Sunday Evening Videos: Tex Avery

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One-hundred-one-years and three days ago, Frederick Bean “Tex” Avery entered this world. The Earth is a much funnier place because of it. Among Avery’s contributions to the world of animation are the creation or co-creation of such characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy Dog, Porky Pig, Chilly Willy, and the exquisite creature you see meeting his demise in the cartoon above, Screwy Squirrel.

Aside from being one of the most influential directors in the history of animation, it is also rumored that the Bay Of Pigs Invasion was actually based on the plot of one of Avery’s Droopy Dog cartoons. (citation needed)

Along with The Marx Brothers and Monty Python, Tex Avery helped shaped the worldview of this blogger during his formative years. That should explain a lot.

After the jump, we present John Needham’s entire 1988 documentary on the life and work of Tex Avery in five parts, plus I stuck in a few of his other classic cartoons at the end.

The Tex Avery Documentary

Part One:

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Part Two:

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Part Three:

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Part Four:

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Part Five:

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“Symphony In Slang”

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More Screwy Squirrel:

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Evidently, RFC’s Christmas 2007 guests, 69 Fingers, are also Avery fans:

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And finally, the classic, “King Size Canary:

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