Looney Tunes is one of the most beloved franchises in animation history, known for its wacky humor, lovable characters, and timeless appeal. From Bugs Bunny to Porky Pig, the characters of Looney Tunes have captured the hearts of kids and adults for generations.
In this post, we’ll explore the history of Looney Tunes and its characters, as well as the artists and voices who brought them to life. So buckle up and get ready for a trip down memory lane as we take a closer look at the iconic franchise and list all of the Looney Tunes Characters that have graced our televisions for years.
Main Looney Tunes Characters
Bugs Bunny
Animal: Rabbit
Colors: Grey and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1940
First Voice: Mel Blanc
The iconic “wascally wabbit” known for his quick wit and laid-back attitude. Bugs Bunny is often the hero of the story, outsmarting his foes with ease. His trademark saying is “What’s up, Doc?”
Main Rivals
Elmer Fudd
Daffy Duck
Yosemite Sam
Marvin The Martian
Tasmanian Devil
Daffy Duck
Animal: Duck
Colors: Black and Orange
Gender: Male
Debut: 1937
First Voice: Mel Blanc
One of the most popular characters in the franchise. Daffy is known for his wild antics and often finds himself in trouble. He is often annoying his co-stars, especially Porky Pig, with his over-the-top behavior. His trademark saying is “You’re despicable!”
Main Rivals
Bugs Bunny
Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd
Species: Human
Colors: White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1937
First Voice: Arthur Q. Bryan
A hapless hunter who is always outsmarted by Bugs Bunny. Elmer is known for his distinctive speech pattern and his iconic hunting hat. His trademark saying is “Be vewy, vewy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits.”
Main Rivals
Bugs Bunny
Daffy Duck
Porky Pig
Animal: Pig
Colors: Light Pink
Gender: Male
Debut: 1935
First Voice: Joe Dougherty
A lovable stuttering pig who often plays the straight man to his more zany co-stars. Porky is known for his kind heart and earnestness. His trademark saying is “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” Learn more about Porky in our Porky Pig Bio post.
Main Rivals
None
Sylvester The Cat
Animal: Cat
Colors: Black and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1945
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Tweety Bird’s main nemesis and one of the most recognizable Looney Tunes characters. Sylvester is known for his insatiable appetite and his never-ending quest to catch Tweety. His trademark saying is “Sufferin’ succotash!”
Main Rivals
Tweety Bird
Speedy Gonzales
Tweety Bird
Animal: Canary Bird
Colors: Yellow
Gender: Male
Debut: 1942
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A cute and innocent-looking canary who is often pursued by Sylvester the Cat. Despite his small size, Tweety is surprisingly resourceful and always manages to outsmart his rivals. His trademark saying is “I tawt I taw a puddy tat!”
Main Rivals
Sylvester
Yosemite Sam
Species: Human
Colors: White and Orange
Gender: Male
Debut: 1945
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A short-tempered cowboy who often clashes with Bugs Bunny. Yosemite Sam is known for his fiery personality and his thick mustache. He has become a cult classic character throughout the years. His trademark saying is “I’m the hootinest, tootinest, shootinest, bob-tail wildcat in the west!”
Main Rivals
Bugs Bunny
Wile E. Coyote
Animal: Coyote
Colors: Brown and Light Beige
Gender: Male
Debut: 1949
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A persistent predator who is always trying to catch the speedy Road Runner. Wile E. Coyote is known for his elaborate and often comical traps which he often purchases from Acme. His trademark saying is “Super genius!”
Main Rivals
Road Runner
Road Runner
Animal: Roadrunner
Colors: Brown and Light Beige
Gender: Male
Debut: 1949
First Voice: Paul Julian
A speedy bird who is constantly pursued by Wile E. Coyote. Road Runner is known for his lightning-fast speed and his ability to outsmart his foe. His trademark is the “meep meep” sound he makes every time he is ready to sprint away.
Main Rivals
Wile E. Coyote
Tasmanian Devil
Animal: Tasmanian Devil
Colors: Brown and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1954
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A wild and unpredictable creature who is known for his insatiable appetite and his ability to spin like a tornado. His trademark sound is a whirlwind of gibberish. I consider Taz a main character as his popularity among Looney Tunes characters is arguably in the Top 5.
Main Rivals
Bugs Bunny
Secondary Characters
Foghorn Leghorn
Animal: Rooster
Colors: Red and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1946
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A talkative rooster with a distinctive southern drawl. Foghorn is known for his arrogance and his propensity to get into arguments with other characters. His trademark saying is “Ah Shaddap!”
