Buzz Buzzard
| Buzz Buzzard | |
|---|---|
| Woody Woodpecker character | |
|
Buzz Buzzard with Woody Woodpecker in his debut in 1948's Wet Blanket Policy. | |
| First appearance | Wet Blanket Policy |
| Created by | Walter Lantz |
| Portrayed by |
Lionel Stander (1948-1949) Dallas McKennon (1950-1972) Daws Butler (in "Spook-A-Nanny") Mark Hamill (1999-2002) Jess Harnell (film) |
| Information | |
| Species | Common Buzzard |
| Gender | Male |
| Relatives | Bizz Buzzard, Booze Buzzard |
Buzz Buzzard is a fictional animated cartoon character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1970s.[1]
History
Buzz is an anthropomorphic buzzard and con artist looking for ways to swindle Woody Woodpecker out of money or food. In other appearances, Buzz has been a cowboy, a carnival barker, a soda jerk yet he still remained a royal pain to Woody. For most of Woody’s career, Buzz was the primary foil for Woody, bearing roughly the same relationship to that character as Yosemite Sam had to Bugs Bunny in Warner Brothers' animated shorts from the same era.
Buzz's first appearance was opposite Woody in 1948's Wet Blanket Policy, the first and only animated short subject to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song,[2] at which time he was more or less replacing Wally Walrus as Woody Woodpecker's primary foil. Character actor Lionel Stander provided his voice in the 1940s with Dallas McKennon taking over the role in the 1950s. Buzz would continue to appear in Woody Woodpecker shorts until the mid 50’s, and was eventually replaced as the woodpecker's rival himself by Dapper Denver Dooley (also voiced by McKennon) and later Gabby Gator. Bunco Busters would be Buzz Buzzard's final appearance in a Woody theatrical cartoon until Tumble Weed Greed in 1969. Though Buzz continued to make appearances in Lantz comic books and on other licensed merchandise.[3] During the 14 year theatrical hiatus, Buzz made an appearance in the 1964 television special, Spook-a-Nanny. However, in Spook-a-Nanny he was voiced by Daws Butler.
The character's appearance changed dramatically throughout the years with a vest and five o’clock shadow that disappears, different feather colors, and head feathers that disappeared entirely and reappeared sporadically.
Buzz Buzzard appearances
- Wet Blanket Policy (08/20/1948)
- Wild and Woody! (12/31/1948)
- Drooler's Delight (03/25/1949)
- Puny Express (01/22/1951)
- Slingshot 6 7/8 (07/23/1951)
- Destination Meatball (12/24/1951)
- Stage Hoax (04/21/1952)
- Scalp Treatment (09/18/1952)
- The Great Who-Dood-It (10/20/1952)
- Buccaneer Woodpecker (04/20/1953)
- Operation Sawdust (06/15/1953)
- Belle Boys (09/14/1953)
- Hypnotic Hick (09/26/1953)
- Hot Noon (or 12 O'Clock For Sure) (10/12/1953)
- Socko in Morocco (01/18/1954)
- Alley to Bali (03/15/1954)
- Hot Rod Huckster (07/05/1954)
- Real Gone Woody (09/20/1954)
- Bunco Busters (11/21/1955)
- Tumble Weed Greed (??/??/1969)
- Ship A'hoy Woody (??/??/1969)
- Flim Flam Fountain (??/??/1970)
- Indian Corn (??/??/1972)
- Show Biz Beagle (??/??/1972)
- The Genie with the Light Touch (??/??/1972)
Other media
- Buzz was referenced in the hit 1987 movie La Bamba, starring Esai Morales as Bob Valenzuela.
- Buzz would reappear as a regular character on The New Woody Woodpecker Show in 1999 voiced by Mark Hamill.
- A few video games from Woody Woodpecker also featured Buzz Buzzard:
- Woody Woodpecker Racing (2000) for PlayStation, Dreamcast, PC and GBC.
- Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park (2001) for GBC, PC and PS2.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ American animated cartoons of the Vietnam era: a study of social commentary ... - Christopher P. Lehman - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ↑ "Wet Blanket Policy". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ↑ "Buzz Buzzard". Comic Vine. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ↑ Lafferty, Michael (2002-06-11). "Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park for PS2 at GameZone.com". GameZone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.