What if Universal-International bought Walter Lantz Productions in 1947?

Note: This theory was originally written on the New Idea Central Wiki.
In 1935, the studio was severed from Universal and became Walter Lantz Studio under Lantz's direct control, and in 1939, renamed to Walter Lantz Productions. Lantz managed to gain the copyright for his characters. The cartoons continued to be distributed by Universal through 1947, changing to United Artists distribution in 1947–49, and by Universal again from 1950 to 1972. But what if Universal bought Walter Lantz Productions in 1947?
Here's what might have happened.
This theory is interconnected to What if Paramount kept the rights to Buzzy the Crow, Herman and Katnip, Little Audrey, Modern Madcaps, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Baby Huey, Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare?
== Changes ==
* Universal-International would buy Walter Lantz Productions in 1947
** Walter Lantz Productions wouldn't shut down and renames as Universal Feature Animation in 1986 and Universal Animation Studios in 2007.
* The 1978 Suitland National Archives Film Vault and 2008 Universal Studios fires would never happen.
* Universal Kids would launch in 1996 instead of 2017 as a primetime rebrand of Sprout. On October 26th, 1998, Universal Kids launched their own preschool block every morning called Sprout, which would mainly broadcast preschool shows.
** Maisy the Mouse would be more exclusive to Universal Kids' preschool block Sprout.
** The Ready Set Learn block on Sprout would be launched on February 4th, 1999, and then discontinued on October 8th, 2010.
** The 2006 Curious George TV series would air on Sprout instead of PBS Kids since the TV series was based on Universal Pictures' 2006 film adaptation.
* Due to Comcast owning Disney, HIT Entertainment, and Sesame Workshop, Sprout would be fully owned by NBCUniversal instead.
** The Sprout channel would also open on September 30, 2002 as a spin off to Universal Kids' Sprout block.
** Sprout wouldn't rename to Universal Kids due to Universal Kids' opening in 1996.
** PBS Kids shows wouldn't air on Sprout.
** The Good Night Show would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to April 2016.
** The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to September 25, 2015.
** Sprout Diner would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to September 25, 2015.
** The Let's Go Show would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to September 19, 2010.
** Musical Mornings with Coo would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to March 22, 2013 to compete with Playhouse Disney's Breakfast with Bear block (see What if Disney kept the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?)
** The Sunny Side Up Show would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to August 11, 2017.
** The Sprout Sharing Show would air on Sprout from September 30, 2002 to May 11, 2014.
** A block called Universal Kids on NBC would open on October 5, 2002. The block would rename to NBC Kids on July 7, 2012.
** Peacock would feature all Sprout's original programming since July 15, 2020.
** Sprout would rename to Universal Junior on September 22, 2019.
** Due to Comcast owning Disney, HIT Entertainment, and Sesame Workshop, the original 24-hour PBS Kids Channel would continue to operate.
* In 2005, Universal Kids would launch an adult block named Ibiso.
** Father of the Pride would be renewed for a second season and would move from NBC to this block when it was launched in 2005.
** The 2006 Happy Tree Friends TV series would be aired on Universal Kids' Ibiso block instead of G4 (also known as G4TV).
*** The 2006 Happy Tree Friends TV series would have lasted for seven additional seasons.
*** The 2006 Happy Tree Friends TV series would use early evening timeslot on Sundays instead of broadcasting at the highly inconvenient time slot of midnight Eastern Time on Monday nights.
** Neighbors from Hell would air on Ibiso instead of TBS or Adult Swim.
** Dan Vs. would air on Ibiso instead of The Hub.
* MCA would create Amblin Productions in 1980
** Amblimation would be founded in 1984 and remained open after 1997
* Cable Educational Network (owner of Discovery Channel) would be acquired by MCA (under Universal Studios) on July 8th, 1993.
** Discovery+ wouldn't exist at all as its original content would be added to Peacock.
** The WarnerMedia/Discovery merger wouldn't happen. 
*** Jason Kilar would remain in charge of WarnerMedia.
*** HBO Max wouldn't drop the "HBO" and it would treat its animated content fairly.
* Seagram would acquire HSN Inc. in 1998 and own it until 2004.
* Vivendi Universal Games (now known as Activision Blizzard in real life) and Universal Music Group would stay at NBCUniversal, with the former being rebranded as Universal Games in 2004. 
** Universal Interactive would remain open.
** The rights for Spyro and Crash Bandicoot would remain at Universal Interactive Studios. 
*** Spyro games after Attack of the Rhynocs would be published by Universal Interactive.
*** The Legend of Spyro series would be published by Universal Interactive. In addition, Krome will provide the third game instead of Étranges Libellules.
