''Duck Dodgers in the ^th Century'' (spoken as "twenty-fourth-and-a-half") is a 1953

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

Merrie Melodies ''Merrie Melodies'' is an American animation, animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. starting in 1931, during the golden age of American animation, and ending in 1969. Then some new cartoons were produced from the late 197 ...

'' cartoon directed by

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, director, and painter, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He wrote, produ ...

. The cartoon was released on July 25, 1953, and stars

Daffy Duck Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon fictional character, character created for Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions by animators Tex Avery and Bob Clampett. Styled as an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic American black duck, black ...

as space hero

Duck Dodgers Duck Dodgers is the metafictional star of a series of cartoons produced by Warner Bros., featuring Daffy Duck in the role of a science fiction hero. He first appeared in the 1953 cartoon short ''Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century'', directed b ...

Porky Pig Porky Pig is an animated character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his celebrity, star power, and the animators created ma ...

as his assistant, and

Marvin the Martian Marvin the Martian is an extraterrestrial character from Warner Bros.' ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoons. He frequently appears as a villain in cartoons and video games, and wears a helmet and skirt. The character has been voice ...

as his opponent. This cartoon marked the first of many appearances of the Duck Dodgers character. Marvin the Martian had been introduced as an unnamed villain in Warner's cartoon ''

Haredevil Hare ''Haredevil Hare'' is a 1948 ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. It stars Bugs Bunny and it is the debut for Marvin the Martian — although he is unnamed in this film—along with his Martian dog, K-9. Marvin's nasal voice ...

'' (1948), playing opposite

Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character created in the late 1930s by Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his starring roles in the '' Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

(Marvin wouldn't receive his proper name until 1979). He was later given the title 'Commander, Flying Saucer X-2' in 1952's ''

The Hasty Hare ''The Hasty Hare'' is a 1952 Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on June 7, 1952, and features Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. The title is a pun on the film title ''The Hasty Heart''. Plot ...

''. The ''Duck Dodgers'' cartoon is an extended

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

of the

pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...

newspaper comic strip A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th and into the 21st c ...

, and

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

character

Buck Rogers Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...

, and his longtime run of space adventures, ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''. In 1994, ''Duck Dodgers'' was voted #4 of ''

The 50 Greatest Cartoons ''The 50 Greatest Cartoons: As Selected by 1,000 Animation Professionals'' is a 1994 book by animation historian Jerry Beck. Criteria It consists of articles about 50 highly regarded animated short films made in North America and other notable car ...

'' of all time by members of the animation field. Because he was such a fan of the short in particular, ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...

'' creator

George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...

requested that the short be shown before the original ''Star Wars'' film during its initial run in theaters. In 2004 at the

62nd World Science Fiction Convention The 62nd World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Noreascon 4, was held on 2–6 September 2004 at the Hynes Convention Center, Sheraton Boston Hotel and Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. T ...

, it was retrospectively nominated for a Retro

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...

for Best Dramatic Presentation—Short Form.

Plot

The film is set in the 24th century. The story begins with Duck Dodgers (Daffy) being tasked with locating the uncharted "Planet X", the only known remaining source for the dwindling element Illudium Phosdex, "the

shaving cream Shaving cream or shave cream is a category of cream cosmetics used for shaving preparation. The purpose of shaving cream is to soften the hair by providing lubrication. Different types of shaving creams include aerosol shaving cream (also kn ...

atom". After a few small mishaps, Dodgers and his assistant, the "Eager Young Space Cadet" (Porky) set off by rocket. Once in flight, Dodgers plots what becomes an enormously complicated and inefficient course to Planet X, whereas the Cadet suggests a much simpler route, following a path of nearby planets bearing the letters of the alphabet (in order from A onward). After scoffing at the idea, Dodgers suddenly comes up with the same idea and takes credit for it. The ship then flies past the lettered planets and eventually arrives on Planet X. Dodgers immediately claims the planet in the name of the

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

, but is quickly greeted by

, as he claims it in the name of

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...

. This has the two engage in a battle of wits (or lack thereof), with Dodgers getting shot multiple times in the face and disintegrated (and reintegrated) once. The battle continues through most of the film, until Dodgers finally declares enough is enough, and deploys his "secret weapon" that surrounds Marvin's ship with explosives. Marvin deploys the same type of weapon against Dodgers' ship. When the two simultaneously detonate their weapons, the entire planet is destroyed, save for a small chunk. Dodgers pushes Marvin off this chunk, and once again claims it in his own name, as the Cadet and Marvin are seen hanging from a root underneath the chunk. The film closes with the Cadet saying "Eh-b-b-b-big deal."

Cast

Mel Blanc Melvin Jerome Blanc (born Blank ; May 30, 1908July 10, 1989) was an American voice actor and radio personality whose career spanned over 60 years. During the Golden Age of Radio, he provided character voices and vocal sound effects for comedy ra ...

and Dr. I.Q.Hi

Credits

The cartoon was directed by

(credited as Charles M. Jones), with the story by

Michael Maltese Michael Maltese (February 6, 1908 – February 22, 1981) was an American story man for classic animated cartoon shorts. He is best known for working in the 1950s on a series of ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoons with director Chuck Jones, notably "Wha ...

, voices by

, and original music by

Carl Stalling Carl William Stalling (November 10, 1891 – November 29, 1972) was an American composer, voice actor and arranger for music in animated films. He is most closely associated with the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' shorts produced by War ...

