Warren Foster

The Warner Bros. storyman behind Porky in Wackyland and Freleng's Tweety shorts, and composer of Tweety's theme song.

Warren Foster (October 24, 1904 – December 13, 1971) was an American writer best known for his contributions to Warner Bros. Cartoons. While he did not gain acclaim through animation itself, his stories proved highly influential in the industry. He worked prominently on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series before moving to Hanna-Barbera until his retirement. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Marion B. Foster and Charles C. Foster, he attended Brooklyn Technical High School and Pratt Institute, later joining ASCAP in 1956.

Quick Facts

Born: 24 October 1904
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died: 13 December 1971
Place of death: San Clemente, California, U.S.
Occupation: Writer, animator
Years active: 1935-1966

Lore & Background

He collaborated primarily with Bob Clampett until the early 1940s. By 1944, he served as the primary storyman for both Clampett and Frank Tashlin. Following their departures, Robert McKimson became his sole collaborator for the remainder of the decade. In 1949, director Friz Freleng recruited Foster to be his primary storyman, a role he held until 1957.

Reader's Guide

Foster's career trajectory offers a clear map of animation history from the Fleischer era to the television age. There, he navigated shifting directorial leadership: starting with Bob Clampett, moving through Frank Tashlin and Robert McKimson, and finally settling under Friz Freleng from 1949 until his departure in 1957. After Warner Bros., Foster demonstrated versatility by writing industrial films at John Sutherland Productions before transitioning to television animation with Hanna-Barbera. His seven-year tenure there, beginning with The Huckleberry Hound Show and culminating in The Man Called Flintstone (1966), illustrates the shift from theatrical shorts to TV series and feature-length animated specials.