| The Night of the Living Duck | |
| Director: | Greg Ford Terry Lennon |
| Story: | Greg Ford Terry Lennon |
| Animator: | Brenda Banks Norm McCabe Frans Vischer Rebecca Rees Mark Kausler |
| Layout Artist: | Robert Givens Lin Larsen |
| Background Artist: | Richard H. Thomas Alan Bodner |
| Starring: | Mel Blanc Mel Tormé (singing voice) |
| Music: | Music from previous cartoons by Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn |
| Producer: | Steven S. Greene |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. Animation |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. |
| Runtime: | 6 min. |
| Language: | English |
The Night of the Living Duck is a six-minute 1988 Merrie Melodies cartoon starring Daffy Duck, directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon.[1] It was released to theatres as a part of Daffy Duck's Quackbusters on September 24, 1988 and precedes the film in all subsequent releases, including in TV broadcasts and home media.
The title is a pun on Night of the Living Dead, although the cartoon has nothing to do with said film's theme of a zombie apocalypse.
This short was also one of Mel Blanc's final performances, as it was released less than a year before his death.
Daffy Duck, engaging in his penchant for comic book perusal akin to his previous cinematic exploits in The Great Piggy Bank Robbery, immerses himself in the gripping pages of "Hideous Tales". Enthralled by the narrative involving the enigmatic "Noseman" and the looming presence of "Schmodzilla," Daffy eagerly anticipates the continuation of the story in the subsequent issue, deeming it a coveted collector's item. However, his quest for the next installment is abruptly interrupted when a falling monster clock renders him unconscious.
Amidst the depths of slumber, Daffy finds himself thrust into a surreal realm, assuming the role of the featured entertainer in a nightclub populated by an eclectic array of classic movie monsters. Among the eerie patrons are renowned figures such as Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, and various other iconic creatures of lore. Despite his initial trepidation, Daffy discovers a miraculous vocal talent facilitated by the application of "Eau de Tormé" throat spray, enabling him to captivate the audience with a spirited rendition of "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives."
However, Daffy's jovial banter takes a perilous turn when he unwittingly incurs the wrath of Schmodzilla with his jesting remarks. Provoked by Daffy's irreverence, the towering reptilian creature swiftly devours the hapless duck, plunging him into a harrowing ordeal. Awakening from his nocturnal reverie, Daffy finds himself confined within a wastebasket alongside the elusive comic he sought, now bearing the ominous visage of Schmodzilla on its cover. Dismissing the surreal encounter with a characteristic scoff, Daffy is confronted once more by the menacing persona of Schmodzilla, humorously quipping, "You were expecting maybe Calvin Coolidge?"