The Lorax ( 1972 film ) - wikipedia The Lorax ( 1972 film ) This article is about the animated television special. For other uses, see Lorax ( disambiguation ). The Lorax Genre Comedy / Fantasy Based on The Lorax by Dr. Seuss Written by Dr. Seuss Directed by Hawley Pratt Voices of Bob Holt Athena Lorde Harlen Carraher Thurl Ravenscroft Matt Bennison Narrated by Introduced by : Eddie Albert Composer ( s ) Dean Elliott Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English Production Executive producer ( s ) David H. DePatie Producer ( s ) Friz Freleng Ted Geisel Running time 24 minutes Production company ( s ) Cat in the Hat Productions DePatie - Freleng Enterprises CBS Productions Release Original network CBS Original release February 14, 1972 The Lorax is a 1972 animated musical television special produced by DePatie - Freleng Enterprises. It first aired on CBS on February 14, 1972 based on the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Credits 4 Home release 5 References 6 External links Plot One night, a young boy living in a polluted, grim world wanders down ' the street of the lifted Lorax. ' Along the dark street, he comes to the residence of a creature named The Once - ler, a dark green - colored being whose face is never seen. He takes up an audience with the boy, and begins to explain the tale regarding the Lorax. The land once thrived with Truffula trees when the Once - ler first came to the area in a horse - drawn cart. Living among the foliage are the brown Bar - ba - Loots, who eat Truffula fruit from the local trees. In the nearby pond live the Humming Fish, and overhead fly the Swomee Swans. The trees amaze the Once - ler with their texture and scent, and he soon builds a small shop in the area. After cutting down a Truffula tree, the Lorax pops out of its stump. The Lorax claims to speak for the trees, and demands to know what the Once - ler is doing. The Once - ler explains that he is using the Truffula tree 's tufts to make something called a `` Thneed... a fine thing that all people need. '' The multi-purpose item soon attracts the attention of many customers, and the Once - ler continues to cut down more Truffula trees. When it seems that the business is growing too big for just one Once - ler, he calls his relatives to help him with his thriving business. As the Lorax protests against the Once - ler 's actions, he is eventually standing under a truffula tree that was planted in the new developments that appear over time, when a bulldozer picks up the Truffula tree and the Lorax and the Lorax is thrown into a truck with the truffula tree and hauled to a factory, where the Lorax is put in a box. Then everybody reminisces about how Thneeds, Inc. started and how famous the Once - ler has become and popular the company has gotten, showing `` Once - ler Cones '', `` Once - ler Burgers '', `` Once - lermobile '' and a blimp advertising Thneeds, then a stone with Thneed carved in it. Shortly after Thneeds, Inc. has produced its millionth product, the Lorax gets out of the box and despite his protest, falls back into the box to be shipped off with more finished Thneeds. Soon the once beautiful area becomes choked with pollution and as the Once - ler is trying to find out how his company is doing in the Scandinavian market ( by this point Thneeds, Inc. has expanded outside the USA ), the Lorax comes into the Once - Ler 's office to protest that the Brown Bar - ba - loots, which fed on Truffula fruits, are nearing starvation. The Lorax starts sending the fauna off to more hospitable habitats. After this, the Once - ler 's conscience tells him he is doing a lot of bad things, to which the Once - ler responds, `` But if I did n't do them, then someone else would. '' When his conscience agrees, the Once - ler says progress has to get bigger. As the Once - ler is thinking about how successful Thneeds are selling all over the country, the Lorax protests that the `` smogulous smoke '' fills the Swomee Swans ' throats with smog, preventing them from singing. Finally, the pond that was home to the Humming Fish is filled with toxic waste called `` Gluppity - Glupp '' and `` Schloppity - Schlopp '' that clogs their gills. ) Confronted by the Lorax, the Once - ler appears to be ready to listen, until his secretary explains that the company 's stock report has come in, and ' Thneeds, Inc ' is doing exceptionally well. The Once - ler then scoffs at the Lorax, claiming