Cartoon Evolution: Granny

Early Origins - Little Red Walking Hood (1937)

You can't tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood without a granny! This character isn't the official Granny, but she is the first time a grandmother character appeared in Looney Tunes. Voiced by Elvia Allman.

Early Origins - The Cagey Canary (1941)

Paired with her own canary and cat, this granny was less of a granny and more of a bluestocking character. But the pieces for Granny are beginning to come together; the pets, the knitting, the dress. Voiced by Sara Berner.

Enter Bea Benaderet - "Hiss & Make Up" and "Hare Force" (1943)

While this character isn't officially our "Granny", this character was voiced by the actress who would later voice Granny, Bea Benaderet.

Granny's First Cartoon - Canary Row (1950)

This cartoon begins the series of Sylvester, Tweety, and Granny as a trio. In this cartoon, Granny is officially introduced in her blue schoolmarm dress and glasses. Voiced by Bea Benaderet, this Granny is sweet and susceptible to Sylvester's tricks but always ready to defend Tweety with her favorite weapon, her umbrella!

Room and Bird (1951)

Previously, Sylvester was a stray cat stalking Tweety from afar, but in Room and Bird, Sylvester is owned by a different old lady who lives in the same apartment building as Granny. We only see Granny at the beginning of this cartoon, where she smuggles Tweety into the Spinster Arms, a senior apartment complex where pets are not allowed.

Tweety's S.O.S. (1951)

Tweety and Granny go on a cruise, and stray cat Sylvester follows them aboard. This cartoon introduces a new element of Granny's character, which is that she really can't see without her glasses.

Gift Wrapped (1952)

This holiday cartoon switches up the trio's dynamic, where Sylvester is the longstanding pet of Granny and Tweety is the new pet she's receiving as a Christmas present.

Ain't She Tweet (1952)

Sylvester follows Tweety home from the pet store to Granny's house, where Granny also has like, a hundred bulldogs.

Snow Business (1953)

Granny treks through a harsh blizzard to get food for Sylvester and Tweety, but she gets mixed up and only picks up bird seed!

Fowl Weather (1953)

While Granny has owned Hector the bulldog in other animated shorts, this is the first one where she directly tasks him with protecting Tweety from Sylvester.

Hare Trimmed (1953)

For Granny's first cartoon without Tweety and Sylvester, she plays the role of a rich widow being pursued by Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam.

A Street Cat Named Sylvester (1953)

Another role reversal, where Sylvester is Granny's pet and Tweety is a wild bird who wants to come inside from the cold winter.

Muzzle Tough (1954)

Granny moves into a new home with her pets, Hector and Tweety. When Sylvester disguises himself in a polar bear rug, Granny trades her umbrella for a gun instead.

Sandy Claws (1955)

In this beachy cartoon, this is Granny's idea of a "bikini".

This is a Life? (1955)

This is a Life? is different from most other Looney Tunes animated shorts in that it really brings most of the main characters together, but Granny plays a disgruntled audience member who struggles as she sits next to loudmouth Daffy Duck. Cue the umbrella. 

This is also the first cartoon after June Foray took over the role from Bea Benaderet.

Red Riding Hoodwinked (1955)

Granny is barely in this cartoon, but in this cartoon she undergoes a total redesign! This redesign may have been to reflect the change in voice actors.

Tweet and Sour (1956)

Another cartoon with the redesigned Granny, who is shorter and dresses in pink instead of blue - and also noticeably prefers to use her fists instead of her trusty umbrella.

Tugboat Granny (1956)

If you have never seen a Granny cartoon before, watch this one so you can listen to Granny and Tweety sing the Tugboat song! 

Greedy for Tweety (1957)

Slightly different dynamics than normal, Granny is a nurse at the animal hospital who tries to take care of Tweety, Sylvester, and Hector after an accident where all three of them break their legs.

A Pizza Tweety Pie (1958)

Granny and Tweety enjoy a vacation in Venice, where Granny shows that her Italian is...not so good. She says everything is so "cacciatore" which means "hunter".

A Bird in a Bonnet (1958)

Granny wears a lot of hats in this one! Tweety hides from Sylvester in a hat, Granny buys the hat, hilarity ensues.

Trip for Tat (1960)

Granny and Tweety embark on a fun-filled trip around the world, with lots of different outfits too!

Last Hungry Cat (1961)

Granny appears briefly as a shadowy figure at the beginning of this Alfred Hitchcock-inspired cartoon.

The Jet Cage (1962)

Granny undergoes a slight redesign in this cartoon; her face is curved in a way where she looks more like her original design, but not quite back to the original Granny look.

Hawaiian Aye Aye (1964)

This cartoon was the last time Granny, Sylvester, and Tweety appeared together in the Golden Age of Animation; they wouldn't costar again until The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries in 1995.

It's Nice to Have a Mouse Around the House (1965)

Paired with Sylvester and Speedy Gonzalez, Granny underwent another slight character redesign - for the first time ever her hair went from white to gray!

Corn on the Cop (1965)

Granny gets mixed up with a robber who dresses up as an old lady. When Officers Daffy and Porky fail to catch the bad guy, Granny gets him and teaches him a lesson, and then teaches Porky and Daffy one too. This is Granny's final original Looney Tunes short.

Beyond the Golden Age of Animation

After the Golden Age of Animation, Granny's character completely shifted back to the original design. She appears like this in Space Jam, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, and Baby Looney Tunes. These additional series provided extra background details about her character; including that her real name is Emma Webster.