Quick facts for kids Horton Hears a Who! |
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Genre |
Animation |
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Created by |
Dr. Seuss |
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Based on |
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss |
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Directed by |
Chuck Jones
Ben Washam |
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Voices of |
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Narrated by |
Hans Conried |
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Country of origin |
United States |
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Original language(s) |
English |
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Production |
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Producer(s) |
Chuck Jones Ted Geisel |
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Running time |
26 minutes |
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Production company(s) |
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Distributor |
MGM Television |
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Release |
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Original network |
CBS |
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Original release |
March 19, 1970 (1970-03-19) |
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Horton Hears a Who! is a 1970 animated television special based on the 1954 Dr. Seuss book of the same name, Horton Hears a Who! It was produced and directed by Chuck Jones who previously produced the Seuss special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! for MGM Television and first broadcast March 19, 1970 on CBS. The special contains songs with lyrics by Seuss and music by Eugene Poddany, who previously wrote songs for Seuss' book, The Cat in the Hat Song Book.
Plot
In the Jungle of Nool, Horton the Elephant bathes in the watering hole, when he sees a small dust speck floating by. He hears a call for help coming from the dust speck and, thinking someone is living on it, saves it from going over a waterfall. Setting it on top of a clover, he discovers it is home to a tiny town called Whoville, home to the microscopic Whos. One of the Whos, scientist Dr. H. Hoovey (replacing the Mayor), communicates with Horton through a device he built to see other worlds outside of the speck. The other Whos, however, only laugh at him, thinking nothing exists beyond their world. Horton promises to protect Whoville from harm, feeling that "a person's a person, no matter how small." The other animals in the jungle — particularly the cynical Jane Kangaroo — think he is crazy, and do not believe in the existence of the Whos.
Thinking Horton's behavior is a problem, Jane sends the Wickersham Brothers to take the clover with the speck from him. They give the clover to the black-bottomed eagle Whizzer McWoff, who flies away with it. Horton pursues McWoff across the mountains below, but the eagle drops the clover into a large field of clovers and leaves Horton to find it. Horton searches frantically through the field, eventually finding his clover, and learns from Dr. Hoovey that Whoville was badly damaged when the clover was dropped. The other Whos, seeing the destruction as proof that Dr. Hoovey was right, rally behind him.
Jane finds Horton with the clover and, with help from the Wickersham Brothers (and their relatives), plans to end Horton's "problem" once and for all and they tie Horton up and pulls him into a cage, intending to boil the dust speck in beezle-nut oil. Horton urges the Whos to make noise to prove their existence, but even with the Whos' shouting and loud instruments, the other animals still hear nothing. Dr. Hoovey searches through town and finds a small Who named JoJo, who is bouncing a yo-yo instead of making noise. He takes JoJo to the top of his tower, where JoJo utters a "Yopp", which breaks through the dust speck and allows the animals to finally hear the Whos and they release Horton and allow him to keep it. The special ends with Dr. Hoovey relaxing in his chair when he sees a small dust speck and hears a call for help coming from it, much to his dismay.
Home media
The special was frequently included on VHS, CED, LaserDisc and DVD releases of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and was released on its own DVD on March 4, 2008. Bonus features include a songs-only version, the cartoons Horton Hatches the Egg, The Butter Battle Book, and Daisy-Head Mayzie, and the 1994 documentary In Search of Dr. Seuss. It was also made available in high definition Blu-ray Disc on October 6, 2009 with all the bonus features except Horton Hatches the Egg, a DVD of the special, and a Digital Copy.
Cast
- Hans Conried as Horton / Dr. H. Hoovey / Narrator
- Chuck Jones as Junior Kangaroo / Vlad Vladikoff (renamed "Whizzer McKwoff")/ JoJo / a few male Whos
- June Foray as Jane Kangaroo / the Birds / a few female Whos
- The Mellomen as the Wickersham Brothers
- The MGM Chorus as the Citizens of Whoville
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Characters |
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Bibliography |
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Adaptations |
Television series |
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Television specials |
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Film |
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Video games |
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Other media |
- Welcome (Russian short film)
- Seussical (musical)
- Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (song)
- The Cat in the Hat (play)
- The Lorax (play)
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical Live! (musical)
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Other works |
- Private Snafu
- The Pocket Book of Boners
- Your Job in Germany
- Our Job in Japan
- Design for Death
- The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
- Hejji
- Society of Red Tape Cutters
- Flit
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Related |
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1 as "Theo. LeSieg". 2 Posthumous.
