Porky Pig



Porky Pig was the first true star character to be adorned on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies franchises, and an icon of animation. This lovable swine has earned recognition for his cute looks, his legendary stutter, and his many escapades with fellow screwball Daffy Duck. He has starred in the second most cartoons in the franchises, with 159 appearances in the original theatrical cartoons, second only to Bugs Bunny's 168 short lineup and ahead of Daffy Duck's 129 short lineup (although he shared 42 shorts with Daffy).

Porky Pig as a character was instrumental in saving the Warner Bros. cartoon studio from going under--by 1935, the studio had been in the doldrums after studio founders Harman and Ising left, taking early star character Bosko the Talk Ink Kid with them to MGM, leaving them with four things--the names "Looney Tunes", "Merrie Melodies", "That's All Folks", and the virtually worthless, hastily cooked up Expy for Bosko, the incredibly bland Buddy. Suffice to say, the studio was in serious need of a kick in the pants, so in an effort to save the studio, Friz Freleng cooked up a batch of Funny Animal characters based on the Our Gang series of shorts, as well as his childhood memories, who all made their debut in the Merrie Melodies cartoon "I Haven't Got a Hat": the troublemaking Beans the Cat, cute little Kitty the Cat, Ham and Ex the twin puppies, Oliver Owl the bookworm, and a pudgy little piglet with an uncontrollable stutter, intended as the sidekick for Beans.

While he barely had over a minute of screentime in said short, Porky was an immediate hit with audiences--the first real star character the studio had. However, the studio seemed to think that Beans the Cat was going to be their next big character, so they tried a second cartoon, "Gold Diggers of '49", with young director Fred Avery at the directing helms, starring Beans and a heavily redesigned Porky as his sidekick. Once again, the pig won out as the next big thing, thus establishing him as the official mascot of the studio, while Beans and other "Our Gang" deriative ensemble quickly faded away soon after. He even replaced Bosko's farewell to the audience at the end of the proper Looney Tunes series and immortalized "Th-th-th-th-th-that's all, Folks!", even to this day.

However, Porky's popularity was not to last--for another star stole his thunder two years later, in one of Porky's most beloved cartoons: Porky's Duck Hunt. The star in question was a crazy darnfool Daffy Duck.

Around the late 30's, Porky would start becoming a more fleshed out character, especially in the hands of Bob Clampett, who made him a more peppy, youthful individual who frequently went on adventures across the world, resulting in some very interesting trips, especially his journey to the home of the fabled Do-Do bird in "Porky in Wackyland". Frank Tashlin would also make several shorts with Porky, portraying him as an innocent every-man type personality.

While Daffy foreshadowed Porky's downfall in popularity, when Bugs Bunny arrived in 1940, it became clear that Porky's days as a major star were coming to an end. Fortunately, he still managed to appear in plenty of his own shorts, and eventually became the tagalong of Daffy Duck, starring classics like "Robin Hood Daffy" and "Duck Dodgers". He's currently appearing in The Looney Tunes Show, so at least he's getting a bit of work.

Here's a bit of interesting trivia for you: there are only THREE (or depending on how you feel about "Porky's Hare Hunt", four) of the original theatrical cartoons that have starred Porky Pig and Bugs Bunny together--A Corny Concerto, Porky Pig's Feat and "Any Bonds Today?"

On a side note, Harman and Ising had already cooked up their own pig character in the early 30's as a Expy for their Mickey Mouse wannabe Foxy, called "Piggy", although this character was just another non-descript run of the mill Mickey Mouse clone, with nothing in common with Porky.

Joe Doughtery (a man with a real stutter) was his original voice. He was quickly taken over by Mel Blanc. Unlike the rest of his co-stars, who have had various actors voice them depending on the director and producer, Porky has the unparalleled distinction of almost always being voiced by Bob Bergen, and has been for decades.

FILMOGRAPHY
All Merrie Melodies cartoons up to "Nothing But The Tooth" and color Looney Tunes ("My Favorite Duck" to "Little Orphan Airedale") were syndicated to TV through a.a.p. (Associated Artists Productions). The black-and-white Looney Tunes ("Golddigers Of '49" to "Porky's Cafe") were part of the Sunset/Guild package. All others were either shown on network TV (The Bugs Bunny Show or The Porky Pig Show) or syndicated through the Porky Pig And Friends package.

