Woody the Giant Killer

I was looking for a film I watched about a land of Giants that come down to Earth and eat the people but could never find it. Instead when reading about films made about Jack and the Beanstalk (and the Giant Killer), I saw that Woody Woodpecker was in one. Seeing how it was made in the 1940s, during Hollywood's golden age for cartoons, I assumed it would be pretty good, and I was right! Modern audiences may not get the "no vacancy" issue everywhere in this cartoon, but this was a recurring joke in post war comedies because the troops were coming back home by the millions and there weren't enough houses, so we would eventually get developments like Levittown made. I never watched this one as a kid on 1970s TV, I found this cartoon online in 2025. I think the violence is hardcore even for early Woody and there is a scene with a dancing pin up girl that turns Woody on, lol. With these elements it probably wasn't shown on broadcast TV. 9 of 10, great ending too, not what you may think by looking at the title!

. . . feet tall. Tyrannical troublemaker Woody always seems to be on the lookout for some endangered species of critter whom he can hasten toward extinction. As its title implies, WOODY THE GIANT KILLER slays the independent spirit of once of the last of Earth's big men. After poisoning his bigger better, Woody proceeds to rob his elder of his dentures, smash him up a chimney, badly burn his feet and toes--dismantling his long-time home as an after-thought. Not content with his nap-time invasion, food pilfering and raging elder abuse, Woody is too lazy to move on toward a victim his own size. Instead of spreading his grief around more evenly, the dirty bird forces his fall guy into a demeaning position of involuntary servitude.

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He is not as easy to relate to as he was in the previous cartoon 'The Coo Coo Bird'. The story doesn't have that many surprises, with a take on 'Jack and the Beanstalk' that doesn't do much new considering that the story has been done many times to more imaginative and funnier effect.

While there are more interesting character, Woody is an amusing character and never too obnoxious. His interplay with the giant is great fun.

As ever, the animation is great. The characters are well drawn, but even better are the rich colours, meticulously detailed backgrounds and smooth backgrounds.

Music is another strength here. It's characterful, lushly orchestrated and is not only dynamic with the action it even enhances it. The writing is amusing and chuckle-worthy enough and the gags are well-timed and often hilarious, even with a more violent tone.

Voice acting is solid as ever. 7/10 Bethany Cox