The Tasmanian Devil was almost cancelled after his first appearance for being too obnoxious
In short: Taz is a pop culture icon, but his creator Robert McKimson was initially ordered to stop using him. The character was deemed too aggressive by studio head Edward Selzer. It took a massive influx of fan mail to convince Warner Bros. to bring the spinning, hungry vortex back to screens.
The Tasmanian Devil, or Taz, debuted in the 1954 short Devil May Hare. Designed by Robert McKimson, the character was inspired by the real-life carnivorous nature and surly disposition of the Tasmanian devil. Animator Ted Bonnicksen later refined his look. Despite his eventual fame, his early career was precarious; studio head Edward Selzer disliked the character so much he ordered McKimson to cease production. The character was only saved when Jack L. Warner reported receiving boxes of letters from fans demanding more of the ferocious, spinning brute.
Taz is defined by his insatiable appetite and his ability to move like a vortex, drilling through trees and soil. While often portrayed as a dim-witted carnivore, the character's complexity has shifted over decades. In his earliest shorts, he spoke with primitive grammar, but he later evolved into a creature of grunts and growls, voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc. Blanc admitted he created this unique, gravelly voice because no one at the time knew what a real Tasmanian devil sounded like.
The character's versatility has allowed him to inhabit diverse roles, from a house pet named Poochie in The Looney Tunes Show to an accountant in Wabbit. He has appeared in everything from feature films like Space Jam to DC Comics crossovers where he served as a Guardian of the Labyrinth. Beyond animation, Taz has inspired a vast library of video games, including his own titles like Taz-Mania and even influencing the creation of Crash Bandicoot. Whether he is a gladiator, a caroler, or a corporate PR head, Taz remains a cornerstone of the Looney Tunes legacy.
The inspiration behind Taz remains a subject of intrigue. Some suggest he was influenced by actor Errol Flynn, noting that in 1939, the Tasmanian government sent three devils to California at the request of Warner Bros. Two of these animals famously escaped the Los Angeles Zoo and were reported roaming Griffith Park. This blend of real-world history and cartoon absurdity helped cement Taz as a unique, enduring figure in entertainment.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tasmanian Devil (Looney Tunes)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-tasmanian-devil-looney-tunes.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Animated series & cartoons · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
