Michael Maltese

The writer behind the greatest animated shorts, including the legendary What's Opera, Doc?

Michael Maltese (February 6, 1908 – February 22, 1981) was an American screenwriter and storyboard artist who defined the golden age of animation. Best known for his collaboration with director Chuck Jones during the 1950s, he crafted the narratives behind many of the most acclaimed Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts ever made. His work helped secure a place in history where four of the top five 'greatest cartoons,' as judged by 1,000 animation professionals, bear his name, with What's Opera, Doc? ranking as the best animated short of all time.

Quick Facts

Born: 6 February 1908
Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
Died: 22 February 1981
Place of death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Spouse: Florence Sass
Occupation: Screenwriter, storyboard artist
Years active: 1935–1981

Lore & Background

Maltese began his career in 1935 at Fleischer Studios as a cel painter but was fired just a year later for rapidly advancing to an assistant animator position. In April 1937, Leon Schlesinger Productions hired him as an in-betweener; he soon became a storyman because his jokes made the staff laugh. He appeared on camera as a live-action guard in the 1940 short You Ought to Be in Pictures and voiced characters like the Benito Mussolini duck in The Ducktators (1942). From 1943 to 1946, he collaborated with Tedd Pierce before dissolving that partnership to work exclusively with Chuck Jones. Together they created Academy Award-winning entries such as For Scent-imental Reasons (1949) and the documentary So Much for So Little (1949). His scripts introduced Yosemite Sam in Hare Trigger and Michigan J. Frog in One Froggy Evening, while defining iconic duels in Rabbit Fire and Duck Amuck.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracing Maltese's evolution, start with his early Freleng collaborations like Fresh Hare and Baseball Bugs. His peak era with Chuck Jones features seminal works such as Bear Feat, Rabbit of Seville, A Pest in the House, and the Academy Award-winning For Scent-imental Reasons (1949). The 1950s produced his most celebrated titles: Feed the Kitty, Beep, Beep, Rabbit Seasoning, Don't Give Up the Sheep, Duck Amuck, Bully for Bugs, Bewitched Bunny, From A to Z-Z-Z-Z, and Beanstalk Bunny.

Later works include Ali Baba Bunny, Robin Hood Daffy, the top-rated What's Opera, Doc?, and Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century. For Robert McKimson, he wrote Rabbit Romeo and Fox-Terror; for Freleng, Person to Bunny (the last time Arthur Q. Bryan voiced Elmer Fudd) and Here Today, Gone Tamale (his only Speedy Gonzales script). His non-Warner credits include the Lantz shorts mentioned above and his extensive Hanna-Barbera tenure.

Did You Know?

He appeared on camera as a live-action guard in You Ought to Be in Pictures (1940), voiced by Mel Blanc.
Maltese wrote 200 storyboards for Hanna-Barbera Productions between 1958 and 1972.