Square Shootin' Square

In Square Shootin' Square, a bank bandit stashes stolen cash inside a tree, only to find that Woody Woodpecker has the bag and darts off with it. The thief gives chase across prairie and road, dragging the action back into a dusty frontier town. What follows is a string of physical gags as the robber tries increasingly desperate schemes to get the money back, while Woody turns ordinary scenery into comedic snares. The short keeps things fast and loud, leaning on visual invention and Woody's impulsive energy, with brisk dialogue and pace, so the focus stays on timing and slapstick rather than dramatic weight.

Directed by Paul J. Smith and created by Michael Maltese, Square Shootin' Square was released in 1955 as a short animated Western comedy starring Woody Woodpecker, produced during the classic era of theatrical cartoon shorts and broadly reflects studio-era practices.

No reliable box office records exist for this short, which would have played ahead of feature films; theatrical shorts typically weren't tracked the way full-length releases were in that era. It later circulated widely on television, extending its audience reach.

As another entry in Woody Woodpecker's filmography, the short highlights the character's mischievous persona and slapstick style that influenced later TV cartoons. Though not as famous as some entries, it keeps Woody's loud laugh and anarchic presence in circulation. Its sight gags and timing influenced later slapstick cartoons on TV.

Modern ratings are modest but positive, with a 7.0/10 average from a small number of votes. Viewers tend to enjoy the energetic gags, quick pacing, and the theme of a clever trickster outsmarting a blundering villain in a Wild West setting. It emphasizes comic comeuppance and clever physical humor throughout.