Blue Racer Blues

From the archive

The Blue Racer is a series of 17 theaterical cartoons produced from 1972 to 1974 created by Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie. The character's first cartoon, Snake in the Gracias from The Tijuana Toads was released theatrically on January 24, 1971. The cartoons are directed by Art Davis, Gerry Chiniquy, Sid Marcus, Robert McKimson, David Deneen, Bob Baiser, Cullen Houghtaling and produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng. The majority of the cartoons were animated at the DePatie-Freleng studio, except for two done overseas: Aches and Snakes at Australia's Filmographic studio, and Little Boa Peep at Spain's Pegbar Productions. A fast-moving Blue Snake named the Blue Racer tries unsuccessfully to catch a stereotypically-Japanese Beetle, who is a black belt in karate. Both characters spun off from Tijuana Toads in "Hop and Chop" (the Japanese Beetle) and "Snake in the Gracias" (the Blue Racer). The goofy crane from Tijuana Toads (Crazylegs Crane, who also repeatedly failed to collar the Racer and the Toads himself) also later appeared in the series as well. 17 shows were produced. Bob Holt voiced both the Blue Racer and the Japanese Beetle in the 1972 short 02 - Support Your Local Serpent. The Japanese Beetle last appearance was in the 1972 short 08 - Blue Racer Blues. All cartoons written by John W. Dunn.