*** There would be more Spyro games.
*** Crash games after Crash Nitro Kart would be released by Universal Interactive.
** Crash and Spyro games are developed yearly.
** The Skylanders franchise would still exist, but instead would be published by Universal Interactive.
*** Skylanders Academy would've premiered in 2014 on Universal Kids.
** On July 10th, 2008, NBCUniversal acquired Activision, Inc., and merged it with Universal Games to form the new Universal Interactive Studios.
* MCA would create Universal Television Animation in 1989. 
** She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous would be produced by Universal Television Animation for Universal Kids instead of DreamWorks Television Animation for Netflix.
** Noddy, Toyland Detective would be produced by Universal Television Animation and PolyGram Television instead of DreamWorks Television Animation.
* Woody Woodpecker would become not only an American cultural icon and the official mascot of Universal Studios, but also one of the most recognizable characters in the world, being as remembered as Audrey Smith, Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. 
** Universal Animation Studios would still exist, but it would serve as Universal's traditionally animated arm. 
*** They would do fully-theatrical content rather than direct-to-video movies.
** The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (which would slightly be different, released on March 9th, 2007) and The Little Engine that Could (which would be traditionally-animated instead of CGI without the involvement of Crest Animation Productions) would have released theatrically rather than directly-to-video.
*** The Little Engine that Could would combine elements from both the 1991 and 2011 direct-to-video films.
** Woody Woodpecker (2017) (which would be called Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda, and would be produced by Universal Animation Studios) would be heavily altered as it would be more faithful to Walter Lantz's cartoons, would have a different plot and would be fully animated. 
*** Woody wouldn't be an annoying sadistic bird as he would have his limits and would act more like his original incarnation. On top of that, he would also learn to be more considerate of others.
*** Pointless fart jokes, forgettable toilet humor, over-the-top violence and other poor attempts at humor would be toned down or removed.
*** Winnie Woodpecker, Knothead and Splinter, Charlie Chicken, Wally Walrus, Buzz Buzzard, Miss Meany, Chilly Willy, Looney Gooney and other Walter Lantz characters, as well as Jetty the Weak Jet Plane, would make cameos in this film.
*** Woody and Andy would the main protagonists of the film instead of Lance and Tommy Walters.
*** The film wouldn't be "modernly", as the characters wouldn't use electronic gadgets, outdated slang and bad marks, or make pop culture references.
*** Similar to The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, the movie would be very welcoming to newcomers of Woody Woodpecker and other Walter Lantz characters, as it would set up the franchise's signature tone, present who some of the characters are and would explain what usually happens in a Walter Lantz cartoon, but would also try to tell a compelling and original story to give the movie its own identity.
*** The writers would watch a lot of Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda and Chilly Willy cartoons to get to know what they're working with.
*** It would be a theatrical film instead of a direct-to-video film.
** Ilumination would still exist however: 
*** Hop would've been fully animated.
*** The Lorax would slightly be different.
*** The studio would release at least a film by year and occasionally two.
*** Illumination gets into the business of developing television.
*** The company would also make more down-to-earth movies to compete with Walt Disney Animation Studios.
*** While The Super Mario Bros. Movie would still be made, it'd instead be given to Universal Animation Studios.
**** The Super Mario Bros. Movie would have rebooted Nintendo Cinema System. (see What if Disney kept the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?)
* The Hub would still exist as a joint venture between Viacom via Hasbro and Universal Kids
* Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. wouldn't have sue Universal Studios as they would still license Alvin and the Chipmunks.
** Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) and its 2009 sequel The Squeakquel would've been produced by Spyglass Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures instead of 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Regency Enterprises and Dune Entertainment.
*** It would been fully animated instead of being a live-action/animated hybrid.
**** Because of this, most of the characters would have be voices by voice actors instead.
** Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks (co-produced by Universal Television Animation for Universal Kids instead of Nickelodeon) would have several changes to make it better. For example: the designs are more faithful to the 1983 artwork, the characters keep the same personalities they had in the 1983 show, the show only lasts for four seasons and it would never move over to Nicktoons.
* MCA would acquire Mattel in 1982.
** The acquisition would be announced on March 1, 1982 and completed on May 30, 1982. 
*** To promote the merger, MCA created a promotional poster with Woody Woodpecker dressing up as He-Man.
** Barbie (2023) would be distributed by Universal Pictures instead of Warner Bros. Pictures.
* Universal Pictures would keep Rogue Pictures instead of selling it to Relativity Media in 2009.