1935

 * I Haven't Got a Hat (MM, Freleng) - Porky's first appeareance
 * Into Your Dance - (MM, Freleng) - Cameo in early "story sketches" instead of the stuttering dog which appeared in the final print.
 * Gold Diggers of '49 (LT, Avery) - Porky co-stars along with Beans the Cat. Tex Avery's first directorial effort at the Looney Tunes studio.

1936

 * Plane Dippy (LT, Avery) - Redrawn in color 1967.
 * Alpine Antics (LT, King) - "Beans" series, cameo
 * The Phantom Ship (LT, King) - "Beans" series, cameo; with Ham and Ex
 * Boom Boom (LT, King) - "Beans" series
 * The Blow Out (LT, Avery) - First cartoon in the "Porky" series, instead of the "Beans" series
 * Westward Whoa (LT,King) - final appeareance of Porky in the "Beans" series
 * Fish Tales (LT, King) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Shanghaied Shipmates (LT, King)
 * Porky's Pet (LT, King)
 * Porky the Rainmaker (LT, Avery) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Poultry Plant (LT, Tashlin) - Carl Stalling's first cartoon which he scored, credited directorial debut of Frank Tashlin; redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Moving Day (LT, King) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Milk and Money (LT, Avery)
 * Little Beau Porky (LT, Tashlin) - first LT cartoon to use musical notes background on opening title; redrawn in color, 1967.
 * The Village Smithy (LT, Avery) - Believed to be the first cartoon to use off-screen narrator and the characters talking back at him. Also the first to use "Porky Sig(nature)" as the opening theme. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky in the North Woods (LT, Tashlin)

1937

 * Porky the Wrestler (LT, Avery) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Road Race (LT, Tashlin) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Picador Porky (LT, Avery) - This is the first episode featuring Mel Blanc (as Porky's buddies--the bull was voiced by Billy Bletcher). Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Romance (LT, Tashlin) - The last time Joe Dougherty voiced Porky, first appeareance of Petunia Pig. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Duck Hunt (LT, Avery) - This is the first episode that Porky was voiced by Mel Blanc, first appeareance of Daffy Duck. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky and Gabby (LT, Iwerks) One of two Looney Tunes directed by Ub Iwerks and first of four parceled out to his studio. Debut of Gabby Goat. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Building (LT, Tashlin)
 * Porky's Super Service (LT, Iwerks): The second of the four Looney Tunes parceled out to the Ub Iwerks studio. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Badtime Story (LT, Clampett): Directorial debut of Bob Clampett. Third of four cartoons parceled out to the Ub Iwerks studio. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Railroad (LT, Tashlin) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Get Rich Quick Porky (LT, Clampett) - Last of the cartoons parceled out to the Ub Iwerks studio. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Garden (LT, Avery) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Rover's Rival (LT, Clampett) - first Looney Tunes cartoon with Porky Pig's drum ending and first to use "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" as the opening theme. Redrawn in color, 1967.


 * The Case of the Stuttering Pig (LT, Tashlin) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Double Trouble (LT, Tashlin)
 * Porky's Hero Agency (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.

1938

 * Porky's Poppa (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky at the Crocadero (LT, Tashlin)
 * What Price Porky (LT, Clampett)
 * Porky's Phoney Express (LT, Dalton/Howard) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Five and Ten (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Hare Hunt (LT, Hardaway) - Prototype Bugs Bunny's first appearance. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Injun Trouble (LT, Clampett) - only cartoon in this year to feature the 1940-1946 Porky Pig drum ending. Remade in 1946 as "Wagon Heels." Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky the Fireman (LT, Tashlin) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Party (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Spring Planting (LT, Tashlin) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky & Daffy (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Wholly Smoke (LT, Tashlin) - Copies of the 1967 redrawn edition of this cartoon was dubbed in Spanish and got dropped into the U.S. syndication package.
 * Porky in Wackyland (LT, Clampett) - One of The 50 Greatest Cartoons.
 * Porky's Naughty Nephew (LT, Clampett) - First appeareance of Pinky Pig. First cartoon with redsigned Petunia Pig. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky in Egypt (LT, Clampett)
 * The Daffy Doc (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky the Gob (LT, Hardaway) - Redrawn in color, 1967.

