List of films directed by Tex Avery explained

Tex Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor, and director. He became famous for producing animated cartoons during the Golden age of American animation and produced his most significant work while employed by the Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. He created the characters of Daffy Duck in Porky's Duck Hunt (1937), in Egghead in Egghead Rides Again (1937), Elmer Fudd in Little Red Walking Hood (1937), Bugs Bunny in A Wild Hare (1940), Cecil Turtle in Tortoise Beats Hare (1941), Droopy in Dumb-Hounded (1943), Screwy Squirrel in Screwball Squirrel (1944), George and Junior in Henpecked Hoboes (1946), Spike/Butch the Bulldog (Tex Avery's version) in Bad Luck Blackie (1949), and Smedley Dog in I'm Cold (1954). He developed the characters of Porky Pig from the Warner Bros. studio and Chilly Willy from the Walter Lantz Studio into the personas for which they are best remembered.

Avery first began his animation career at the Walter Lantz studio in the early 1930s, working on the majority of the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons from 1931-35. He is listed as "animator" on the original title card credits on the Oswald cartoons. He later claimed to have directed two cartoons during this time. By 1942, Avery was in the employ of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, working in their cartoon division under the supervision of Fred Quimby. At MGM, Avery's creativity reached its peak. A burnt-out Avery left MGM in 1953 to return to the Walter Lantz studio. Avery's return to the Lantz studio did not last long. He directed four cartoons in 1954-1955: the one-shots Crazy Mixed-Up Pup and Shh-h-h-h-h, and I'm Cold and The Legend of Rockabye Point, in which he defined the character of Chilly Willy the penguin.

Films directed or co-directed by Tex Avery

1935: Carl Laemmle/Walter Lantz era

TitleYearNotes
scope=rowTowne Hall Follies1935First cartoon directed by Avery at Lantz and credited as an animator; Co-directed by Walter Lantz
scope=rowThe Quail Hunt1935Co-directed by Walter Lantz

