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Bullwinkle J. Moose

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Bullwinkle J. Moose
File:BullwinkleJMoose.jpg
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Created byAlex Anderson,
Jay Ward[1]
Portrayed byBill Scott
[2]
Keith Scott (voice actor)
In-universe information
SpeciesMoose
GenderMale

Bullwinkle J. Moose is a fictional character in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle, produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott. When the show changed networks from ABC to NBC, its name was changed to The Bullwinkle Show, reflecting the popularity of Bullwinkle.[3]

Creation

Ward and his business partner Alex Anderson created Bullwinkle for The Frostbite Falls Review, a storyboard idea which was never developed into a series. They gave him the name "Bullwinkle Jay Moose, Berry " after Clarence Bullwinkel, a car dealer, because they thought it was a funny name. Both Bullwinkle and Rocky were given the middle initial "J" in reference to Ward.

From his debut along with Rocky, Bullwinkle's gloves were blue. Later in the second story arc and for the rest of the series, they become white. Also, in contemporary promotion art, Bullwinkle's antlers are a yellowish orange in contrast to the rest of his body; originally they were brown.

Biography

Bullwinkle shared a house with his best friend Rocky in the fictional small town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, a parody of the real-life American town of International Falls, Minnesota. Bullwinkle's college alma mater was "Wossamotta U." In the half-cartoon, half-live-action movie The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Bullwinkle receives an Honorary Mooster's Degree from Wossamotta U, due to the nefarious plans of Boris Badenov.

Personality

Bullwinkle was noted for being well-meaning, but also quite dim-witted, which made for a source of jokes during the show's run. Despite this, the so-called "moronic moose" often aided the brains of the "moose-and-squirrel" duo, Rocky, during their various adventures. Although on opposite ends of the I.Q. scale, he and the "plucky squirrel" had a shared sense of optimism, persistence and traditional ethics and moral standards. Although not as intelligent as Rocky, Bullwinkle often made references breaking the fourth wall, so he was not always as clueless as he appeared.

Bullwinkle also hosted other segments of the program, including: "Mr. Know-It-All," where he tried to demonstrate his supposed (albeit nonexistent) expertise at a subject, such as disarming bombs or curing hiccups; "Bullwinkle's Corner," where the moose would attempt to read poetry, notably I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (The Daffodils) of William Wordsworth; and various interstitial drop-ins. In one classic running gag, Bullwinkle would attempt to pull a rabbit out of a top hat (to Rocky's dismissal: "Again?!" or "But that trick never works!", and Bullwinkle's canonical rejoinder, "Nothing up my sleeve...Presto!" or "This time, for sure! Presto!"), only to pull out something unexpected instead (such as a bear), and occasionally even Rocky himself. After each failed attempt, Rocky would segue to the next sketch by saying, "And now, here's something we hope you'll really like!"

Powers and abilities

Bullwinkle could remember everything he ever ate. While obscure, this ability came in handy in the "Banana Formula" caper.

At times, Bullwinkle has exhibited near-superhuman strength, known as his "mighty moose muscle".

Voice

Bill Scott, Ward's partner and head writer of the series, was the original voice of Bullwinkle. In the 2000 Universal Studios film The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Bullwinkle was voiced by Ward fan Keith Scott (no relation to Bill), as Bill had died of a heart attack in 1985. At the time, he had finished the first season of voicing another Moose character, Moosel, for The Wuzzles. In some of the more recent commercials and projects, Frank Welker has voiced Bullwinkle.[4]

Other appearances

  • In addition to the television series and movies, Bullwinkle has appeared in television commercials, a newspaper comic strip, lunch boxes, and a coloring book.
  • Bullwinkle is interviewed by Hans Conreid in an episode of Fractured Flickers. Bullwinkle is portrayed in this live-action show by a hand puppet.
  • Bullwinkle makes a cameo in the Roger Rabbit short Trail Mix-Up, seen on a chocolate mousse box.
  • He is one of the "good" fictional characters that can be spotted at the end of the South Park episode Imaginationland III, just before the bomb strikes.
  • Bullwinkle J. Moose Goes To Finn & Jake's Treehouse From Adventure Time Episode 24.

References

  1. ^ "Bullwinkle is back". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  2. ^ "Bill Scott, Bullwinkle's Voice, Dies at 65". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  3. ^ "Artist created TV's Rocky and Bullwinkle". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  4. ^ "ScoobyAddicts.Com interview - Frank Welker". ScoobyAddicts.com. May 1, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
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