Woody Woodpecker was made by
Walter Lantz, an American animator and cartoonist. He made his first appearance in the short film
Knock Knock in 1940. Woody's popularity grew, and he soon became a star in his own right. He appeared in numerous animated shorts, often finding himself in humorous and chaotic situations.
Walter Lantz Productions entered into a deal with
Universal Pictures in 1940 that allowed Universal to distribute the Woody cartoons. In 1985, Universal Pictures acquired the rights of Woody Woodpecker and Walter Lantz Productions and added them to its portfolio. Since then, Universal has continued to use Woody, notably in their theme parks. Woody Woodpecker is not so much represented in television and films, but more in other media, such as in the
Universal Studios Theme Parks or merchandising. Universal has since produced new projects, including a television series and two live-action/CGI hybrid films released in 2017 and 2024. == Short films ==