1935–1942: Warner Bros. era

No.TitleYearNotesDVD/Blu-Ray Availability
scope=row1Gold Diggers of '491935
  • In black and white.
  • First cartoon by Tex Avery at Warners.
  • Featuring Porky Pig
[1]
scope=row2Plane Dippy1936 [2]
scope=row3Page Miss Glory1936
  • First color cartoon by Tex Avery.
  • DVD:
  • Blu-Ray:
scope=row4The Blow Out1936
scope=row5I'd Love to Take Orders from You1936
scope=row6I Love to Singa1936
  • DVD:
  • Blu-Ray:
scope=row7Porky the Rain Maker1936
scope=row8The Village Smithy1936 [3] [4]
scope=row9Milk and Money1936
scope=row10Don't Look Now1936
scope=row11Porky the Wrestler1937
scope=row12Picador Porky1937
scope=row13I Only Have Eyes for You1937
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3
scope=row14Porky's Duck Hunt1937
  • In black and white.
  • Featuring Porky Pig
  • First appearance of the character Daffy Duck.
  • First cartoon where Mel Blanc does the voice of Porky Pig.
scope=row15Uncle Tom's Bungalow1937
scope=row16Ain't We Got Fun1937
scope=row17Egghead Rides Again1937
  • First appearance of Egghead.
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3
scope=row18A Sunbonnet Blue1937
scope=row19Porky's Garden1937
scope=row20I Wanna Be a Sailor1937
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2
scope=row21Little Red Walking Hood1937
  • Featuring Egghead,
  • First appearance of the prototype of Elmer Fudd.
  • DVD:
[5]
scope=row22Daffy Duck & Egghead1938
  • DVD:
[6]
scope=row23The Sneezing Weasel1938
scope=row24The Penguin Parade1938
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2
scope=row25The Isle of Pingo Pongo1938
  • Part of the Censored Eleven.
  • Featuring Egghead
  • Lobby poster makes first reference to the Prototype of Elmer as "Elmer".
[7]
scope=row26Cinderella Meets Fella1938
  • Featuring Egghead
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3
scope=row27A Feud There Was1938
  • First cartoon in which the name full Elmer Fudd was employed.
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3
[8]
scope=row28Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas1938
  • Featuring Egghead
[9]
scope=row29Daffy Duck in Hollywood1938
  • DVD:
scope=row30The Mice Will Play1938
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
scope=row31Hamateur Night1939
  • Featuring Egghead
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2
scope=row32A Day at the Zoo1939
  • Featuring Egghead
scope=row33Thugs with Dirty Mugs1939
  • DVD:
scope=row34Believe It or Else1939
  • Featuring Egghead
  • Berth of a baby sequence removed from television airings due to its racist content.
  • Parody of Ripley's Believe It or Not!
[10]
scope=row35Dangerous Dan McFoo1939
  • DVD & Blu-Ray: Dodge City (bonus feature, unrestored)
scope=row36Detouring America1939
  • Eskimo, black and half of Native American sequence cut from television airings.
[11]
scope=row37Land of the Midnight Fun1939
scope=row38Fresh Fish1939
scope=row39Screwball Football1939
scope=row40The Early Worm Gets the Bird1940
scope=row41Cross-Country Detours1940
  • Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2
scope=row42The Bear's Tale1940
  • DVD:
scope=row43A Gander at Mother Goose1940
  • DVD:
scope=row44Circus Today1940
scope=row45A Wild Hare1940
scope=row46Ceiling Hero1940
scope=row47Wacky Wild Life1940
scope=row48Of Fox and Hounds1940
scope=row49Holiday Highlights1940
  • DVD: Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers (bonus feature, unrestored)
scope=row50The Crackpot Quail1941
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (bonus feature, restored)
scope=row51The Haunted Mouse1941
  • In black and white.
scope=row52Tortoise Beats Hare1941
  • DVD:
  • Blu-Ray:
scope=row53Hollywood Steps Out1941
  • DVD:
  • Blu-Ray:
scope=row54Porky's Preview1941
  • In black and white.
  • Final Porky Pig cartoon directed by Tex Avery.
scope=row55The Heckling Hare1941
  • DVD:
scope=row56Aviation Vacation1941
  • African native sequence cut from television airings.
scope=row57All This and Rabbit Stew1941
  • Part of the Censored Eleven.
  • Final Bugs Bunny cartoon directed by Tex Avery until he started directing Kool Aid ads in the 1960s.
[12] [13]
scope=row58The Bug Parade1941
  • Final cartoon directed by Tex Avery that he completed by himself.
scope=row59The Cagey Canary1941 [14]
scope=row60Wabbit Twouble1941
  • DVD:
  • Blu-Ray:
scope=row61Aloha Hooey1942
  • Planned, but completed by Bob Clampett.
scope=row62Crazy Cruise1942
  • Planned, but completed by Bob Clampett.
  • African native sequence and Japanese vulture sequence cut from television airings.
  • DVD:

1941: Paramount era

All shorts are in live action and in black and white.

TitleYearNotes
scope=rowDown on the Farm1941[15]
scope=rowIn a Pet Shop1941[16]
scope=rowIn the Zoo1941[17]

