Wally Walrus
Encyclopedia
Wally Walrus is a fictional animated cartoon
character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s and '50s.
Wally is an anthropomorphic walrus
who, in most of his appearances, speaks with a pronounced Swedish
accent (voiced by Hans Conried
). In other appearances, such as The Reckless Driver
, he sports a New York accent (voiced courtesy of William Demarest
). In one short, Wally played a police officer, complete with a thick Irish accent. Wally is rather slow-witted at times, and prone to anger when provoked. For many years, Wally was the primary foil for Woody Woodpecker
, bearing roughly the same relationship to that character as Elmer Fudd
had to Bugs Bunny
in Warner Brothers
' animated shorts from the same era. Wally is often heard humming or singing the popular song My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
.
Wally's first appearance was opposite Woody in 1944's The Beach Nut
. Character actors Hans Conried, William Demarest, and Paul Frees
provided his voice alternately in the 40’s while Dal McKennon, Frees, and Daws Butler
took on the role from 1951 onward. He continued to be featured in Lantz cartoons through 1948's Wacky-Bye Baby
, at which time he was more or less replaced by Buzz Buzzard
as Woody Woodpecker's primary foil. He would then make a few brief appearances in some 1950s cartoons like Puny Express
, Sleep Happy
, The Woody Woodpecker Polka
, What's Sweepin'
and Buccaneer Woodpecker
. Wally also appeared, opposite Chilly Willy
, in a pair of 1961 shorts (voiced by Frees); as well as in a Woody TV special, Spook-a-Nanny (voiced by Butler). Wally would years later reappear as a regular character on The New Woody Woodpecker Show
in 1999 voiced by Billy West
(who also played Woody). However, his classic period was 1944-1948.
Wally continued to make appearances in Lantz comic book
s and on other licensed merchandise. An unidentified background character resembling Wally also made a cameo appearance amongst the crowd of Toons during the final scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit
.
The character's appearance changed somewhat over the years, with a complexion that ranged from dark to light flesh-tone and tusk
s that got variously smaller, larger, disappeared entirely, and reappeared. A frequent animation goof in The New Woody Woodpecker Show
was to draw the mouth
separate from the tusks, so it appeared they were protruding from Wally's nostril
s.
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s and '50s.
Wally is an anthropomorphic walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
who, in most of his appearances, speaks with a pronounced Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
accent (voiced by Hans Conried
Hans Conried
Hans Georg Conried, Jr. was an American comedian, character actor and voice actor.-Early years:He was born on April 15, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland to Hans Georg Conried, Sr. and Edith Beyr Gildersleeve. His mother was a descendant of Pilgrims, and his father was a Jewish immigrant from Vienna,...
). In other appearances, such as The Reckless Driver
The Reckless Driver
The Reckless Driver is the 19th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on August 26, 1946, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
, he sports a New York accent (voiced courtesy of William Demarest
William Demarest
Carl William Demarest was an American character actor. He frequently played crusty but good-hearted roles.-Early life and career:...
). In one short, Wally played a police officer, complete with a thick Irish accent. Wally is rather slow-witted at times, and prone to anger when provoked. For many years, Wally was the primary foil for Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker is an animated cartoon character, an anthropomorphic acorn woodpecker who appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures...
, bearing roughly the same relationship to that character as Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd
Elmer J. Fudd/Egghead is a fictional cartoon character and one of the most famous Looney Tunes characters, and the de facto archenemy of Bugs Bunny. He has one of the more disputed origins in the Warner Bros. cartoon pantheon . His aim is to hunt Bugs, but he usually ends up seriously injuring...
had to Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
in Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, among others. The studio is the successor to Warner Bros...
' animated shorts from the same era. Wally is often heard humming or singing the popular song My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
"My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk songwhich remains popular in Western culture.-History:The origin of the song is unknown, though it is often suggested that the subject of the song may be...
.
Wally's first appearance was opposite Woody in 1944's The Beach Nut
The Beach Nut
The Beach Nut is the 11th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 16, 1944, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures...
. Character actors Hans Conried, William Demarest, and Paul Frees
Paul Frees
Paul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
provided his voice alternately in the 40’s while Dal McKennon, Frees, and Daws Butler
Daws Butler
Charles Dawson "Daws" Butler was a voice actor originally from Toledo, Ohio. He worked mostly for Hanna-Barbera and originated the voices of many famous animated cartoon characters, including Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, and Huckleberry Hound.Daws Butler trained many working actors...
took on the role from 1951 onward. He continued to be featured in Lantz cartoons through 1948's Wacky-Bye Baby
Wacky-Bye Baby
Wacky-Bye Baby is the 28th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on May 2, 1948, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by United Artists.-Plot:...
, at which time he was more or less replaced by Buzz Buzzard
Buzz Buzzard
Buzz Buzzard is a fictional animated cartoon character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s, '50s, and 70’s.-History:...
as Woody Woodpecker's primary foil. He would then make a few brief appearances in some 1950s cartoons like Puny Express
Puny Express
Puny Express is an American cartoon, and the 32nd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on January 22, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International....
