Walter Lantz: Made Famous by a Woodpecker (Legends of Animation)

I went into this audiobook expecting a dry recitation of animation history, but Lenburg’s biography is anything but. Scott R. Pollak’s performance elevates it further, adopting a folksy, almost vaudevillian cadence that mirrors the era it celebrates. His delivery of Lantz’s early struggles—like the time he lost a fortune in a failed circus venture—feels like eavesdropping on a fireside chat. But where Pollak *excels* is in his impersonations of classic Lantz characters, particularly Woody Woodpecker, where his manic cackle and exaggerated inflections brought out the humor in the text. The pacing is brisk enough to keep a casual listener engaged, though I’ll admit I found myself wishing for a deeper dive into Lantz’s lesser-known works beyond Woody—like his experimental shorts or his collaborations with Disney. Still, the production quality is top-notch, with no distracting audio artifacts, and Lenburg’s writing shines in moments like Lantz’s grudging respect for his rivals, which adds depth to the narrative. My only real gripe? The lack of a PDF companion with key art or frame grabs; for an audiobook about a visual art form, that felt like a missed opportunity. That said, this is a standout listen for anyone who’s ever marveled at the magic of hand-drawn animation—or wondered how a woodpecker stole the spotlight.