1942–1957: MGM era

TitleYearNotesDVD & Blu-Ray Availability
scope=row1Blitz Wolf1942
  • Rarely airs on television due to Nazi imagery.
  • First appearance of the Wolf.
[18]
scope=row2The Early Bird Dood It!1942
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row3Dumb-Hounded1943
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row4Red Hot Riding Hood1943
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)
scope=row5Who Killed Who?1943
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
[19]
scope=row6One Ham's Family1943
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
[20]
scope=row7What's Buzzin' Buzzard1943
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row8Screwball Squirrel1944
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)
scope=row9Batty Baseball1944
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row10Happy-Go-Nutty1944
  • Blackface gag present which is cut from television airings.
  • Blu-Ray: 'Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row11Big Heel-Watha1944
  • Rarely airs on television due to negative stereotypes of Native Americans.
  • It is the only Screwy Squirrel's cartoon to have its alternate name, "(Buck of the Month)".
  • Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row12The Screwy Truant 1945
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row13The Shooting of Dan McGoo 1945
  • Originally withheld from broadcast during the television restrictions code for its suggestive material.
  • Original print found by Mark Kausler.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: 'Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row14Jerky Turkey 1945
  • In the public domain
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row15Swing Shift Cinderella 1945
  • Originally withheld from broadcast during the television restrictions code for its suggestive material.
  • Working title was Red Hot Cindy during production
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row16Wild and Woolfy1945
  • Originally withheld from broadcast during the television restrictions code for its suggestive material.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row17Lonesome Lenny 1946
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row18The Hick Chick 1946
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row19Northwest Hounded Police 1946
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row20Henpecked Hoboes 1946
  • First appearance of the characters George and Junior.
  • Blackface gag present which is cut from television airings.
scope=row21Hound Hunters1947
  • Originally titled What Price Fleadom during production, named used for another Avery cartoon the following year.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
[21]
scope=row22Red Hot Rangers1947
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row23Uncle Tom's Cabaña 1947
  • Banned from television due to racial stereotypes.
  • LaserDisc: The Compleat Tex Avery
[22]
scope=row24Slap Happy Lion 1947
  • This cartoon and Smarty Cat from Tom and Jerry swapped the ending which is why the reissue has Tom and Jerry ending instead of the blue MGM ending card.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row25King-Size Canary 1947
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)
scope=row26What Price Fleadom 1948
  • The scene where the dog was about to commit suicide was cut.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row27Little 'Tinker 1948
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row28Half-Pint Pygmy 1948
  • Banned from television due to racial stereotypes.
  • LaserDisc: The Compleat Tex Avery
scope=row29Lucky Ducky 1948
  • Blackface gag cut from television airings.
scope=row30The Cat That Hated People 1948
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row31Bad Luck Blackie 1949
  • First appearance of the character Spike/Butch the bulldog (Tex Avery's version).
  • Current airings on Cartoon Network, Boomerang and MeTV cut the scene where Butch emerges from the outdoor stove because it resembles a stereotypical Asian face.
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)
scope=row32Señor Droopy 1949
  • First cartoon in which the character Droopy is named onscreen.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)
scope=row33The House of Tomorrow 1949
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row34Doggone Tired 1949
  • In the public domain
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row35Wags to Riches 1949
  • Later got a remake as cinemascope called "Millionaire Droopy".
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (resotred)
scope=row36Little Rural Riding Hood 1949
  • Originally withheld from broadcast during the television restrictions code for its suggestive material.
  • Last appearance of Red.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row37Out-Foxed 1949
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row38The Counterfeit Cat 1949
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row39Ventriloquist Cat 1950
  • Later got a remake as cinemascope called "Cat's Meow".
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row40The Cuckoo Clock 1950
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row41Garden Gopher 1950
  • Blackface gag airs uncut on MeTV.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row42The Chump Champ 1950
  • Only time where Droopy loses in the end.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row43The Peachy Cobbler 1951
  • Photo backgrounds
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row44Cock-a-Doodle Dog 1951
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row45Daredevil Droopy 1951
  • Blackface gag cut from television airings.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1
scope=row46Droopy's Good Deed 1951
  • Blackface gag and stereotypes cut from television airings.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
scope=row47Symphony in Slang 1951
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)
scope=row48Car of Tomorrow 1951
  • Cartoon Network and Boomerang cuts two scenes of Indian cars and Chinese cars.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row49Droopy's Double Trouble 1951
  • First appearance of Droopy's brother Drippy who is very stronger than him.
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row50Magical Maestro 1952
  • Due to it being racist stereotypes, future airings removes the scenes of where a cymbal land on Butch making him look like Chinese, and another where inks was sprayed on Butch as well. Brief scene of cymbal landing on Mysto was also removed.
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2 (restored)
[23]
scope=row51One Cab's Family 1952
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row52Rock-a-Bye Bear1952
  • Final cartoon directed by Avery before year-long sabbatical.
  • Blu-Ray: (bonus feature, unrestored)
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)
scope=row53Little Johnny Jet1953
  • First cartoon directed by Avery after return from sabbatical.
scope=row54T.V. of Tomorrow1953
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row55The Three Little Pups 1953
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row56Drag-a-Long Droopy 1954
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
[24]
scope=row57Billy Boy 1954
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row58Homesteader Droopy 1954
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row59The Farm of Tomorrow 1954
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row60The Flea Circus 1954
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row61Dixieland Droopy 1954
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row62Field and Scream 1955
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row63The First Bad Man 1955
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2
scope=row64Deputy Droopy 1955
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)
scope=row65Cellbound1955
  • Directed by Tex Avery and Michael Lah.
  • Last MGM cartoon directed by Tex Avery.
  • Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3
scope=row66Millionaire Droopy1956
  • Cinemascope remake of Wags to Riches (1949) by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera after Avery left.
  • Credits mention « directed by Tex Avery ».
  • DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
scope=row67Cat's Meow 1957
  • Cinemascope remake of Ventriloquist Cat (1950) by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera after Avery left.
  • Credits mention « directed by Tex Avery ».