Main Rivals
Barnyard Dawg
Pepe Le Pew
Animal: Skunk
Colors: Black and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1945
First Voice: Mel Blanc
An over-the-top romantic skunk who is always in pursuit of love, some would say too aggressively. Pepe is known for his French accent and his persistence. His trademark saying is “Le sigh.”
Love Interest:
Penelope Skunk
Marvin The Martian
Species: Alien
Colors: Green and Black
Gender: Male
Debut: 1948
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A small alien with a big plan to conquer Earth. Marvin is known for his deadpan delivery and his love of technology. His trademark saying is “Ooh that makes me very angry, very angry indeed”.
Main Rivals
Bugs Bunny
Daffy Duck
Speedy Gonzales
Animal: Mouse
Colors: Brown
Gender: Male
Debut: 1955
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A quick-witted mouse from Mexico who often outsmarts his foes with his speed and cleverness. His trademark saying is “¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! ¡Epa! ¡Epa! ¡Epa!”
Main Rivals
Sylvester Cat
Granny
Species: Human
Colors: White and Gray
Gender: Female
Debut: 1950
First Voice: Bea Benaderet
An elderly woman who is often seen taking care of Tweety Bird. Granny is tough, and feisty especially when defending Tweety bird. She is not afraid to take on any adversary. Her trademark saying is “I’m just a little old lady.”
Pets Owned:
Sylvester Cat
Tweety
Hector Bulldog
Gossamer
Species: Monster
Colors: Red
Gender: Male
Debut: 1946
First Voice: Mel Blanc
A large, hairy red monster who is often seen in skits that include Bugs Bunny. Gossamer is rather friendly and harmless, despite his intimidating appearance. He does not have a trademark saying but he often growls.
Rivals:
Bugs Bunny
Penelope Pussycat
Animal: Cat
Colors: Black and White
Gender: Female
Debut: 1949
First Voice: Mel Blanc
She is a black and white cat who often finds herself mistakenly painted with a white stripe down her back, causing Pepe Le Pew to mistake her for a skunk and pursue her relentlessly. Penelope Pussycat is known for her gracefulness and agility, often leaping and climbing to avoid Pepe’s advances.
Rivals:
Pepe Le Pew
Barnyard Dawg
Animal: Basset Hound
Colors: Brown and White
Gender: Male
Debut: 1946
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Barnyard Dawg, also known as George P. Dog, is a recurring character in the Looney Tunes franchise who usually co-stars with Foghorn Leghorn. He is a large, scruffy basset hound often seen guarding a farm or other property in his doghouse.
Rivals:
Foghorn Leghorn
Henery Hawk
Michigan J. Frog
Animal: Frog
Colors: Green
Gender: Male
Debut: 1955
First Voice: Bill Roberts
Michigan is a singing and dancing frog who was discovered by a construction worker named Charlie.
Michigan J. Frog is known for his top hat, cane, and old-fashioned style of singing and dancing. He is shown to be an excellent performer, singing classic show tunes and performing intricate dance routines with ease. He is a cult classic fan favorite.
Henery Hawk
Animal: Chickenhawk
Colors: Dark Brown
Gender: Male
Debut: 1942
First Voice: Kent Rogers
He is a small, young hawk with a distinctive round head and oversized beak. Henery is known for his earnestness and determination to catch a chicken, despite his small size and lack of experience. He is often seen stalking and chasing Foghorn Leghorn or other barnyard fowl in an attempt to catch his first chicken.
Rivals:
Foghorn Leghorn
Henery Hawk
Sam Sheepdog
Animal: Sheepdog
Colors: White and Orange
Gender: Male
Debut: 1953
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Sam is a large, burly sheepdog with shaggy white fur and long orange hair that always flops down and covers his eyes. Sam’s job is to guard the flock of sheep against his arch-nemesis, Ralph Wolf. Sam is known for his stoic demeanor and his unwavering dedication to his job. He takes his duties very seriously, often clocking in and out of work alongside Ralph Wolf in a comically mundane fashion.
Rivals:
Ralph Wolf
Ralph Wolf
Animal: Wolf
Colors: Brown and Grayish
Gender: Male
Debut: 1953
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Ralph is a tall, lanky wolf with a sharp snout and a pair of pointed ears. Ralph’s main goal is to catch and eat the flock of sheep that Sam Sheepdog is tasked with guarding. One of Ralph’s trademark mannerisms is his ability to speak in a smooth, suave tone of voice, even when his plans are falling apart. He resembles Wile E. Coyote and it’s tough to tell them apart. Ralph has a red nose while Wile has a black one.