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Short subjects |
1930s |
- The Night Watchman (1938)
- Dog Gone Modern (1939)
- Robin Hood Makes Good (1939)
- Prest-O Change-O (1939)
- Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur (1939)
- Naughty but Mice (1939)
- Old Glory (1939)
- Snowman's Land (1939)
- Little Brother Rat (1939)
- The Little Lion Hunter (1939)
- The Good Egg (1939)
- Sniffles and the Bookworm (1939)
- The Curious Puppy (1939)
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1940s |
- Mighty Hunters (1940)
- Elmer's Candid Camera (1940)
- Sniffles Takes a Trip (1940)
- Tom Thumb in Trouble (1940)
- The Egg Collector (1940)
- Ghost Wanted (1940)
- Stage Fright (1940)
- Good Night, Elmer (1940)
- Bedtime for Sniffles (1940)
- Elmer's Pet Rabbit (1941)
- Sniffles Bells the Cat (1941)
- Joe Glow, the Firefly (1941)
- Porky's Ant (1941)
- Toy Trouble (1941)
- Porky's Prize Pony (1941)
- Inki and the Lion (1941)
- Snow Time for Comedy (1941)
- The Brave Little Bat (1941)
- Saddle Silly (1941)
- Porky's Midnight Matinee (1941)
- The Bird Came C.O.D. (1942)
- Porky's Cafe (1942)
- Conrad the Sailor (1942)
- Dog Tired (1942)
- The Draft Horse (1942)
- Hold the Lion, Please (1942)
- The Squawkin' Hawk (1942)
- Fox Pop (1942)
- The Dover Boys at Pimento University or The Rivals of Roquefort Hall (1942)
- My Favorite Duck (1942)
- Case of the Missing Hare (1942)
- Point Rationing of Foods (1943)
- To Duck or Not to Duck (1943)
- Flop Goes the Weasel (1943)
- Super-Rabbit (1943)
- The Unbearable Bear (1943)
- The Aristo-Cat (1943)
- Coming Snafu (1943)
- Wackiki Wabbit (1943)
- Spies (1943)
- The Infantry Blues (1943)
- Fin'n Catty (1943)
- Inki and the Minah Bird (1943)
- Tom Turk and Daffy (1944)
- Bugs Bunny and the 3 Bears (1944)
- Private Snafu vs. Malaria Mike (1944)
- The Weakly Reporter (1944)
- A Lecture on Camouflage (1944)
- Going Home (1944, unreleased)
- Gas (1944)
- Angel Puss (1944)
- Outpost (1944)
- From Hand to Mouse (1944)
- Lost and Foundling (1944)
- Hell-Bent for Election (1944)
- Odor-able Kitty (1945)
- In the Aleutians – Isles of Enchantment (1945)
- Trap Happy Porky (1945)
- It's Murder She Says (1945)
- Hare Conditioned (1945)
- Fresh Airedale (1945)
- No Buddy Atoll (1945)
- Hare Tonic (1945)
- Secrets of the Caribbean (1945)
- Quentin Quail (1946)
- Hush My Mouse (1946)
- Hair-Raising Hare (1946)
- Fair and Worm-er (1946)
- Roughly Squeaking (1946)
- Scent-imental Over You (1947)
- Inki at the Circus (1947)
- A Pest in the House (1947)
- House Hunting Mice (1947)
- Little Orphan Airedale (1947)
- A Feather in His Hare (1948)
- What's Brewin', Bruin? (1948)
- Rabbit Punch (1948)
- Haredevil Hare (1948)
- You Were Never Duckier (1948)
- Daffy Dilly (1948)
- My Bunny Lies over the Sea (1948)
- Scaredy Cat (1948)
- So Much for So Little (1949)
- Awful Orphan (1949)
- Mississippi Hare (1949)
- Mouse Wreckers (1949)
- The Bee-Deviled Bruin (1949)
- Long-Haired Hare (1949)
- Often an Orphan (1949)
- Fast and Furry-ous (1949)
- Frigid Hare (1949)
- For Scent-imental Reasons (1949)
- Bear Feat (1949)
- Rabbit Hood (1949)
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1950s |
- The Scarlet Pumpernickel (1950)
- The Ducksters (1950)
- Dog Gone South (1950)
- 8 Ball Bunny (1950)
- The Hypo-Chondri-Cat (1950)
- Homeless Hare (1950)
- Caveman Inki (1950)
- Rabbit of Seville (1950)
- Two's A Crowd (1950)
- Bunny Hugged (1951)
- Scent-imental Romeo (1951)
- A Hound for Trouble (1951)
- Rabbit Fire (1951)
- Chow Hound (1951)
- The Wearing of the Grin (1951)
- Cheese Chasers (1951)
- A Bear for Punishment (1951)
- Drip-Along Daffy (1951)
- Operation: Rabbit (1952)
- Feed the Kitty (1952)
- Little Beau Pepé (1952)
- Water, Water Every Hare (1952)
- Orange Blossoms for Violet (1952)
- Beep, Beep (1952)
- The Hasty Hare (1952)
- Going! Going! Gosh! (1952)
- Mouse-Warming (1952)
- Rabbit Seasoning (1952)
- Terrier Stricken (1952)
- Don't Give Up the Sheep (1953)
- Forward March Hare (1953)
- Kiss Me Cat (1953)
- Duck Amuck (1953)
- Much Ado About Nutting (1953)
- Wild Over You (1953)
- Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
- Bully for Bugs (1953)
- Zipping Along (1953)
- Lumber Jack-Rabbit (1953)
- Duck! Rabbit, Duck! (1953)
- Punch Trunk (1953)
- Feline Frame-Up (1954)
- No Barking (1954)
- The Cat's Bah (1954)