that he will keep on making Thneeds, regardless of the consequences. As he finishes his taunt, the sound of an ax is heard, and the two are witnessed to the leveling of the last Truffula tree. With no more trees, the factory shuts down, and the Once - ler 's relatives pack up and leave. The Lorax sadly glances at the Once - ler, before he lifts him by the seat of his pants, and disappearing through a hole in the smog. On the spot where the Lorax last stood, sits a small pile of rocks, with a word carved into one : `` Unless. '' The tale then switches back to the Once - ler talking to the boy, who is given the last Truffula seed by the Once - ler, encouraging the boy to help revitalize the long - dead trees by growing a brand new forest, with the possibility that the Lorax and all of his friends may then come back. The camera shows us a larger hole in the smog, which is the background image to the end credits. Cast Eddie Albert - Narrator Bob Holt - The Lorax, Mr. Once - Ler Athena Lorde - Ms. Funce - ler, Harlen Carraher - Humming Fish Thurl Ravenscroft - Singer Matt Bennison - Ted Credits Production Design by : Maurice Noble Directed by : Hawley Pratt Produced by : Friz Freleng and Ted Geisel Executive Producer : David H. DePatie Animation : Warren Batchelder, John Gibbs, Manny Gould, Bob Matz, Bob Richardson, Robert Taylor, Dick Thompson, Don Williams Backgrounds : Richard H. Thomas Camera : John Burton, Jr., Larry Hogan, Ray Lee Film Editing : Lee Gunther, Joe Siracusa, Rick Steward Executive In Charge of Production : Stan Paperny Production Supervision : Harry Love The Songs Lyrics by : Dr. Seuss Music by : Dean Elliott Production Mixer : Steve Orr Teleplay by : Dr. Seuss Storyboard by : Irv Spector Home release To tie - in with the 40th anniversary of the special and the release of film The Lorax, Warner Home Video released the special on a deluxe edition DVD and Blu - ray on February 14, 2012. References Jump up ^ Lorax, The : Deluxe Edition DVD - Warner Bros. : WBshop.com - The Official Online Store of Warner Bros. Studios External links The Lorax on IMDb DePatie - Freleng Enterprises Founders David H. DePatie Friz Freleng Theatrical shorts ( original ) The Pink Panther ( 1964 -- 1980 ) The Inspector ( 1965 -- 1969 ) Roland and Rattfink ( 1968 -- 1971 ) The Ant and the Aardvark ( 1969 -- 1971 ) Tijuana Toads ( 1969 -- 1972 ) The Blue Racer ( 1972 -- 1974 ) Hoot Kloot ( 1973 -- 1974 ) The Dogfather ( 1974 -- 1976 ) Commissioned by Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies / Looney Tunes ( theatrical, 1964 -- 1967 ) Bugs Bunny 's Easter Special ( CBS / TV special, 1977 ) Bugs Bunny 's Looney Christmas Tales ( CBS / TV special, 1979 ) Television shorts Texas Toads ( 1976 ) Misterjaw ( 1976 ) Crazylegs Crane ( 1978 ) Television shows The Super 6 ( NBC, 1966 -- 1969 ) Super President ( NBC, 1967 -- 1968 ) Here Comes The Grump ( NBC, 1969 -- 1970 ) The Pink Panther Show ( NBC, 1969 -- 1971 ) The Pink Panther Meets The Ant and the Aardvark ( NBC, 1970 -- 1971 ) Doctor Dolittle ( NBC, 1970 -- 1971 ) The New Pink Panther Show ( NBC, 1971 -- 1976 ) The Barkleys ( NBC, 1972 -- 1973 ) The Houndcats ( NBC, 1972 -- 1973 ) Bailey 's Comets ( CBS, 1973 -- 1975 ) The Oddball Couple ( ABC, 1975 -- 1977 ) Return to the Planet of the Apes ( NBC, 1975 -- 1976 ) The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half - Hour and a Half Show ( NBC, 1976 -- 1977 ) Baggy Pants and the Nitwits ( NBC, 1977 -- 1978 ) What 's New Mr. Magoo ? ( CBS, 1977 -- 1979 ) Think ! Pink Panther ( NBC, 1978 ) The All New Pink Panther Show ( ABC, 1978 -- 1979 ) The Fantastic Four ( NBC, 1978 -- 1979 ) Spider - Woman ( ABC, 1979 -- 1980 ) Television specials The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas ( NBC / TV special, 1973 ) My Mom 's Having a Baby ( ABC / TV special, 1977 ) Where Do Teenagers Come From ? ( ABC / TV special, 1980 ) Dr. Seuss Television specials The Cat in the Hat ( CBS / TV special, 1971 ) The Lorax ( CBS / TV special, 1972 ) Dr. Seuss on the Loose ( CBS / TV special, 1973 ) The Hoober - Bloob Highway ( CBS / TV special, 1975 ) Halloween Is Grinch Night ( ABC / TV special, 1977 ) Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You ? ( ABC / TV special, 1980 ) The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat ( ABC / TV special, 1982 ) See also Marvel Productions Ltd. Saban Entertainment Here Comes the Grump ( film ) Dr. Seuss Characters The Cat in the Hat The Grinch Horton the Elephant Bartholomew Cubbins Bibliography And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins The King 's Stilts The Seven Lady Godivas Horton Hatches the Egg McElligot 's Pool Thidwick the Big - Hearted Moose Bartholomew and the Oobleck If I Ran the Zoo Scrambled Eggs Super ! Horton Hears a Who ! On Beyond Zebra ! If I Ran the Circus How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! The Cat in the Hat The Cat in the Hat Comes Back Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories Happy Birthday to You ! Green Eggs and Ham One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish The Sneetches and Other Stories Dr. Seuss 's Sleep Book Dr. Seuss 's ABC Fox in Socks Hop on Pop I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew Come over to My House The Cat in the Hat Songbook The Foot Book I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today ! and Other Stories Mr. Brown Can Moo ! Can You ? : Dr. Seuss 's Book of Wonderful Noises ! The Lorax Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now ! Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are ? The Shape of Me and Other Stuff Wacky Wednesday Great Day for Up ! Oh, the Thinks You Can Think ! The Cat 's Quizzer I Can Read with My Eyes Shut ! Oh Say Can You Say ? The Butter Battle Book You 're Only Old Once ! I Am Not Going to Get Up Today ! Oh, the Places You 'll Go ! There 's a Wocket in My Pocket I Wish That I Had Duck Feet Daisy - Head Mayzie My Many Colored Days Hooray for Diffendoofer Day ! The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories What Pet Should I Get ? Adaptations Television The Gerald McBoing - Boing Show ( 1956 -- 57 ) Dr. Seuss ' How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ( 1966 ) Horton Hears a Who ! ( 1970 ) The Cat in the Hat ( 1971 ) The Lorax ( 1972 ) Dr. Seuss on the Loose ( 1973 ) The Hoober - Bloob Highway ( 1975 ) Halloween Is Grinch Night ( 1977 ) Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You ? ( 1980 ) The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat ( 1982 ) The Butter Battle Book ( 1989 ) In Search of Dr. Seuss ( 1994 ) Daisy - Head Mayzie ( 1995 ) The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss ( 1996 -- 98 ) ( episodes ) Gerald McBoing - Boing ( 2005 -- 07 ) The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That ! ( 2010 -- present ) Green Eggs and Ham ( 2018 ) Film Horton Hatches the Egg ( short ; 1942 ) Gerald McBoing - Boing ( short ; 1950 ) How the Grinch Stole Christmas ( 2000 ) The Cat in the Hat ( 2003 ) Horton Hears a Who ! ( 2008 ) The Lorax ( 2012 ) The Grinch ( 2018 ) Other media Welcome ( Russian short film ) Seussical ( musical ) Dr. Seuss ' How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! The Musical The Grinch ( video game ) Dr. Seuss : How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ( video game ) `` You 're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch '' ( song ) The Lorax ( play ) Other works Private Snafu The Pocket Book of Boners Your Job in Germany Our Job in Japan Design for Death The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. Hejji Society of Red Tape Cutters Flit Related A Fish out of Water Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum Beginner Books Dr. Seuss Goes to War The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss National Memorial Geisel Award Geisel Library Geisel School of Medicine Helen Palmer PM Political messages of Dr. Seuss Read Across America Seuss Landing as `` Theo. LeSieg ''. Posthumous. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Lorax_(1972_film)&oldid=816899084 '' Categories : 1972 television specials Television programs based on works by Dr. Seuss Screenplays by Dr. Seuss CBS television specials Films featuring anthropomorphic characters Children 's fantasy films Animated television specials American animated fantasy films American films Musical television specials Environmental films Fictional endangered and extinct species Television specials by DePatie -- Freleng Enterprises 1970s American animated films Films scored by Dean Elliott Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from February 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Português Русский Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 24 December 2017, at 14 : 12. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who played the once ler in the lorax
Answer: Bob Holt