1939

 * The Lone Stranger and Porky (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * It's an Ill Wind (LT, Hardaway/Dalton) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Tire Trouble (LT,Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Movie Mystery (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Chicken Jitters (LT, Clampett)
 * Porky and Teabiscuit (LT, Hardaway/Dalton) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Kristopher Kolumbus Jr. (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Polar Pals (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Scalp Trouble (LT, Clampett) - Remade in 1944 as "Slightly Daffy." Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Old Glory (MM, Jones) - first Porky Pig cartoon made in 3 strip Technicolor process (he first appeared in a 2 strip Technicolor cartoon from Merrie Melodies series "I Haven't Got a Hat " )
 * Porky's Picnic (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Wise Quacks(LT, Clampett) - final cartoon with the 1937-39 Porky Pig drum ending.
 * Porky's Hotel (LT, Clampett) - first cartoon with the new version of the Porky Pig drum ending. - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Jeepers Creepers (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Naughty Neighbors (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Pied Piper Porky (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky the Giant Killer (LT, Freleng) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * The Film Fan (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.

1940

 * Porky's Last Stand (LT, Clampett) - with Daffy Duck.
 * Africa Squeaks (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Ali-Baba Bound (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Pilgrim Porky (LT, Clampett)
 * Slap Happy Pappy (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Poor Fish (LT, Clampett)
 * You Ought to Be In Pictures (LT, Freleng) - first appeareance of Porky in the "Daffy Duck" series. One of The 50 Greatest Cartoons.
 * The Chewin' Bruin (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Baseball Broadcast (LT, Freleng) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Patient Porky (LT, Clampett) Semi-follow up to "The Daffy Doc". Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Calling Dr. Porky (LT, Freleng) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Prehistoric Porky (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * The Sour Puss (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Hired Hand (LT, Freleng) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * The Timid Toreador - (LT, Clampett/McCabe) - Directorial debut of Norm McCabe, who co-directed this cartoon with Bob Clampett. Redrawn in color, 1967.

1941

 * Porky's Snooze Reel (Clampett/McCabe)- first cartoon to feature a new version of the Porky Pig drum opening title. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Bear Facts (LT, Freleng) - first LT cartoon to feature faster instrumental of "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down." Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Preview (LT, Avery)
 * Porky's Ant (LT, Jones) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * A Coy Decoy (LT, Clampett) - "Daffy Duck" series. - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Prize Pony (LT, Jones) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Meet John Doughboy (LT, Clampett)
 * We, the Animals Squeak (LT, Clampett) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * The Henpecked Duck (LT, Clampett) - "Daffy Duck" series. Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Notes to You (LT, Freleng) - Would later be remade as the Sylvester / Elmer Fudd cartoon "Back Alley Oproar". Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Robinson Crusoe Jr. (LT, McCabe) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Midnight Matinee (LT, Jones) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * Porky's Pooch (LT, Clampett) - Debut of Charlie Dog. Would receive a semi-remake by Chuck Jones several years later as "The Awful Orphan". Redrawn in color, 1967.

1942

 * Porky's Pastry Pirates (LT, Freleng)
 * Who's Who in the Zoo (LT, McCabe)
 * Any Bonds Today?
 * Porky's Cafe (LT, Jones) - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * My Favorite Duck (LT, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series. Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.

1943

 * Confusions of a Nutzy Spy (LT, McCabe) - first Porky LT cartoon to use concentric rings in opening titles.
 * Yankee Doodle Daffy (LT, Freleng) - " Daffy Duck" series
 * Porky Pig's Feat (LT, Tashlin) - Final Daffy/Porky pairing to bill Porky above Daffy. - Redrawn in color, 1967.
 * A Corny Concerto (MM, Clampett) - Public domain. One of The 50 Greatest Cartoons.

1944

 * Tom Turk and Daffy (LT, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * Tick Tock Tuckered (LT, Clampett) - Shot For Shot Color Remake of "Porky's Badtime Story", but with Daffy replacing Gabby. Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Swooner Crooner (LT, Tashlin) - Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Duck Soup to Nuts (LT, Freleng) - "Daffy Duck" series. Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Slightly Daffy (MM, Freleng) - Color remake of "Scalp Trouble"; "Daffy Duck" series
 * Brother Brat (LT, Tashlin)

1945

 * Trap Happy Porky (LT, Jones) - Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Wagon Heels (MM, Clampett) - Slightly revamped colorized version of "Injun Trouble".

