The Blue Racer

The Blue Racer
The Blue Racer and a Japanese beetle appeared in Blue Racer Blues.
First appearance	A Snake in the Gracias (1971) (Tijuana Toads cartoon)
Portrayed by	Larry D. Mann Bob Holt
Information
Species	Snake
Gender	Male

The Blue Racer is a series of 17 theatrical cartoons produced from 1972 to 1974.

The cartoons are directed by Art Davis, Gerry Chiniquy, Sid Marcus, Bob 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.

A fast blue snake named Blue Racer (voiced by Larry D. Mann) tries unsuccessfully to catch a stereotypically-Japanese beetle (voiced by Tom Holland), 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 bird from the Tijuana Toads (Crazylegs Crane, who also repeatedly failed to collar the Racer and Toads himself) also later appeared in the series as well. 17 cartoons were produced.

All cartoons written by John W. Dunn.

The Blue Racer (or a snake looking just like him) appeared in the 1978 Pink Panther cartoon "Pinktails for Two" where he mistook the Panther's pink tail for a lady Snake. In this film, The Blue Racer did not speak or move with super speed.

All 17 shorts will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on May 16th, 2017 from Kino Lorber (through their deal with MGM). Extras will include audio commentaries and 2 featurettes.