Porky Pig

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The production history of this set reveals a distinct challenge compared to previous releases. Production began in 2017, but as one of Warner Archive's early Golden Age of Animation releases, the team operated under a very limited budget. Consequently, while 38 cartoons had been previously restored for the Golden and Platinum collections (with 37 ported over), the remaining 63 shorts were unrestored vault prints that had never appeared on home media. Unlike the Golden and Platinum eras where original camera negatives allowed for full digital restoration, this team could only remaster these 63 films from high-quality 35mm black-and-white vault prints. This process resulted in minor errors, such as incorrect opening and closing themes in some shorts, but ensured the presentation of uncut films in their original black-and-white format, free from the redrawn or computer-colorized versions often seen on television.

In Their Own Story

The reception to Porky Pig 101 was a mix of admiration for its completeness and criticism regarding its technical fidelity. Animation fans and collectors praised the set for featuring rare, previously unreleased shorts presented uncut in their original format, establishing a complete chronological record of the character's early career. However, the lack of pristine image quality drew sharp critique; viewers noted splices, dirt, and brightness or contrast issues inherent to the vault print sources. Despite these visual imperfections and the absence of new special features, the set successfully leveraged existing audio commentaries and supplements from previous Golden and Platinum releases. The project proved to be a modest financial success, directly inspiring Warner Archive to pursue further classic theatrical animated content on Blu-ray, leading to series like Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s and Tex Avery Screwball Classics.

Reader's Guide

This five-disc set organizes the 101 cartoons chronologically while retaining legacy audio commentaries from industry experts. Disc 1 features Jerry Beck on I Haven't Got a Hat, Michael Barrier on Porky's Poultry Plant, and Mark Kausler on Porky in the North Woods. Disc 2 includes Mark Kausler discussing Porky's Romance and The Case of the Stuttering Pig, plus Daniel Goldmark on Porky at the Crocadero. Disc 3 offers a deep dive with John Kricfalusi and Eddie Fitzgerald on Porky's Party, Daniel Goldmark on Wholly Smoke, Michael Barrier on Porky in Wackyland, Mark Kausler on The Daffy Doc, and Jerry Beck with Martha Sigall on Old Glory; it also includes the Porky's Party storyboard reel. Disc 4 contains Jerry Beck's commentary on You Ought to Be in Pictures and the Porky's Poor Fish storyboard reel. Finally, Disc 5 features Greg Ford on Porky's Preview, Joe Dante on Porky Pig's Feat, and the inclusion of the short film Porky's Breakdowns (1939). All shorts are presented uncut.

Did You Know?

• The set includes one Merrie Melodies cartoon in color: the special Old Glory (1939), though Old Glory is not a Porky Pig starring vehicle. Porky's debut I Haven't Got a Hat (1935) is presented in black-and-white.
• Unlike previous collections, 63 of the shorts were remastered from high-quality 35mm vault prints rather than original camera negatives due to a limited budget.
• The collection features no new special features, relying instead on audio commentaries and supplements carried over from the Golden and Platinum Collections.
• One specific cartoon included in the set, Patient Porky, is presented as an unrestored vault print, while 37 of the previously restored cartoons were ported over from earlier releases.

Origins and Vocal Evolution

Porky Pig debuted in the 1935 short I Haven't Got a Hat, directed by Friz Freleng following studio head Leon Schlesinger's request for an Our Gang-style parody. Although initially a minor role, this fat, stuttering piglet quickly captivated audiences, effectively replacing the bland character Buddy and ushering in a new era for the studio. The name was inspired by childhood classmates of Freleng known as Porky and Piggy. Blanc refined the speech impediment into a precise comedic tool, often having Porky stumble over simple words while pronouncing complex ones with ease, or vice versa. Blanc later noted he intended the sound to mimic actual pig grunts. This vocal identity became so iconic that it was even parodied in later cartoons where other characters struggled with specific words that Porky could say effortlessly.

Character Development and Visual Identity

During the late 1930s, Porky's character definition fluctuated wildly across different shorts; his age ranged from an innocent seven-year-old to a competent adult, and his personality shifted between protagonist and antagonist. It was director Bob Clampett who finally stabilized the character in 1939, reimagining him as a permanent young adult who was slimmer, smarter, and cuter. Under Clampett's direction, Porky often served as an innocent traveler navigating surreal worlds, most notably in Porky in Wackyland, which was later preserved by the National Film Registry. This era solidified his role as the grounded straight man amidst increasingly chaotic scenarios.

The Rise of Sidekicks and Shifting Roles

Porky's reign as the studio's sole top star was brief, as directors began pairing him with various supporting characters in 1937 to create dynamic duos. Created by Tex Avery, Daffy eventually outshone Porky in popularity, a shift satirized in the 1940 cartoon You Ought to Be in Pictures where Daffy convinces Porky to quit his job at Warner Bros. Despite this transition, Porky remained a sentimental favorite among directors due to his mild-mannered nature, which perfectly complemented zanier personalities like Daffy and later Bugs Bunny. Even as he moved from the lead spot to a loyal sidekick role, he continued to appear in 153 cartoons during animation's golden age, often serving as the competent anchor for chaotic plots.

Signature Traditions and Enduring Legacy

Porky Pig holds the distinction of being the oldest continuing character in the Looney Tunes franchise. He is perhaps best remembered for his signature closing line, "Th-Th... That's all, folks!", which he delivers while bursting through a bass drum head at the end of many shorts. While this slogan had previously been used by earlier characters like Bosko and Buddy without stuttering, Porky made it uniquely his own. His severe stutter served as both a defining trait and a source of comedy, sometimes leading him to substitute words mid-sentence when he got stuck. Despite being supplanted by newer stars over the decades, Porky's appeal never waned among moviegoers or studio directors.

Specific Release Details

The set contains exactly 101 cartoons: 99 black-and-white Looney Tunes and two color Merrie Melodies. Of these, 38 were previously restored for the Golden/Platinum collections or The Essential Daffy Duck, with 37 carried over and one (Patient Porky) remaining an unrestored vault print. The other 63 are entirely new to home media, drawn from unrestored vault prints due to budget constraints starting in 2012. The release date was September 19, 2017.

Reception and Legacy

Critics noted the set's dual nature: it is celebrated for its comprehensive, chronological scope and uncut presentation but criticized for restoration quality issues like splices and incorrect themes. This modest financial success prompted Warner Archive to expand into more classic animated Blu-ray sets, including Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology.