Television series

Quick Draw McGraw

Name: Quick Draw McGraw
Genre: Children
Released: 1959
Cast: Daws Butler, Don Messick

Comedy western
Comedy
Light-hearted
Dip in and out

A slapstick Western cartoon from Hanna-Barbera's golden age, starring a hapless horse sheriff and his loyal burro sidekick. Quick Draw McGraw stumbles through frontier mayhem with comic timing that influenced decades of animation. It's pure Saturday-morning fun—anarchic, silly, wonderfully voice-acted, and genuinely funny for adults rediscovering it.

TVMaze rating

3.5

If you liked this

Looney Tunes Cartoons2020

The spiritual ancestor of everything Quick Draw would become. Bugs, Daffy, and Road Runner prove that cartoons can be hilarious without dumbing down; the timing and absurdism are masterclasses.

But Theatrical shorts in random order lack narrative arc. Some gags are dated, and the best ones require a certain cartoon literacy to land.

The Jetsons1962

Hanna-Barbera's other major hit, with the same energy but inverted—futuristic instead of Western. Same voice talent, same verbal comedy, same design style that makes you grin just looking at it.

But Fewer episodes than Quick Draw and some feel padded. The domestic sitcom format isn't as consistently silly as pure slapstick.

The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show1959

Aired the same year with wildly different sensibilities—more sophisticated wordplay and political satire, but the same anarchic spirit. Ward and Scott proved cartoons could be clever and silly simultaneously.

But Deliberately slow pacing and deadpan delivery can feel laborious compared to Quick Draw's manic energy. Some cold-war references have aged strangely.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Quick Draw McGraw

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Lucky Luke1991

Both adapt Western genre tropes for comedy, with a well-meaning but bumbling protagonist saving the day despite himself. Lucky Luke is what Quick Draw McGraw might look like if filmed live.

A live-action Western comedy with genuine heart beneath the silliness. Quick Draw is basically a cartoon version of this tone—frontier chaos played for laughs, with a hero who's barely competent.

But French production, so the dubbing and cultural references may feel unfamiliar. The live action can feel awkward compared to the elegance of animation.

Huckleberry Finn1974

A live-action frontier tale from the same era with slapstick and adventure for kids. Shares Quick Draw's joy in mischief and the open road, but grounded in actual locations and stunts.

But Feels slower and more earnest than cartoon mayhem. The sentimentality might undermine the chaos you came for.

Tom and Jerry Tales2006

Physical comedy without dialogue, proving slapstick is a universal language. The wordless precision of the violence is hypnotic and hilarious in ways Quick Draw's verbal gags aren't.

But Repetitive formula after many episodes. Later seasons pale compared to the golden-era shorts from the forties and fifties.

Yogi Bear2010

Hanna-Barbera's follow-up with similar voice work and design but focused on a clever bear. If you loved the anarchic humor, this proves Quick Draw wasn't a one-trick pony.

But The setting (Jellystone Park) is less visually interesting than the frontier. Some episodes coast on personality rather than plot.

Schoolhouse Rock!1973

Educational but never condescending, with similar voice acting and a genuine love of language. Proves the generation that grew up on Quick Draw could make shows for kids that respect intelligence.

But Educational purpose can feel didactic. The segments are very short, which means no time for character or story development.

The Bugs Bunny Show1960

Compilation of classic shorts packaged for syndication during Quick Draw's heyday. Seeing the best of Looney Tunes in order shows you the direct lineage and the competition Quick Draw faced.

But Repetition and filler between the genuine classics. The show format dilutes the impact of great individual shorts.

Samurai Jack2001

Both are Hanna-Barbera legacy—Tartakovsky learned animation's grammar from watching shows like Quick Draw, then bent those rules into something new. Visual comedy without words, but aimed at different emotions.

Genndy Tartakovsky modernized Hanna-Barbera's visual style for a new era—minimal dialogue, kinetic action, and comic timing over plot. It's proof that Quick Draw's approach to animation was revolutionary and timeless.

But It's a serious show about exile and duty, not a comedy. The tone is contemplative rather than silly, which inverts what you loved about Quick Draw.