Rivals:
Sam Sheepdog
Hector Bulldog
Animal: Bulldog
Colors: Gray
Gender: Male
Debut: 1945
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Hector is a muscular, gray bulldog with a prominent underbite and a tough-guy demeanor. Hector is often portrayed as a guard dog or protector and is frequently tasked with keeping other characters away from a specific location or object.
Rivals:
Sylvester Cat
Witch Hazel
Species: Human Witch
Colors: Green and Black
Gender: Female
Debut: 1954
First Voice: Bea Benaderet
Hazel is a green-skinned witch with a long nose, a pointy hat, and a black dress. Witch Hazel is known for her cackling laugh, her ability to cast spells, and her mischievous personality. One of Witch Hazel’s sayings is “I’m a friend of all the little children,” which she often uses to lure unsuspecting characters into her evil clutches.
Rivals:
Bugs Bunny
Claude Cat
Animal: Cat
Colors: Yellow and Red
Gender: Male
Debut: 1943
First Voice: Mel Blanc
Hazel is a green-skinned witch with a long nose, a pointy hat, and a black dress. Witch Hazel is known for her cackling laugh, her ability to cast spells, and her mischievous personality. One of Witch Hazel’s sayings is “I’m a friend of all the little children,” which she often uses to lure unsuspecting characters into her evil clutches.
Rivals:
Hubie and Bertie
Hector Bulldog
Looney Tunes Characters In Order Of Appearance
In some cases, the character prototype may have appeared earlier but this list is in order by the final form of the looney tunes character.
- Porky Pig (1935)
- Elmer Fudd (1937)
- Daffy Duck (1937)
- Bugs Bunny (1940)
- Tweety Bird (1942)
- Henery Hawk (1942)
- Claude Cat (1943)
- Yosemite Sam (1945)
- Sylvester (1945)
- Pepe Le Pew (1945)
- Hector The Bulldog
- Foghorn leghorn (1946)
- Barnyard Dawg (1946)
- Gossamer (1946)
- Marvin The Martian (1948)
- Road Runner (1949)
- Wile E. Coyote (1949)
- Penelope Pussycat (1949)
- Granny (1950)
- Sam Sheepdog (1953)
- Ralph Wolf (1953)
- Tasmanian Devil (1954)
- Witch Hazel (1954)
- Speedy Gonzales (1955)
- Michigan J. Frog (1955)
Artists and Voices Behind The Characters
The Looney Tunes franchise owes much of its success to the talented artists and voice actors who brought its beloved characters to life. One of the most prominent figures in the creation of Looney Tunes was the iconic voice actor Mel Blanc, who provided the voices for many of the most iconic characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Tweety Bird. Blanc was known for his ability to give each character a unique and distinct voice, and he worked on the franchise from its earliest days until his death in 1989. You can argue without him manning the voices the franchise would never have made the imprint on pop culture that it did.
In addition to Blanc, there were many other talented voice actors who contributed to the Looney Tunes franchise. June Foray, for example, was a prolific voice actor who worked on numerous cartoons and provided the voice for memorable secondary characters like Granny and Witch Hazel.
The artists behind Looney Tunes were just as important as the voice actors in creating the franchise’s unique look and feel. The most well-known artist associated with Looney Tunes is undoubtedly Chuck Jones, who created many of the most iconic characters, including Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin The Martian, and Pepe Le Pew. Other notable artists who worked on the franchise include Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, and Friz Freleng. Together, these artists and voice actors helped to create a legacy that has endured for over 80 years and continues to delight audiences of all ages to this day.
It’s worth noting that many of the artists and voice actors who worked on Looney Tunes had long and distinguished careers outside of the franchise. Tex Avery, for example, went on to create other successful cartoons, including Tom and Jerry and Droopy. Mel Blanc, meanwhile, provided voices for countless other animated works and even appeared in live-action films and television shows.
Closing Thoughts
Looney Tunes is a beloved franchise that has entertained audiences of all ages for generations. We’ve explored the many characters that make up this diverse and zany world, from the mainstays like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to lesser-known secondary characters like Henery Hawk Pig and Michigan J. Frog. What I love about the secondary characters is that they are so well created and given so much life by the voice actors that they themselves have developed their own cult fanbases throughout the years.
We’ve also learned about the talented artists and voice actors who brought these characters to life, from the original creators like Tex Avery and Chuck Jones to the iconic voice of Mel Blanc who is an icon in the genre. Their contributions to the franchise have helped shape it into the cultural touchstone that it is today.
Whether you’re introducing Looney Tunes to a new generation or reliving childhood memories, these characters, and their antics will continue to bring joy and laughter for years to come.
