Warner Bros. is preparing to release 74 classic animated shorts from legendary animator Tex Avery in a new Blu-ray collection that will present the cartoons in their original, uncut and uncensored versions. The release, titled Tex Avery: The Definitive Collection, will bring together decades-old animated favorites in a format designed to preserve their original presentation.
Avery, one of the most influential figures in animation history, helped redefine the medium with his fast-paced humor, exaggerated character expressions and disregard for conventional cartoon storytelling. His work at Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s helped establish a style of animation that continues to influence filmmakers and animators today.
Among Avery’s most recognizable creations are Droopy, Screwy Squirrel and the Wolf and Red characters featured in several of his MGM shorts. His work also played an important role in shaping the personalities and comedic styles associated with Warner Bros. characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
The new collection is particularly notable for its emphasis on presenting the cartoons without censorship. Many animated shorts produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age have undergone edits over the decades, often because of racial stereotypes, suggestive humor, violence or other material considered inappropriate for modern audiences. Preserving these films in their original form allows viewers to examine them as historical works while acknowledging the social attitudes reflected in their production.
The four-disc set will feature 74 theatrical shorts spanning 1942 through 1958, including Avery’s complete MGM filmography and additional Droopy cartoons directed by other MGM animators. Among the included titles are Red Hot Riding Hood, Blitz Wolf, Screwball Squirrel, King-Size Canary, Magical Maestro and Symphony in Slang. Warner Bros. says the cartoons have been upgraded for Blu-ray, with select titles receiving new remasters specifically for this release.
In addition to the cartoons, the collection includes a 72-page full-color booklet examining Avery’s career and contributions to animation. Bonus materials include the documentary Tex Avery: The King of Cartoons and the featurette Droopy and Friends: A Laugh Back. Original-release versions of three shorts, The Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945), Wild and Woolfy (1945) and Lucky Ducky (1948), are also included.
The collection follows Warner Archive’s earlier Tex Avery Screwball Classics Blu-ray releases, which began in 2020. Unlike those individual volumes, the new box set brings the animator’s MGM work together in one comprehensive package, along with additional material.
Tex Avery: The Definitive Screwball Classics Collection is scheduled for release on December 11, 2026, through the Warner Archive Collection. The set is intended for adult collectors and will be available through online retailers, including Amazon and GRUV