Porky in Wackyland (Looney Tunes)

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Porky in Wackyland (episode 215)
This film has been preserved in the National Film Registry in 2000.
"IT CAN HAPPEN HERE!"
Directed by: Bob Clampett Written by: Warren Foster Release date: September 24, 1938 Franchise: Looney Tunes Prequel: "A Feud There Was" (previous short) Sequel: "Little Pancho Vanilla" (next short)

Porky in Wackyland is a 1938 Looney Tunes short directed by Bob Clampett. In this short, Porky Pig flies to Africa to hunt for the last dodo. The short received a Cinecolor remake in 1949 as a Merrie Melodies under the title Dough for the Do-Do, directed by an uncredited Friz Freleng. The original short was also computer colorized in 1995.

Why It's Wacky (In a Good Way)

1. The plot stands out for its creativity and originality, diverging from the traditional format of Porky Pig cartoons.
2. The animation is outstanding, typical of this era, featuring a brilliantly realized hallucinatory and surreal tone.
3. Amazing and clever jokes.
4. The Yoyo Dodo emerges as an excellent trickster and foil to Porky, arguably more so than Daffy or Bugs in their early years, by leveraging the unpredictability of Wackyland to ensnare Porky in his traps effectively.
5. Unpredictable ending, where a hoard of dodos say that they are all the last dodos.
6. Amazing soundtrack from Carl Stalling.

Bad Qualitites

1. "Dough for the Do-Do" remains a loyal color remake but introduces several changes to the original. Notably, the ending shifts from Porky impersonating a news reporter to him donning a dodo costume and fleeing, oblivious to the presence of other dodos—a twist that is somewhat satisfying, as it grants Porky Pig a happy ending, at least from his perspective.
2. There's a scene of a black Al Jolson-like duck in both shorts, that says "Mammy, mammy, mammy." when passing by Porky Pig, which may be deemed offensive to some viewers.

Reception

This short is considered to be the best Looney Tunes black and white short and one of the best in general due to its surrealist humor. It was ranked #8 on "The 50 Greatest Cartoons" list in 1994, and was inducted to the "National Film Registry" in 2000.

Trivia

• The original short is the first to use the 1938-39 Looney Tunes intro.

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