The Tasmanian Devil, commonly referred to as Taz, is an animated
cartoon character featured in the Warner Bros Looney Tunes and Merrie
Melodies series of cartoons. Though the character appeared in only
five shorts before Warner Bros Cartoons shut down in 1964, marketing
and television appearances later propelled the character to new
popularity in the 1990s.Taz is generally portrayed as a ferocious,
albeit dim-witted, carnivore with a notoriously short temper and
little patience. He got his name in the short Ducking the Devil.
Though he can be very devious, he is also sweet at times. His enormous
appetite seems to know no bounds, as he will eat anything in his path.
He is best known for his speech consisting mostly of grunts, growls,
and rasps (in his earlier appearances, he does speak English with
primitive grammar) as well as his ability to spin like a vortex and
bite through nearly anything. Taz does have one weakness: he can be
calmed by almost any music. While in this calm state, he can be easily
dealt with. The only music known not to pacify Taz is the bagpipes,
which he finds insufferable.In 1991, Taz starred his own show known as
Taz-Mania, which ran for four seasons in which Taz was the main
protagonist and voiced by Jim Cummings.Robert McKimson based the
character on the real life Tasmanian devil, or more specifically its
carnivorous nature, voracious appetite, and surly disposition. Owen
and Pemberton suggest that the character of the Tasmanian Devil was
inspired by Errol Flynn.:153 The most noticeable resemblance between
the Australian marsupial and McKimson's creation is their ravenous
appetites and crazed behavior. Although the bipedal Tasmanian Devil's
appearance does not resemble its marsupial inspiration, it contains
multilayered references to other "devils": he has horn-shaped tufts of
fur on his head (similar to the Devil's appearance) and whirls about
like a dust devil (similar in appearance to a tornado) which sounds
like several motors whirring in unison. Taz is constantly ravenously
hungry. His efforts to find more food (animate or inanimate) are
always a central plot device of his cartoons.
cartoon character featured in the Warner Bros Looney Tunes and Merrie
Melodies series of cartoons. Though the character appeared in only
five shorts before Warner Bros Cartoons shut down in 1964, marketing
and television appearances later propelled the character to new
popularity in the 1990s.Taz is generally portrayed as a ferocious,
albeit dim-witted, carnivore with a notoriously short temper and
little patience. He got his name in the short Ducking the Devil.
Though he can be very devious, he is also sweet at times. His enormous
appetite seems to know no bounds, as he will eat anything in his path.
He is best known for his speech consisting mostly of grunts, growls,
and rasps (in his earlier appearances, he does speak English with
primitive grammar) as well as his ability to spin like a vortex and
bite through nearly anything. Taz does have one weakness: he can be
calmed by almost any music. While in this calm state, he can be easily
dealt with. The only music known not to pacify Taz is the bagpipes,
which he finds insufferable.In 1991, Taz starred his own show known as
Taz-Mania, which ran for four seasons in which Taz was the main
protagonist and voiced by Jim Cummings.Robert McKimson based the
character on the real life Tasmanian devil, or more specifically its
carnivorous nature, voracious appetite, and surly disposition. Owen
and Pemberton suggest that the character of the Tasmanian Devil was
inspired by Errol Flynn.:153 The most noticeable resemblance between
the Australian marsupial and McKimson's creation is their ravenous
appetites and crazed behavior. Although the bipedal Tasmanian Devil's
appearance does not resemble its marsupial inspiration, it contains
multilayered references to other "devils": he has horn-shaped tufts of
fur on his head (similar to the Devil's appearance) and whirls about
like a dust devil (similar in appearance to a tornado) which sounds
like several motors whirring in unison. Taz is constantly ravenously
hungry. His efforts to find more food (animate or inanimate) are
always a central plot device of his cartoons.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.