George and Junior
Two bears inspired by Steinbeck's George and Lennie.
George and Junior are a pair of anthropomorphic bear cartoon characters created by Tex Avery for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The duo starred in four shorts during the 1940s: *Henpecked Hoboes* (1946), *Hound Hunters* (1947), *Red Hot Rangers* (1947), and *Half-Pint Pygmy* (1948). However, Avery only directed *Half-Pint Pygmy*; *Henpecked Hoboes* was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, *Hound Hunters* by Michael Lah and Preston Blair, and *Red Hot Rangers* by Michael Lah. The duo was inspired by George and Lennie from John Steinbeck’s *Of Mice and Men*. George, voiced by Dick Nelson, is short, quick-tempered, and intelligent, while Junior, voiced by Tex Avery, is tall, dim-witted, and strong. Their cartoons typically follow a pattern: George devises a plan to solve a problem, Junior accidentally ruins it, and George responds by ordering Junior to bend over for a hard kick to the rear.
The characters’ designs and voices changed for their fourth cartoon. A gray-purple version of George appeared as a headshot cameo in the final scene of the 1988 film *Who Framed Roger Rabbit*. Junior was planned for a cameo but was dropped for unknown reasons. Later, George and Junior appeared in Dark Horse Comics alongside Tex Avery’s Wolf and Red and Screwy Squirrel. In 1995, they were featured in two segments of *What a Cartoon!*, voiced by John Rubinow and Tony Pope. The cartoon *Lucky Ducky* was originally planned to include them. In 2019, they appeared as zoo catchers in *The Tom and Jerry Show* episode “Shadow of a Doubt,” with George voiced by Ben Diskin and Junior by Stephen Stanton; they also made various cameos in that series.
Voice actors for George include Dick Nelson (1946–1947), Wally Maher (*Half-Pint Pygmy*), John Rubinow (*What a Cartoon!*), and Ben Diskin (*The Tom and Jerry Show*). Junior was voiced by Tex Avery (1946–1948), Tony Pope (*What a Cartoon!*), and Stephen Stanton (*The Tom and Jerry Show*). Comic appearances include *Tex Avery’s Screwball Squirrel* #1 (1995, with Wolf and Red), #3 (1995, Junior only), and *Comics and Stories #2 Featuring Tex Avery’s Screwball Squirrel* (1996), all from Dark Horse Comics. Home media releases include *Henpecked Hoboes* on the DVD of *Till the Clouds Roll By*, *Hound Hunters* on the DVD of *Fiesta* (1947), and *Red Hot Rangers* on the DVD of *Tycoon* (1947). In 2020, Warner Archive released *Hound Hunters* and *
- created_by
- Tex Avery
- studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- first_appearance
- Henpecked Hoboes (1946)
- last_appearance
- Half-Pint Pygmy (1948)
- voice_actors
- Dick Nelson (George, 1946–1947), Tex Avery (Junior, 1946–1948), Wally Maher (George, Half-Pint Pygmy)
- field
- Animation
Lore & Background
The cartoons usually follow the misadventures of two bears: George, the short, short-tempered, intelligent one (voiced by Dick Nelson), and Junior, the tall, dim-witted, strong one (voiced by Tex Avery). George would come up with a plan to fix their current situation; Junior would accidentally mess it up, then George would get angry and say 'Bend over, Junior,' and deliver a hard kick to his rear end. The characters' looks and voices were altered for their fourth appearance, *Half-Pint Pygmy*.
Reader's Guide
George and Junior are significant as Tex Avery's only bear duo, directly parodying the relationship in Of Mice and Men. Though they appeared in only four theatrical shorts in the 1940s, they persisted in later media. A gray-purple version of George made a headshot cameo in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit; the octopus from Half-Pint Pygmy also appeared as a bartender. Junior was planned for a cameo but was dropped. They later appeared in Dark Horse Comics with Tex Avery's Wolf and Red and Screwy Squirrel. In 1995, they were featured in two segments of What a Cartoon!, voiced by John Rubinow and Tony Pope. In 2019, they appeared as zoo catchers in The Tom and Jerry Show episode 'Shadow of a Doubt,' with George voiced by Ben Diskin and Junior by Stephen Stanton. Their shorts have been released on various DVDs and on the 2020 Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 Blu-Ray.
Did You Know?
- George and Junior are inspired by George and Lennie from John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
- Junior was voiced by Tex Avery himself in the original shorts.
- A gray-purple version of George made a cameo in the final scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created George and Junior?
Tex Avery conceived the pair for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, though he personally directed only their final short, Half-Pint Pygmy (1948). The other three cartoons were helmed by various other directors at the studio.
What are George and Junior?
They are two anthropomorphic bear cartoon characters who debuted in the 1946 MGM short Henpecked Hoboes. The duo was modeled after the George and Lennie pairing from John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men.
How many cartoons did George and Junior star in?
The pair appeared in four MGM shorts between 1946 and 1948: Henpecked Hoboes, Hound Hunters, Red Hot Rangers, and Half-Pint Pygmy. After Half-Pint Pygmy, the characters never returned.
Who voiced George and Junior?
Dick Nelson provided George's voice in the first three shorts, while Wally Maher took over the role for the final entry. Tex Avery himself voiced Junior across all four cartoons.
Why are George and Junior notable in animation history?
They represent one of Tex Avery's brief forays into pairing a tall, gentle bear with a smaller companion, drawing direct inspiration from Steinbeck's literary duo. Despite their short run of just four cartoons, they remain a curiosity among classic cartoon fans for their unique take on the buddy-comedy formula.
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