The Blue Racer
The Blue Racer is a series of 17 theatrical cartoons produced from 1972 to 1974 created by Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie. The character's first cartoon, Snake in the Gracias, was released theatrically on January 24, 1971.
Production
The cartoons are directed by Art Davis, Gerry Chiniquy, Sid Marcus, Robert McKimson, David Deneen, Bob Balser, 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 Filmgraphics studio, and Little Boa Peep at Spain's Pegbar Productions.Plot
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" and "Snake in the Gracias". The goofy crane from Tijuana Toads also later appeared in the series as well. 17 cartoons were produced.Production
- Bob Holt voiced both the Blue Racer and the Japanese Beetle in the 1972 short Support Your Local Serpent.
- The Japanese Beetle's last appearance was in the 1972 short Blue Racer Blues.
Filmography
| No. | Title | Directed by: | Released: | Synopsis: |
| 1 | "Hiss and Hers" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Jul-03 | |
| 2 | "Support Your Local Serpent" | Art Davis | 1972-Jul-09 | |
| 3 | "Nippon Tuck" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Jul-16 | |
| 4 | "Punch and Judo" | Art Davis | 1972-Jul-23 | |
| 5 | "Love and Hisses" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Aug-03 | |
| 6 | "Camera Bug" | Art Davis | 1972-Aug-06 | |
| 7 | "Yokohama Mama" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1972-Dec-24 | |
| 8 | "Blue Racer Blues" | Art Davis | 1972-Dec-31 | |
| 9 | "The Boa Friend" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-Feb-11 | |
| 10 | "Wham and Eggs" | Art Davis | 1973-Feb-18 | |
| 11 | "Killarney Blarney" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-May-16 | |
| 12 | "Blue Aces Wild" | Gerry Chiniquy | 1973-May-16 | |
| 13 | "Fowl Play" | Bob McKimson | 1973-Jun-01 | |
| 14 | "Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow" | Sid Marcus | 1973-Jun-01 | |
| 15 | "Snake Preview" | Cullen Houghtaling | 1973-Aug-10 | |
| 16 | "Aches and Snakes" | David Deneen | 1973-Aug-10 | |
| 17 | "Little Boa Peep" | Bob Balsar | 1974-Jan-16 |