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), 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 Walter Lantz Productions 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 TitleYearNotesTowne Hall Follies1935First cartoon directed by Avery at Lantz and credited as an animator; Co-directed by Walter LantzAdamson, Joe, Tex Avery: King of Cartoons, 1975, Da Capo PressThe Quail HuntCo-directed by Walter Lantz
1935–1942: Leon Schlesinger Productions era No.TitleYearNotesDVD/Blu-Ray Availability1Gold Diggers of '491935First cartoon directed by Tex Avery at Leon Schlesinger Productions. Featuring Beans and Porky PigDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 DVD: Porky Pig 1012Plane Dippy1936DVD: Porky Pig 1013Miss GloryFirst color cartoon by Tex Avery, where he is uncredited.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 6 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 24The Blow OutDVD: Porky Pig 1015I'd Love to Take Orders from YouBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 16I Love to SingaDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 17Porky the Rain MakerDVD: Porky Pig 1018The Village SmithyDVD: Porky Pig 101Tex Avery was the master of bizarre, groundbreaking animation9Milk and MoneyDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 DVD: Porky Pig 10110Don't Look NowBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 311Porky the Wrestler1937DVD: Porky Pig 10112Picador PorkyFirst cartoon to have voices by Mel Blanc.DVD: Porky Pig 10113I Only Have Eyes for YouBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 314Porky's Duck HuntFirst appearance of the character Daffy Duck.DVD: The Essential Daffy Duck DVD: Porky Pig 101 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 115Uncle Tom's BungalowPart of the Censored Eleven.16Ain't We Got FunDVD: The Life of Emile Zola (bonus feature, unrestored)17Egghead Rides AgainFirst appearance of Egghead.Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 318A Sunbonnet BlueBlu-Ray: The Prince and the Pauper (bonus feature, restored)19Porky's GardenDVD: Porky Pig 10120I Wanna Be a SailorBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 221Little Red Walking HoodFirst appearance of Elmer Fudd.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 22Daffy Duck & Egghead1938DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 323The Sneezing WeaselBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 424The Penguin ParadeBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 225The Isle of Pingo PongoPart of the Censored Eleven. The Censored 11: "The Isle Of Pingo Pongo" (1938)26Cinderella Meets FellaBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 327A Feud There WasBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3Talking About Tex28Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas1938-39 Merrie Melodies: The People's Choice (Pt. 1)29Daffy Duck in HollywoodFinal Daffy Duck cartoon directed by Tex Avery.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 330The Mice Will PlayBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles: The Chuck Jones Collection (bonus feature, unrestored)31Hamateur Night1939Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 232A Day at the ZooIn the public domainBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 133Thugs with Dirty MugsDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 334Believe It or ElseThe CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: B35Dangerous Dan McFooDVD & Blu-Ray: Dodge City (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 4 (restored)36Detouring AmericaBlu-Ray/DVD: Each Dawn I Die (bonus feature, unrestored)The CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: D37Land of the Midnight FunDVD: Allegheny Uprising (bonus feature, unrestored)38Fresh Fish39Screwball Football40The Early Worm Gets the Bird1940In the public domain41Cross Country DetoursBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 242The Bear's TaleDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 543A Gander at Mother GooseDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 544Circus Today45A Wild HareFirst Bugs Bunny cartoon by AveryDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3 (bonus feature, unrestored) DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4 (bonus feature, unrestored) DVD: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection (restored) Blu-ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (restored) Blu-ray: Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection (restored) 46Ceiling Hero47Wacky Wild Life48Of Fox and Hounds First appearance of Willoughby.Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 149Holiday HighlightsDVD: Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (bonus feature, restored)50The Crackpot Quail1941The raspberry noises the quail makes in this cartoon were replaced with whistles instead; the audio track was found by Warner Bros. and restored.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (bonus feature, restored)51The Haunted Mouse52Tortoise Beats HareFirst appearance of the character Cecil Turtle.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 253Hollywood Steps Out Partially lost film.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 254Porky's PreviewFinal Porky Pig cartoon directed by Tex Avery.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 DVD: Porky Pig 10155The Heckling HareFeaturing Bugs BunnyDVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 256Aviation Vacation57All This and Rabbit StewPart of the Censored Eleven.The Censored 11: "All This and Rabbit Stew (1941)"Check Out These 1965 Tex Avery Directed Kool-Aid Commercials58The Bug ParadeFinal cartoon directed by Tex Avery that he completed by himself.59The Cagey CanaryFinished by Bob Clampett.Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 460Wabbit Twouble Finished by Bob Clampett. Final Bugs Bunny cartoon directed by Tex Avery until he started directing Kool Aid ads in the 1960s.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 Blu-Ray/DVD: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 261Aloha Hooey1942 Finished by Bob Clampett.62Crazy Cruise Planned by Avery and direction started by Bob Clampett after his departure.DVD: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
1941: Paramount era All films are in the Speaking of Animals series. TitleYearNotesDown on the Farm1941Co-directed with Lou Lilly.In a Pet ShopIn the Zoo
1942–1957: MGM era #TitleYearNotesDVD & Blu-Ray Availability1Blitz Wolf1942Rarely airs on television due to Nazi imagery. First appearance of the Wolf.DVD: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection (restored) Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, restored) Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)Some Advance Notes on "Tex Avery Screwball Classics" Volume 32The Early Bird Dood It! First produced MGM cartoon directed by Avery.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 33Dumb-Hounded1943First appearance of DroopyDVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 14Red Hot Riding HoodFirst appearance of Red.Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)5Who Killed Who?Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 16One Ham's FamilyBlu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 37What's Buzzin' BuzzardBlu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 18Screwball Squirrel1944First appearance of the character Screwy Squirrel.Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 (restored)9Batty BaseballBlu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 110Happy-Go-NuttyBlu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 311Big Heel-WathaTex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 112The Screwy Truant 1945Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 113The Shooting of Dan McGoo DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 314Jerky Turkey In the public domain. Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 315Swing Shift Cinderella Working title was Red Hot Cindy during productionBlu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 316Wild and WoolfyDVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 317Lonesome Lenny 1946Final appearance of the character Screwy Squirrel.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 118The Hick Chick Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 119Northwest Hounded Police DVD: Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 320Henpecked Hoboes First appearance of the characters George and Junior. DVD: Till the Clouds Roll By (bonus feature, unrestored)21Hound Hunters1947Originally titled What Price Fleadom during production, named used for another Avery cartoon the following year.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 122Red Hot RangersBlu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 123Uncle Tom's Cabaña Banned from television due to racial stereotypes.LaserDisc: The Compleat Tex Avery24Slap Happy Lion A clerical error led to the reissued version's ending card being mixed up with the Tom and Jerry cartoon Smarty Cat.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 325King-Size Canary Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, unrestored) Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 (restored)26What Price Fleadom 1948 Sequel to Rudolf Ising's The Homeless Flea (1940).Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 327Little 'Tinker Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 328Half-Pint Pygmy George and Junior are designed differently in this cartoon. Final appearances of George and Junior. Banned from television due to racial stereotypes.LaserDisc: The Compleat Tex Avery29Lucky Ducky LaserDisc: The Compleat Tex Avery30The Cat That Hated People First appearance of the character Blackie.Blu-Ray: Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 231Bad Luck Blackie 1949Blu-Ray: Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2 (bonus feature, unrestored)