" (the Japanese beetle) and "Snake in the Gracias" (the Blue Racer). The goofy bird from the Tijuana Toads (Crazylegs Crane
, who also repeatedly failed to collar the Racer and Toads himself) also later appeared in the series as well. 17 cartoons were produced.
.
Production
The cartoons are directed by Art Davis, Gerry ChiniquyGerry Chiniquy
Germain Adolph "Gerry" Chiniquy was an American animator. He is best known for his work with Friz Freleng, at both Warner Bros. and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises....
, Sid Marcus, Bob McKimson, David Deneen, Bob Balser, Cullen Houghtaling and produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
. The majority of the cartoons were animated at the DePatie-Freleng studio, except for two done overseas: Aches and Snakes at Australia's Filmgraphics studio, and Little Boa Peep at Spain's Pegbar Productions.
Plot
A fast blue snake named Blue Racer (voiced by Larry D. MannLarry D. Mann
Larry D. Mann is a Canadian actor. Prior to his acting career, he was a disk jockey on CHUM 1050 radio in Toronto in 1949. His best-known Canadian television exposure was in a Bell Canada series of commercials called "The Boss" in which he played the title role for ten years beginning in 1981...
impersonating Paul Lynde
Paul Lynde
Paul Edward Lynde was an American comedian and actor. A noted character actor, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and Harry MacAfee, the befuddled father in Bye Bye Birdie...
) tries unsuccessfully to catch a stereotypically-Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese beetle (voiced by Tom Holland
Tom Holland
Tom Holland may refer to:*Tom Holland , American film director*Tom Holland , British author*Tom Holland , British actor*Tom Holland , English footballer...
), who is a black belt in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. Both characters spun off from Tijuana Toads
Tijuana Toads
Tijuana Toads is a series of 17 theatrical cartoons produced by DePatie-Freleng and released through United Artists.-Plot:The series was about two toads, Toro and Pancho, who live in the Mexican city of Tijuana. Throughout the cartoon they try to eat their prey, but always get out-smarted...
in "Hop and Chop" (the Japanese beetle) and "Snake in the Gracias" (the Blue Racer). The goofy bird from the Tijuana Toads (Crazylegs Crane
Crazylegs Crane
Crazylegs Crane is a 16-episode made-for-television cartoon series produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1978 for The All New Pink Panther Show on ABC.-Production:This was Crazylegs Crane's first series dedicated solely to him...
, who also repeatedly failed to collar the Racer and Toads himself) also later appeared in the series as well. 17 cartoons were produced.
Trivia
- Bob Holt voiced both the Blue Racer and the Japanese Beetle in the 1972 short "Support Your Local Serpent".
- In the 1973 shorts the Japanese Beetle was no longer featured in the series making the 1972 short "Blue Racer Blues" his last appearance.
Filmography
All cartoons written by John W. DunnJohn W. Dunn
John W. Dunn was a Scottish writer and animator for animated cartoons from 1955 to 1983.Dunn began his career at the Walt Disney cartoon studio, where his first story credit—Man in Space—received an Oscar nomination...
.
| № | Title | Directed by: | Released: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hiss and Hers" | Gerry Chiniquy Gerry Chiniquy Germain Adolph "Gerry" Chiniquy was an American animator. He is best known for his work with Friz Freleng, at both Warner Bros. and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.... |
1972-Jul-03 |
| 2 | "Support Your Local Serpent" | Art Davis | 1972-Jul-09 |
| 3 | "Nippon Tuck" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Jul-16 |
| 4 | "Punch and Judo" | Art Davis | 1972-Jul-23 |
| 5 | "Love and Hisses" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Aug-03 |
| 6 | "Camera Bug" | Art Davis | 1972-Aug-06 |
| 7 | "Yokahama Mama" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Dec-24 |
| 8 | "Blue Racer Blues" | Art Davis | 1972-Dec-31 |
| 9 | "The Boa Friend" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-Feb-11 |
| 10 | "Wham and Eggs" | Art Davis | 1973-Feb-18 |
| 11 | "Killarney Blarney" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-May-16 |
| 12 | "Blue Aces Wild" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-May-16 |
| 13 | "Fowl Play" | Bob McKimson Robert McKimson Robert "Bob" Porter McKimson, Sr. was an American animator, illustrator, and director best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros., and later DePatie-Freleng Enterprises... |
1973-Jun-01 |
| 14 | "Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow" | Sid Marcus | 1973-Jun-01 |
| 15 | "Snake Preview" | Cullen Houghtaling | 1973-Aug-10 |
| 16 | "Aces and Snakes" | David Deneen | 1973-Aug-10 |
| 17 | "Little Boa Peep" | Bob Balsar | 1974-Jan-16 |