* Gramercy Pictures would remain open after 2001. 
** Alchemy, STX Films, and FilmDistrict would all not exist, having their films produced and distributed by Universal under the Gramercy Pictures label.
* Peacock would have a larger animation library.
* Universal would never sell it’s television assets to USA Networks in 1997.
* A restaurant chain titled Woody Woodpecker's Kitchen would have opened in 2002. 
** Character vignettes would have been placed throughout Woody Woodpecker's Kitchen featuring characters from. Menu items would have included . The kids meal equivalent would have been the Meal, complete with a toy.
* NBCUniversal would acquire Pioneer in 2008.
** Geneon wouldn't rename to NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan.
* Vivendi Universal would acquired Ubisoft in 2003.
** Rabbids Invasion would be co-produced by Universal Television Animation.
* NBCUniversal would buy Will Vinton Studios and rename it to Laika Entertainment in 2005.
** Coraline would be mascot of Laika since 2009.
** Missing Link would be produced by Focus Features instead of Annapurna Pictures.
** Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link would be produced by Universal Animation Studios.
== Films ==
=== Animated ===
==== Universal Animation Studios ====
* The Snow Queen (March 30, 1960)
* Pinocchio in Outer Space (December 22, 1965)
* Woody Woodpecker and Guess Who? (June 7, 1977)
* Woody Woodpecker's Wacky Adventures (April 19, 1982)
* An American Tail (November 21, 1986)
* The Land Before Time (November 18, 1988)
* The Luna Supermoon Movie (June 7, 1990)
* Woody Woodpecker Gone Wrong (May 28, 1991)
*
* We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (November 24, 1993)
* Balto (December 22, 1995)
* Dyamond and the Legend of Crystaland (September 26, 1997)
* Painted! (December 25, 1999)
* Dyamond II: Return to Crystaland (March 19, 2000)
* The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (June 30, 2000)
* How the Grinch Stole Christmas (November 17, 2000)
* The Abrafaxe – Under The Black Flag (October 25, 2001)
* Helios and Selene (December 19, 2003)
* Andy Panda (May 18, 2004)
* Computopia (July 2, 2004)
* Vivian and the Galactic Team (December 22, 2004)
* Curious George (February 10, 2006)
* The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (March 21, 2006)
* Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure (September 6, 2006)
* Computopia 2: Back to the Internet (July 6, 2007)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks (December 14, 2007)
* The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (January 11, 2008)
* Spacegirl (January 14, 2008)
* Woody Woodpecker (May 20, 2008)
* Fused (September 26, 2008)
* Twisted Park (November 26, 2008)
* The Tale of Despereaux (December 19, 2008)
* Coraline (February 6, 2009)
* Helios and Selene 2: Venus' Belt (May 15, 2009)
* 9 (September 9, 2009)
* Dash and Dot's Wild Ride (September 18, 2009)
* Nikté (December 18, 2009)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (December 23, 2009)
* Computopia 3 (March 5, 2010)
* Paul (March 18, 2011)
* The Little Engine That Could (March 22, 2011)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (December 16, 2011)
* Ted (June 29, 2012)
* Cutie and Gothie (July 2, 2012)
* ParaNorman (August 17, 2012)
* The Ancient Times (December 7, 2012)
* Metegol (July 18, 2013)
* Moshi Monsters: The Movie (December 20, 2013)
* The Seventh Dwarf (September 25, 2014)
* The Boxtrolls (September 26, 2014)
* Ted 2 (June 26, 2015)
* Gold and Blue: A Helios and Selene Story (July 31, 2015)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (December 18, 2015)
* Kubo and the Two Strings (August 19, 2016)
* Wish Animals (September 9, 2016)
* Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda (October 5, 2017)
* All I Want for Christmas Is You (November 14, 2017)
* World of Music (December 8, 2016)
* Helios and Selene: A Zodiacal Night (March 2, 2018)
* Computopia: The Dark Web (May 4, 2018)
* Painted!: Drawing the Universe (February 12, 2019)
* Missing Link (April 12, 2019)
* Wish Animals 2 (September 6, 2019)
* Bobbleheads: The Movie (December 8, 2020)
* The Super Mario Bros. Movie (April 5, 2023)
* Computopia: The Webcation (June 16, 2023)
