#terrytoons

Original Terrytoons & Jim Tyer (1940s–1950s)

In their original Paul Terry theatrical shorts, Heckle and Jeckle were defined by their sharp, angular designs and their unapologetically mean-spirited, Three Stooges-style antics. Animator Jim Tyer, in particular, pushed the characters to their limits. Tyer was known for his wild, erratic "stretch-and-squash" animation and wildly exaggerated perspective. His take on the birds featured highly chaotic, surreal movements that perfectly matched the duo's destructive and manipulative personalities. 

Filmation's "New Adventures" (1979)

The New Adventures of Heckle and Jeckle (1979)

Studio: Filmation Associates

Style: Characterized by Filmation's distinct, limited animation style. The drawings are relatively flat and utilize thicker, simplified outlines, favoring a clean, standard 1970s television aesthetic over the fluid, motion-heavy theatrical shorts of their original era.

Design: Heckle and Jeckle retained their classic yellow-billed magpie appearance but with a stiffer, more consistent TV-budget polish. 

It was much better and charming than Curbside (1999)

Studio: Nickelodeon

Style: This unsuccessful pilot modernized the characters, completely updating their look to fit the edgier, heavily stylized late-1990s and early-2000s animation trends. The art features sharper, more angular character designs, exaggerated proportions, and a more cinematic approach to background layouts and shading.

Cinderella (1933)

Filmation’s 1979 reboot The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle on CBS truly gave the magpies a distinct personality. Jeckle acts as the more refined, intelligent British bird, while Heckle delivers a faster, grittier New York/Brooklyn accent. 

The Filmation series (which also featured the quirky, original segments starring Quacula) is often praised for leaning into the magpies' wits. In the original 1940s theatrical Terrytoons shorts, both birds sounded very similar, often both using a New York or gruff voice, depending on the voice actor. By the time Filmation produced the show, voice actor Frank Welker officially split their personalities by assigning the cultured British accent to Jeckle and a distinct New York-style voice to Heckle. 

While the unproduced 1999 Nickelodeon pilot Curbside reimagined them as foul-mouthed crows, Filmation's 1979 run remains a fan favorite for properly giving Jeckle that sophisticated intelligence and keeping Heckle as the loud, Brooklyn-accented instigator.

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In 1979's The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle, voice actor Frank Welker indeed established a distinct dichotomy for the magpies, leaning heavily into their contrasting wits. 

The classic characterizations, which are often discussed by fans on platforms like the Heckle and Jeckle Cartoon Show History and Nostalgia Group, generally feature the following vocal styles:

Heckle (The instigator): Voiced with a distinct, raspy, street-smart New York/Brooklyn accent.

Jeckle (The cultured one): Voiced with a more refined, slightly deeper British accent.