Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century
| Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century | |
|---|---|
| Merrie Melodies (Daffy Duck/Porky Pig/Marvin the Martian) series | |
Title card
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| Directed by | Charles M. Jones |
| Produced by |
Edward Selzer (uncredited) |
| Story by | Michael Maltese |
| Voices by | Mel Blanc |
| Music by | Carl Stalling |
| Animation by |
Lloyd Vaughan Ken Harris Ben Washam Harry Love (special animation effects) |
| Layouts by | Maurice Noble |
| Backgrounds by | Philip DeGuard |
| Distributed by |
Warner Bros. The Vitaphone Corporation |
| Release date(s) |
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| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 7:03 |
| Language | English |
Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century is a Merrie Melodies cartoon created in 1952 and released on July 25, 1953, starring Daffy Duck as space hero Duck Dodgers, Porky Pig as his assistant, and Marvin the Martian as his opponent. Marvin the Martian had been introduced as an unnamed villain in Haredevil Hare (1948) playing opposite Bugs Bunny (and was given the title 'Commander, Flying Saucer X-2' in 1951's The Hasty Hare), but this cartoon was the first of many appearances of Duck Dodgers. The cartoon is an extended parody of the pulp magazine and newspaper comic strip character Buck Rogers, and the longtime run of his adventures, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
In 1994, it was voted #4 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field. In 2004, it was retrospectively nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
The plot of the cartoon involves Duck Dodgers (Daffy) in his search for the rare element Illudium Phosdex, "the shaving cream atom." In the future, the only remaining supply of the element is on the mysterious "Planet X". After Dodgers plots an enormously complicated course to Planet X by way of rocket, his assistant, the "Eager Young Space Cadet" (Porky) points out that they can simply follow a path of planets bearing the letters of the alphabet; leading from Planet A, through Planets B, C, D, and so on (each planet features a single landmass in the shape of the letter itself). Dodgers takes credit for this idea and the two soon arrive on the planet.
Just as Dodgers claims the planet in the name of the Earth, Marvin the Martian lands in his Martian Maggot rocket and claims it in the name of Mars, setting the stage for a battle of wits (or lack thereof) between the two. Dodgers explains he already claimed the planet for Earth and that there isn't enough room for the two of them. Marvin replies by pulling out his disintegrating pistol saying, "I do believe you are right." Dodgers tells the audience that this isn't a problem as he is wearing a "disintegration-proof vest", and indeed when Marvin fires on Dodgers' command, the vest survives as Dodgers disintegrates. The Cadet brings Dodgers back to normal with an "integrating pistol" but Dodgers accuses him of interference ("Oh, you, huh?! Just when I had him going, you had to butt in!") and orders him back to the ship. Dodgers then tries to get the drop on Marvin with a disintegrating pistol of his own but it literally disintegrates when he pulls the trigger. He runs into the ship after avoiding another shot from Marvin. The Cadet comes out and gives a stick of dynamite to Marvin, claiming it is a birthday present. The dynamite blows up in Marvin's hand, causing him to hide in his helmet and retreat to his ship.
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