Tex Avery’s MGM cartoons were ahead of their time – and their time has finally come. At long last, Warner Archive Collection has blown open the vaults and has begun restoration of the classic MGM cartoons of the 1940s and 50s. On sale on blu-ray February 18th, using brand new 1080p HD Masters from 4K scans of archival elements, this the first part of that massive effort: Tex Avery Screwball Classics Vol. 1. Specs and contents are listed below. You can order it now, via WB SHOP, HERE.

The set contains 19 cartoons.

Tex Avery Classics
RED HOT RIDING HOOD
WHO KILLED WHO?
WHAT’S BUZZIN BUZZARD?
BATTY BASEBALL
THE HICK CHICK
BAD LUCK BLACKIE
GARDEN GOPHER
THE PEACHY COBBLER
SYMPHONY IN SLANG

Screwy Squirrel
SCREWBALL SQUIRREL
THE SCREWY TRUANT
BIG HEEL-WATHA
LONESOME LENNY

George & Junior
HOUND HUNTERS
RED HOT RANGERS

Droopy
DUMB HOUNDED
WAGS TO RICHES
THE CHUMP CHAMP
DAREDEVIL DROOPY

There were several masters of animation during Hollywood’s golden era. Of the top two geniuses, one created elaborate fairy tales and ornate feature-length fantasias – the other guy was Tex Avery. He just wanted to make you laugh. Having already been integrally involved in the development of Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny for Warner Bros., Avery moved to MGM in 1941 to create a set of comedy masterpieces that defined a new slapstick style for animation, inspiring cartoonists, comedians and filmmakers for decades to come.

Avery’s unit at Metro Goldwyn Mayer was all about breaking the fourth wall, shattering expectations and making audiences fall down with laughter. His one-shot masterpieces, including Bad Luck Blackie, Red Hot Riding Hood and Symphony in Slang, have proven themselves pure gold. And continuing characters like Droopy, Screwball Squirrel and George & Junior – not to mention Spike, Red and The Wolf – remain unforgettable comic personas among the top rank of cartoondom.

This is only the beginning, folks. I hope you will support our latest effort to extract the animated gems from the massive Warner collection. Viva Tex Avery!

TEX AVERY SCREWBALL COMEDY CLASSICS-VOLUME ONE
Run Time 138:00
Subtitles English SDH
Audio Specs DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 – English
Aspect Ratio 1.37:1, 4 X 3 FULL FRAME
Product Color COLOR
Disc Configuration BD 50

(This post will be updated with additional information as we receive it)

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

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