, Sleep Happy
Sleep Happy
Sleep Happy is the 33rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 26, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
, The Woody Woodpecker Polka
The Woody Woodpecker Polka
The Woody Woodpecker Polka is the 37th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 29, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
, What's Sweepin'
What's Sweepin'
What's Sweepin' is the 45th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on January 5, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
and Buccaneer Woodpecker
Buccaneer Woodpecker
Buccaneer Woodpecker is the 46th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 20, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
. Wally also appeared, opposite Chilly Willy
Chilly Willy
Chilly Willy is a cartoon character, a diminutive anthropomorphic penguin living in Alaska, although the species is native only to the southern hemisphere. He was created by Paul J. Smith for the Walter Lantz studio in 1953...
, in a pair of 1961 shorts (voiced by Frees); as well as in a Woody TV special, Spook-a-Nanny (voiced by Butler). Wally would years later reappear as a regular character on The New Woody Woodpecker Show
The New Woody Woodpecker Show
The New Woody Woodpecker Show is an animated television series based on the original cartoon by Walter Lantz, produced by Universal Animation Studios and aired from 1999 until 2002 on FOX and YTV...
in 1999 voiced by Billy West
Billy West
William Richard "Billy" West is an American voice actor. Born in Detroit but raised in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Billy launched his career in the early 1980s performing daily comedic routines on Boston's WBCN. He left the radio station to work on the short-lived revival...
(who also played Woody). However, his classic period was 1944-1948.
Wally continued to make appearances in Lantz comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s and on other licensed merchandise. An unidentified background character resembling Wally also made a cameo appearance amongst the crowd of Toons during the final scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy-noir film directed by Robert Zemeckis and released by Touchstone Pictures. The film combines live action and animation, and is based on Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which depicts a world in which cartoon characters...
.
The character's appearance changed somewhat over the years, with a complexion that ranged from dark to light flesh-tone and tusk
Tusk
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth, usually but not always in pairs, that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canines, as with warthogs, wild boar, and walruses, or, in the case of elephants and narwhals, elongated incisors...
s that got variously smaller, larger, disappeared entirely, and reappeared. A frequent animation goof in The New Woody Woodpecker Show
The New Woody Woodpecker Show
The New Woody Woodpecker Show is an animated television series based on the original cartoon by Walter Lantz, produced by Universal Animation Studios and aired from 1999 until 2002 on FOX and YTV...
was to draw the mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
separate from the tusks, so it appeared they were protruding from Wally's nostril
Nostril
A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and remove moisture on exhalation...
s.
Appearances
- The Beach NutThe Beach NutThe Beach Nut is the 11th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 16, 1944, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures...
(1944) - Ski for TwoSki for TwoSki for Two is the 12th cartoon short in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on November 13, 1944, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
(1944) - Chew-Chew BabyChew-Chew BabyChew-Chew Baby is the 13th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on February 5, 1945, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures....
(1945) - The Dippy DiplomatThe Dippy DiplomatThe Dippy Diplomat is the 15th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on August 27, 1945, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
(1945) - Bathing BuddiesBathing BuddiesBathing Buddies is the 18th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 1, 1946, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
(1946) - The Reckless DriverThe Reckless DriverThe Reckless Driver is the 19th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on August 26, 1946, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
(1946) - Smoked HamsSmoked HamsSmoked Hams is the 21st animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 28, 1947, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
(1947) - The Overture To William Tell (1947)
- Well OiledWell Oiled (cartoon)Well Oiled is the 23rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on June 30, 1947, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Notes:...
(1947) - The Mad HatterThe Mad Hatter (cartoon)The Mad Hatter is the 26th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on February 16, 1948, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by United Artists.-Plot:...
(1948) - Banquet BustersBanquet BustersBanquet Busters is the 27th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 3, 1948, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by United Artists.- Plot :...
(1948) - Kiddie Koncert (1948)
- Wacky-Bye BabyWacky-Bye BabyWacky-Bye Baby is the 28th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on May 2, 1948, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by United Artists.-Plot:...
(1948) - Dog Tax Dodgers (1948)
- Puny ExpressPuny ExpressPuny Express is an American cartoon, and the 32nd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on January 22, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International....
(1951) - Sleep HappySleep HappySleep Happy is the 33rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 26, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1951) - Slingshot 6 7/8Slingshot 6 7/8Slingshot 6 7/8 is the 35th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 23, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1951) - The Woody Woodpecker PolkaThe Woody Woodpecker PolkaThe Woody Woodpecker Polka is the 37th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on October 29, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1951) - Stage HoaxStage HoaxStage Hoax is the 40th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 21, 1952, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1952) - What's Sweepin'What's Sweepin'What's Sweepin' is the 45th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on January 5, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1953) - Buccaneer WoodpeckerBuccaneer WoodpeckerBuccaneer Woodpecker is the 46th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on April 20, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1953) - Operation SawdustOperation SawdustOperation Sawdust is the 47th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on June 15, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
(1953) - Clash and Carry (1961)
- Tricky Trout (1961)