. The animation was credited to Lloyd Vaughan,

Ken Harris Karyl Ross "Ken" Harris (July 31, 1898 – March 24, 1982) was an American animator best known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons under the supervision of director Chuck Jones. Life and career Ken Harris was born in Tulare County, Calif ...

and Ben Washam, with Harry Love receiving a credit for effects animation. The distinctive layouts were designed by

Maurice Noble Maurice James Noble (May 1, 1911 – May 18, 2001) was an American animation production designer, background artist and layout designer whose contributions to the industry spanned more than 60 years. He was a long-time associate and right-hand m ...

and the backgrounds produced by Phil DeGuard. ''bcdb.com'' May 9, 2011 Uncredited are Stalling's quotations of " Powerhouse" and "Egyptian Barn Dance" (in the opening credits), by

Raymond Scott Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow; September 10, 1908 – February 8, 1994) was an American composer, band leader, pianist, record producer, and inventor of electronic instruments. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is ...

Production

Jones saw Porky Pig's sidekick role as set apart from Daffy as the hero: "I always felt that Porky Pig was the subtlest of all the characters because he was consciously playing a part. He's obviously putting Daffy on, but it's a very subtle thing. In ''Duck Dodgers in the th Century'', he was playing the space cadet, but he was ''aware'' that he was playing it. He was like I would be in a class play — in which the hero really thought he was the character."

Reception

Comic book writer

Mark Evanier Mark Stephen Evanier (; born March 2, 1952) is an American comic book and television writer, known for his work on the animated TV series ''Garfield and Friends'' and on the comic book ''Groo the Wanderer''. He is also known for his columns and bl ...

writes, "Director Chuck Jones and writer Mike Maltese inverted the usual cartoon convention of having the hero conquer the villain. Here, Daffy pretty much conquers himself with faulty disintegration rays and faultier personal swagger. As with the other times Jones handled the duck, the

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...

principle prevails: The joke is never the destruction that befalls the luckless character but their loss of dignity afterward."

Sequels and related media

*''

Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century ''Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century'' is a 1980 animated short film starring Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Marvin the Martian. It is the sequel to the 1953 cartoon ''Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century''. It was the first Daffy and Porky ...

'' (1980) *''

Tiny Toon Adventures ''Tiny Toon Adventures'' is an American animated comedy television series that was broadcast from September 14, 1990, to December 6, 1992. It was the first collaborative effort of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation ...

'': "

Jr.", segment in the episode "The Return of the Acme Acres Zone" (1990) *''

Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension ''Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension'' (also titled ''Marvin the Martian in 3D'' and ''Marvin the Martian in 4D'') is a 3-D Looney Tunes film formerly an attraction at Drayton Manor Resort in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, Wa ...

'' (1996), a 3-D cartoon *'' Superior Duck'' (1996) *''

Attack of the Drones Attack may refer to: Warfare and combat * Offensive (military) * Charge (warfare) * Attack (fencing) * Strike (attack) * Attack (computing) * Attack aircraft Books and publishing * ''The Attack'' (novel), a book * ''Attack No. 1'', comic and ...

'' (2003) *''

'' (2003–2005), television series on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...

Home media

This cartoon is available on Disc 2 of Volume 1 of the ''

Looney Tunes Golden Collection The ''Looney Tunes Golden Collection'' is a series of six four-disc DVD box sets from Warner Home Video, each containing about 60 ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' animated shorts. The series began on October 28, 2003, and ended on Octo ...

'' and on Disc 2 of the '' Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1''

Blu-ray The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...

box set, with the cartoon restored in high definition, as well as Disc 1 of ''

The Essential Daffy Duck ''The Essential Daffy Duck'' is a DVD set featuring cartoons focusing on Daffy Duck. It was released on November 1, 2011. Contents The contents are split over two discs. The first disc features 15 classic Daffy Duck shorts (14 of which were previ ...

''.

In popular culture

The cartoon can be seen in the background of one scene in

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...

's film ''

Close Encounters of the Third Kind ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' is a 1977 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It tells the story ...

'' (1977). In the Season One episode of the 1990s hit science fiction TV series ''

Babylon 5 ''Babylon 5'' is an American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski, under the Babylonian Productions label, in association with Straczynski's Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Warner Bros. Domestic Tel ...

'' entitled ''

Midnight on the Firing Line "Midnight on the Firing Line" is the first episode of the first season of the science fiction television series, ''Babylon 5'', following the pilot movie, " The Gathering". It first aired on January 26, 1994. It was notable for being the first re ...

'', the head of security

Michael Garibaldi Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series ''Babylon 5'', played by Jerry Doyle. Character history Overview During most of ''Babylon 5's'' five seasons, Garibaldi is the Chief of Sec ...

invites the Minbari ambassador

Delenn Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series ''Babylon 5''. She was originally Minbari, but from season 2 onwards, became a Minbari/human hybrid. She was played by Mira Furlan. Role in ''Babylon ...

to his quarters with him, where they share popcorn and a night of watching Duck Dodgers, although the comedy is lost on her. Daffy Duck is Michael Garibaldi's favorite cartoon character.

References

External links

*
''Duck Dodgers in the th Century''
at

Don Markstein's Toonopedia Don Markstein's Toonopedia (subtitled A Vast Repository of Toonological Knowledge) is an online encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation, initiated February 13, 2001. Donald D. Markstein, the sole writer and editor of Toonopedi ...

Archived
from the original on May 5, 2016. {{DEFAULTSORT:Duck Dodgers in the 24th Century 1953 animated films 1953 films 1953 short films 1950s science fiction comedy films 1950s parody films American animated science fiction films American parody films Animated films about extraterrestrial life Duck Dodgers Films set on fictional planets Mars in film Short films directed by Chuck Jones Daffy Duck films Marvin the Martian films Porky Pig films Films set in the future Merrie Melodies short films Films scored by Carl Stalling American science fiction comedy films Films with screenplays by Michael Maltese 1950s English-language films 1950s Warner Bros. animated short films Films set in the 24th century