- Claws for Alarm (1954)
- Bewitched Bunny (1954)
- Stop! Look! And Hasten! (1954)
- From A to Z-Z-Z-Z (1954)
- My Little Duckaroo (1954)
- Sheep Ahoy (1954)
- Baby Buggy Bunny (1954)
- Beanstalk Bunny (1955)
- Ready, Set, Zoom! (1955)
- Past Perfumance (1955)
- Rabbit Rampage (1955)
- Double or Mutton (1955)
- Jumpin' Jupiter (1955)
- Knight-mare Hare (1955)
- Two Scent's Worth (1955)
- Guided Muscle (1955)
- One Froggy Evening (1955)
- A Hitch in Time (1955)
- 90 Days Wondering (1956)
- Bugs' Bonnets (1956)
- Broom-Stick Bunny (1956)
- Rocket Squad (1956)
- Heaven Scent (1956)
- Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956)
- Barbary Coast Bunny (1956)
- Rocket-bye Baby (1956)
- Deduce, You Say! (1956)
- There They Go-Go-Go! (1956)
- To Hare Is Human (1956)
- Scrambled Aches (1957)
- Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
- Go Fly a Kit (1957)
- Boyhood Daze (1957)
- Steal Wool (1957)
- What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
- Zoom and Bored (1957)
- Touché and Go (1957)
- Drafty, Isn't It? (1957)
- Robin Hood Daffy (1958)
- Hare-Way to the Stars (1958)
- Whoa, Be-Gone! (1958)
- To Itch His Own (1958)
- Hook, Line and Stinker (1958)
- Hip Hip-Hurry! (1958)
- Cat Feud (1958)
- Baton Bunny (1959)
- Hot-Rod and Reel! (1959)
- Wild About Hurry (1959)
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1960s |
- Fastest with the Mostest (1960)
- Hopalong Casualty (1960)
- Who Scent You? (1960)
- Rabbit's Feat (1960)
- Ready, Woolen and Able (1960)
- High Note (1960)
- Zip 'N Snort (1961)
- The Mouse on 57th Street (1961)
- The Abominable Snow Rabbit (1961)
- Lickety-Splat (1961)
- A Scent of the Matterhorn (1961)
- Compressed Hare (1961)
- Beep Prepared (1961)
- Nelly's Folly (1961)
- A Sheep in the Deep (1962)
- Zoom at the Top (1962)
- Louvre Come Back to Me! (1962)
- Martian Through Georgia (1962)
- I Was a Teenage Thumb (1963)
- Now Hear This (1963)
- Hare-Breadth Hurry (1963)
- Mad as a Mars Hare (1963)
- Transylvania 6-5000 (1963)
- To Beep or Not to Beep (1963)
- Tom and Jerry (cartoon shorts, 1963–1967)
- War and Pieces (1964)
- The Dot and the Line (1965)
- The Bear That Wasn't (1967)
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1970s |
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1980s |
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1980s |
- Chariots of Fur (1994)
- Another Froggy Evening (1995)
- Superior Duck (1996)
- Pullet Surprise (1997)
- From Hare to Eternity (1997)
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Television
specials |
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
- The Pogo Special Birthday Special (1969)
- Horton Hears a Who! (1970)
- The Cat in the Hat (1971, producer)
- The Cricket in Times Square (1973)
- A Very Merry Cricket (1973)
- Yankee Doodle Cricket (1975)
- The White Seal (1975)
- Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975)
- Mowgli's Brothers (1976)
- Bugs and Daffy's Carnival of the Animals (1976)
- A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court (1978)
- Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper (1978)
- Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile (1979)
- Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979)
- Daffy Duck's Thanks-for-Giving Special (1980)
- Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over (1980)
- A Chipmunk Christmas (1981)
- Peter and the Wolf (1995)
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Feature films |
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Books |
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Comics |
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Characters |
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Other works |
- Chuck Amuck: The Movie
- Chuck Jones: Extremes & Inbetweens – A Life in Animation
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Children's programming on CBS in the 1970s
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- First-run
- animated
- series
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- First-run
- live action
- series
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Rebroadcasts |
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Related |
- Animation in the United States in the television era
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