* Strays (August 18, 2023)
*
* The Ancient Times 2 (March 7, 2024)
* Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (April 12, 2024)
==== DreamWorks Animation ====
==== Illumination ====
== Television ==
=== Animated ===
==== Universal Television Animation ====
* The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957-1977)
* Luna Supermoon (1986-1990)
* Back to the Future (1991-1992)
* Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992-1993)
* Fievel's American Tails (1992)
* Exosquad (1993-1994)
* Problem Child (1993-1994)
* Escape from Jurassic Park (1994-1996)
* Baby Woody and Friends (1994-1997)
* Monster Force (1994)
* Beethoven (1994-1995)
* Earthworm Jim (1995-1996)
* The Savage Dragon (1995-1996)
* Wing Commander Academy (1996)
* Vor-Tech: Undercover Conversion Squad (1996-1999)
* Jetty the Weak Jet Plane (1996-2001)
* Andy Panda (1996-2000)
* Crash Bandicoot (1997-2003)
* Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect (1998-2000)
* The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999-2002)
* Spyro the Dragon (1999-2001)
* Trevor! (2001-2005)
* Sitting Ducks (2001-2003)
* The Mummy: The Animated Series (2001-2003)
* Woody Woodpecker Cartunes (2003-2006)
* The Fast and the Furious: The Animated Series (2003-2005)
* Curious George (2006-2022)
*
* Pixel Chix (2007-2010)
* Woody Woodpecker: Wackier than Ever (2009-2014)
* Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012-2015)
* Max Steel (2013-2015)
* Rabbids Invasion (2013-2022)
* Skylanders Academy (2014-2018)
* Team Hot Wheels (2014-2017)
* The Groovy Adventures of Earthworm Jim (2014-2020)
* Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks (2015-2021)
* Noddy, Toyland Detective (2016-2020)
* Poptropica (2017-2022)
* Monster High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad (2017-2018)
* Crash Bandicoot: The N. Sane Adventures (2018-present)
* Monster High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad (2017-2018)
* Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (2018-2020)
* Polly Pocket (2018-present)
* She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020)
* Woody Woodpecker (2018-2023)
* The Andy Panda Show (2019-present)
* Fast & Furious Spy Racers (2019-2021)
* Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022)
* Barbie: It Takes Two (2022-present)
* Monster High (2022-present)
* Barbie: A Touch of Magic (2023-present)
==== Universal Kids ====
* My Creepy Family (1998-2003)
* Lexy of Technomagic (1999-2006)
* Flowerous (1999-2004)
* Buzzy the Bee (2000-2008)
* Sticked Together (2001-2006)
* Starlighter (2001-2007)
* Emotionarium (2001-2004)
* Yummity Yum (2002-2010)
* Danger Star (2002-2007)
* Weredhole (2003-2007)
* Musical Disharmony (2003-2012)
* Scaridays (2004-2009)
* Spring Fling (2005-2010)
* My Flavorite Friends (2005-2012)
* Searchin' the Web (2006-2008)
* Stargirl (2006-2011)
* Laughtersday (2006-2014)
* Hotelia (2007-2013)
* Painterious (2008-2013)
* Just for Laughs (2008-2015)
* My Hot Dog (2009-2012)
* Loud and Proud (2009-2014)
* Ready, Set, Sing! (2010-2016)
* Vroom Vroom (2010-2017)
* Mysterion (2011-2012)
* Toonsters (2011-2014)
* The Floozles (2012-2019)
* Aquaria (2012-2017)
* Flower Power (2013-2016)
* Whoopies Daisies (2014-2018)
* Beateria (2014-2024)
* Tricksie Lexy (2015-2021)
* Popstarter (2015)
* Crooked (2016-2022)
* Zap! (2017-2020)
* Mean Girlz Rockz! (2017-2023)
* World of Colors (2018-present)
* Alto and Soprano: Best Vocal Friends (2018-2021)
* Level-Upper (2019)
* Crossing Hoods (2020-present)
* Libby and Her Library (2020-2024)
* Fluzzles (2021-present)
* Garden Wars (2021-present)
* Anya's Ghost (2022-present)
* Hack-Chan (2023-present)
* Moonflower (2023-present)
* Glitchy Monsters (2024; upcoming)
==== Universal Junior ====
* Clangers (1969–1974; 2015-present)
* Sprout Diner (2002-2009)
* The Save-Ums! (2003-2006)
* Curious George (2006-2022)
* Hip Hop Harry (2006-2008)
* The Adventures of Dash and Dot (2010-2012)
* Noodle and Doodle (2010-2013)
* The Chica Show (2012-2015)
* Sing It, Laurie! (2013-
* Super Wings (2014-present)
* Ruff-Ruff, Tweet and Dave (2015-
* Nina's World (2015-
* Floogals (2016-
==== Ibiso ====
* Happy Tree Friends (2006-2014)
== Video games ==
== Other media ==
Category:What if? ideas