1946

 * Baby Bottleneck (LT, Clampett) - "Daffy Duck" series; reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Daffy Doodles (LT, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series; reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.
 * Kitty Kornered (LT, Clampett) - with Sylvester.
 * The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (LT, Clampett) - "Daffy Duck" series. Makes a very brief cameo.
 * Mouse Menace (LT, Davis) - Reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.

1947

 * One Meat Brawl (MM, McKimson) - only "Porky" cartoon of 1947
 * Little Orphan Airedale (LT, Jones) - "Charlie Dog" series; reissued as a Merrie Melodies film.

1948

 * Daffy Duck Slept Here (MM, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * Nothing But the Tooth (MM, Davis) - First "Porky" cartoon since January 1947
 * The Pest That Came to Dinner (LT, Davis)
 * Riff Raffy Daffy (MM, Davis) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * Scaredy Cat (MM, Jones) - with Sylvester.

1949

 * Awful Orphan (MM, Jones) - "Charlie Dog" series. Semi-remake of "Porky's Pooch".
 * Porky Chops (LT, Davis)
 * Paying the Piper (LT, McKimson)
 * Daffy Duck Hunt (LT, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * Curtain Razor (LT, Freleng)
 * Often an Orphan (LT, Jones) - Final appeareance of Porky in the "Charlie Dog" series
 * Dough for the Do-Do - (MM, Freleng, uncredited) Shot for Shot Remake (with some minor deviations) of Porky in Wackyland by Friz Freleng, but in color.
 * Bye, Bye Bluebeard (MM, Davis)

1950

 * Boobs in the Woods (LT, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * The Scarlet Pumpernickel (LT, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series, cameo
 * An Egg Scramble (MM, McKimson)
 * Golden Yeggs (MM, Freleng) - "Daffy Duck" series, cameo
 * The Ducksters (LT, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * Dog Collared (MM, McKimson)

1951

 * The Wearing of the Grin (LT, Jones) - Final cartoon in the "Porky" series
 * Drip-Along Daffy (MM, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series
 * The Prize Pest (MM, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series

1952 (All of Porky's appeareances between 1952 and 1953 form part of the "Daffy Duck" series)

 * Thumb Fun (LT, McKimson)
 * Cracked Quack (MM, Freleng)
 * Fool Coverage (LT, McKimson)

1953

 * Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (MM, Jones)

1954

 * Claws for Alarm (MM, Jones) - "Sylvester Cat" series
 * My Little Duckaroo (MM, Jones) - "Daffy Duck" series

1955

 * Jumpin' Jupiter (LT, Jones) - "Sylvester Cat" series
 * Dime to Retire (LT, McKimson) - "Daffy Duck" series

1956
All remaining cartoons during the golden era featuring Porky (except the 1964 Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam cartoon Dumb Patrol) form part of the "Daffy Duck" series


 * Rocket Squad (MM, Jones)
 * Deduce, You Say (LT, Jones)

1957

 * Boston Quackie (LT, McKimson)

1958

 * Robin Hood Daffy (MM, Jones)

1959

 * China Jones (LT, McKimson)

1961

 * Daffy's Inn Trouble (LT, McKimson)

1964

 * Dumb Patrol (LT, Chiniquy) - Cameo; called "Smedley."

1965

 * Corn on the Cop (LT, Spector)

1979

 * Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol - "Bugs Bunny" series

1980

 * Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century - "Daffy Duck" series

1988

 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - Does his trademark "That's all, Folks!" at the end. Voiced by Bob Bergen.

1990

 * Tiny Toon Adventures - Voiced by Bob Bergen and Greg Burson.

1993

 * Animaniacs

1996

 * Space Jam - Voiced by Bob Bergen.
 * Superior Duck - "Daffy Duck" series, voiced by Bob Bergen

1998

 * Histeria

2003

 * Duck Dodgers TV series as Eager Young Space Cadet, voiced by Bob Bergen
 * Looney Tunes: Back in Action - Voiced by Bob Bergen.

