Buzzard Swirls

Swirling lines to indicate action in cartoons are always lots of fun. I’ve never been quite sure if they’re handled by an effects department or how they’re indicated to the ink and paint department. But they’re interesting to look at in freeze frame.

Here are some from the Woody Woodpecker cartoon “Puny Express” (released in 1951). Buzz Buzzard becomes a swirl for eight frames before he clobbers Woody. Here are some of the drawings.



Ray Abrams, Don Patterson and La Verne Harding receive the animation credits. In the comments, Mark Kausler helpfully informs you which of the three was responsible for this.