1954–1955: Universal & Walter Lantz era

TitleYearNotesAvailability
scope=row1I'm Cold1954
  • A Chilly Willy cartoon.
  • First appearance of the character Smedley Dog
[25]
scope=row2Crazy Mixed Up Pup1955
scope=row3The Legend of Rockabye Point1955 [26]
scope=row4Sh-h-h-h-h-h1955[27] [28]

1979: Hanna-Barbera era

References

  1. Book: Barrier, Michael. Hollywood cartoons : American animation in its golden age. Oxford University Press. 1999. 978-0195167290. 330–331.
  2. Book: Beck . Jerry . Friedwald . Will . Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons . 1989 . Henry Holt and Co . 0-8050-0894-2 . 44 .
  3. https://www.polygon.com/animation-cartoons/22351826/tex-avery-best-cartoons Tex Avery was the master of bizarre, groundbreaking animation
  4. Book: Barrier, Michael. Hollywood cartoons : American animation in its golden age. Oxford University Press. 1999. 978-0195167290. 332.
  5. Book: Hollywood cartoons : American animation in its golden age . 978-0-19-503759-3 . 1999 . Michael Barrier . J. . Elliott . Duong Van Mai . Barrier . Michael .
  6. Book: Grant, John . Animated movies : facts, figures and fun . 2006 . 978-1-904332-52-7 . 15 .
  7. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-censored-11-the-isle-of-pingo-pongo-1938/ The Censored 11: "The Isle Of Pingo Pongo" (1938)
  8. https://tralfaz.blogspot.com/2021/01/talking-about-tex.html Talking About Tex
  9. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/1938-39-merrie-melodies-the-peoples-choice-pt-1/ 1938-39 Merrie Melodies: The People's Choice (Pt. 1)
  10. https://www.intanibase.com/gac/looneytunes/censored-b.aspx The CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: B
  11. https://www.intanibase.com/gac/looneytunes/censored-d.aspx The CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: D
  12. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-censored-11-all-this-and-rabbit-stew-1941/ The Censored 11: "All This and Rabbit Stew (1941)"
  13. https://popcultureretrorama.com/2020/03/28/check-out-these-1965-tex-avery-directed-kool-aid-commercials/ Check Out These 1965 Tex Avery Directed Kool-Aid Commercials
  14. [Joe Adamson|Adamson, Joe]
  15. Web site: Speaking of Animals Down on the Farm . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  16. Web site: Speaking of Animals in a Pet Shop . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  17. Web site: Speaking of Animals in the Zoo . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  18. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/some-advance-notes-on-tex-avery-screwball-classics-volume-3 Some Advance Notes on "Tex Avery Screwball Classics" Volume 3
  19. TAKE ONE: the film magazine . 1970-12-19 . TAKE ONE . Lebensold . Peter . 14 . 2023-02-18.
  20. Book: Crump . William D. . Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film . 2019 . McFarland & Co . 9781476672939 . 229–230.
  21. Web site: Irv Spence and Rod Scribner, One-Shot Moonlighters |.
  22. Web site: Compleat Tex Avery, The [ML102681] ]. Laserdisc Database . May 23, 2015.
  23. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-song-begins-its-magic/ The Song Begins…It's Magic!
  24. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/fitness-vs-fatness-part-6-i-was-a-pound-weakling/ Fitness vs. Fatness (Part 6): I Was a (??)-Pound Weakling
  25. Web site: I'm Cold . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  26. Web site: The Legend of Rockabye Point . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  27. Web site: Sh-h-h-h-h-h . IMDb . 17 February 2020.
  28. Web site: October 24, 2016 . The Final Needle Drop: “The Okeh Laughing Record” . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230905220346/https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-final-needle-drop-the-okeh-laughing-record/ . Sep 5, 2023 . Cartoon Research.
  29. Book: Sánchez, Cruz. Tex Avery. 2014. 9788437632292. Spanish.