2004

 * My Generation G-G-Gap - first entry on the "Porky" series since 1951, voiced by Billy West

2006

 * Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas, voiced by Bob Bergen.

2011

 * The Looney Tunes Show - Voiced by Bob Bergen.

Tropes Related to the Character:
""Betcha thought I was gonna say son of a bitch didn't ya? Heh heh.""
 * Beware the Nice Ones: Generally a nice guy. But set that temper off, and you better get clear.
 * Big Eater: In his early appearances.
 * Breakout Character
 * Burning with Anger: In My Favorite Duck.
 * Butt Monkey: Porky wound up as this often, especially in his later cartoons.
 * This got toned down as his co stars started to gain their own luckless streak. He played The Fool when paired with Sylvester and became Daffy Duck's Hypercompetent Sidekick after the former evolved into a luckless Ted Baxter. In comparison to these two, Porky generally took very few lumps in his later years.
 * Until The Looney Tunes Show. Now he's showing signs of this again.
 * Catch Phrase: "Tha-th-th-tha-th-th...go home, folks."
 * Deadpan Snarker: Especially when paired with Daffy.
 * Demoted to Extra: As noted above, he was the first big star to emerge from the Warner stable and headlined a number of shorts. Even after Daffy Duck first appeared, he was still a star, but his leading roles began to decrease by 1942. While he had a long successful partnership with Daffy, 1943's Porky Pig's Feat was the last short to give him top billing over the duck. Much of his mid-40s and onward work consisted of Porky playing sidekick to zanier characters, with his own series limping to an end in 1951. Even into the 21st Century, his screentime is severely trumped by the other characters. Animator Mike Fontanelli (who works for Warner Bros) claims that Porky's current downplaying is a result of an unexplained dislike of the character by many Warner Bros executives.
 * Depending on the Writer: Though often placed as The Everyman of the franchise, many shorts placed Porky with some distinctive traits, ranging anywhere from a rather naive and somewhat doormat-ish figure to a neurotic and occasionally violent tempered fuddy duddy (since both extremes were often provoked by his co stars, which persona was used usually depended how sympathetic they wanted them to be in comparison, especially with Daffy).
 * Determinator: In "Duck Soup To Nuts", he uses a pail to bail out an entire pond in pursuit of Daffy.
 * Early Installment Weirdness: Those of you who are used to watching his 40's and 50's cartoons may be quite surprised to see how different Porky was in his 30's cartoons, where he was a little kid, as well as morbidly obese in his early appearances.
 * The Everyman
 * The Fool: When paired with Sylvester in Chuck Jones' shorts.
 * Grumpy Bear: Depending on the Writer, Porky can sometimes be rather curmudgeonly and sarcastic, and even prone to acts of extreme violence to get peace and civility. Granted how justified he is in this behavior varies (especially given the people he is usually paired against).
 * Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal
 * Hypercompetent Sidekick: To Daffy Duck in some of Chuck Jones' later shorts (somewhat in contrast to his other appearances, especially alongside Sylvester by the same director).
 * Inn of No Return: "Claws for Alarm"
 * Looney Tunes in the Thirties
 * Looney Tunes in the Forties
 * Looney Tunes in the Fifties
 * Motor Mouth: In his early cartoons, where his stutter was played up considerably.
 * "No Respect" Guy
 * Only Sane Man: Especially whenever alongside Daffy.
 * Pie-Eyed: In his black-and-white shorts.
 * Porky Pig Pronunciation: Trope Namer.
 * Precision F-Strike: Says "son of a bitch" after hammering his thumb in a short clip not intended for general audiences.


 * Ridiculously Cute Critter: Moreso in his early appearances.
 * Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Sensitive Guy to Daffy's Manly Man.
 * The Smart Guy
 * The Straight Man
 * That's All Folks: Trope Namer Trope Codifier, as Bosko is technically the Trope Namer, since he said the lines first.
 * Throw It In: Porky's original voice actor was given the boot because his inability to control his very-real stutter made recording sessions last for hours. When Mel Blanc took over, he kept the stutter in and played it for comedy.
 * Tritagonist: Ever since Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny showed up.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: With Daffy. Type 2.
 * Weirdness Magnet: Seems to attract all sorts of demented characters, much to his dismay.