The Night of the Living Duck is a six-minute 1988Merrie Melodiescartoon starringDaffy Duck, directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon.^[1] It was released to theatres as a part ofDaffy Duck's Quackbusters on September 24, 1988 and precedes the film in all subsequent releases, including in TV broadcasts and home media.

The title is a pun onNight of the Living Dead, although the cartoon has nothing to do with said film's theme of a zombie apocalypse.

This short was also one ofMel Blanc's final performances, as it was released less than a year before his death.

The short was released on a program of special world premiere matinee screenings of the New York Film Festival’s opening day celebration event.

Daffy Duck, engaging in his penchant forcomic book perusal akin to his previous cinematic exploits inThe Great Piggy Bank Robbery, immerses himself in the gripping pages of "Hideous Tales". Enthralled by the narrative involving the enigmatic "Noseman" and the looming presence of "Schmodzilla," Daffy eagerly anticipates the continuation of the story in the subsequent issue, deeming it a coveted collector's item. However, his quest for the next installment is abruptly interrupted when a falling monster clock renders him unconscious.

Amidst the depths of slumber, Daffy finds himself thrust into a surreal realm, assuming the role of the featured entertainer in a nightclub populated by an eclectic array of classic movie monsters. Among the eerie patrons are renowned figures such as Count Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, and various other iconic creatures of lore. Despite his initial trepidation, Daffy discovers a miraculous vocal talent facilitated by the application of "Eau de Tormé" throat spray, enabling him to captivate the audience with a spirited rendition of "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives."

However, Daffy's jovial banter takes a perilous turn when he unwittingly incurs the wrath of Schmodzilla with his jesting remarks. Provoked by Daffy's irreverence, the towering reptilian creature swiftly devours the hapless duck, plunging him into a harrowing ordeal. Awakening from his nocturnal reverie, Daffy finds himself confined within a wastebasket alongside the elusive comic he sought, now bearing the ominous visage of Schmodzilla on its cover. Dismissing the surreal encounter with a characteristic scoff, Daffy is confronted once more by the menacing persona of Schmodzilla, humorously quipping, "You were expecting maybeCalvin Coolidge?"

• Alfred E. Neuman ofMAD magazine fame appeared briefly in this short holding some drinks when the Creature from the Black Lagoon and his female captive were shown. An issue of MAD can also be seen at the start of the short. Both the short andQuackbusters would credit E.C. Comics for his appearance here in their end credits.
• Some of the monsters featured includeDracula,Frankenstein's monster,Bride of Frankenstein,Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Blob, Medusa, The Fly, Leatherface, The Wolfman, and Godzilla, the latter called Smogzilla in the cartoon to avoid legal issues with Toho at the time (though Warner Bros. themselves would later distribute most of theMonsterverse films, which themselves feature Godzilla as a prominent character).
• In the opening sequence, Daffy has a "1978 Star Drek Convention" pass among the various comics and magazines, a reference toStar Trek.

• The Night of the Living Duck atIMDb

• 1988 films
• Merrie Melodies short films
• Animated crossover films
• 1988 animated short films
• 1980s monster movies
• Films scored by Carl Stalling
• Films scored by Milt Franklyn
• Daffy Duck films
• Warner Bros. Animation short films
• 1980s Warner Bros. animated short films
• 1980s English-language films
• Headless Horseman
• 1988 science fiction films
• English-language science fiction horror films
• English-language short films
• 1988 American animated short films

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