Willy Wonka Design Ranking / Willy Wonka 1974 SPEED-ART
Hey Jack! I'm back, and with me another Speed Art, this one of ol' Willy Wonka. Wonka has changed a lot over the years, and since I just released his animation covering his Evolution a little while back I wanted to go through all his main designs from worst to first! This will include some of the musical versions, the live-action versions, and the cartoon versions. So without any more gobbledygook, let’s get to it!
19. Tom and Jerry and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2017)
Coming in last is Tom and Jerry Wonka, which is mostly a retread of Gene Wilder Wonka, so it’s a fine enough design but it loses for lack of originality. Show me something weird or different, stop copying a 50-year-old film.
18. Broadway Greek
In 18th is the Greek Broadway Wonka, this look to me seems a little lazy compared to the other Broadway versions, he seems to be wearing a bathrobe and his hair, while silver like the novel, doesn’t really give him the nice old man look but instead a silver hipster type look, which is fine but doesn’t really work for me.
17. Sunmark Wonka / Sunmark Wonka – Mark Sweet (Early 1990s)
17th goes to the too cutesy looking Sunmark Wonka, as well as the live-action Mark Sweet outfit, it’s just a little too clean cut and there’s a little too much purple going on for my liking.
16. Breaker Wonka / Breaker Wonka – Mark Sweet (1970s to 1990)
16 goes to Breaker Mascot Wonka, and for similar reasons to the last version it falls here, it has a little more going on but the cartoon version is two friendly looking and a little too derivative of the 1971 film, although the live-action Mark Sweet version is a little bit more unique here which is why it falls a little higher up on the list.
15. ServiceNow Wonka (2021)
The ServiceNow Wonka slides into 15th, he again mostly apes the 1971 version, but does change things a little more than the Tom and Jerry film, so it’s a little higher here, but for the most part is jus ta weak imitation.
14. Broadway Brazilian
The Brazilian Broadway Wonka comes in at 14th, and he has a lot of pinkish purple to him, but I think the tie-dye gives it a much needed splash or originality.
13. Modern Nestle Wonka (2006 to 2012)
Next up is the Modern-ish redesign of Nestle Wonka, it’s more or less a cutesier version of the 90s mascot, but has a darker colouring, although I feel like he lacks the edge of their 90s version.
12. Broadway UK Touring
In 12th is the UK Touring Wonka, this one had a splash of orange and actually features his facial hair, and I think he seems just wonky enough to be Wonka.
11. Broadway Japanese
11th place is the Japanese Wonka. He’s probably the most unique version of Broadway, his hat looks like it’s made of chocolate, the long silver hair, and the large bow is a nice nod to the novel. So that one wins big for originality.
10. Broadway Danish
Rounding the 10th spot is the Danish Broadway Wonka comes in next, I like how dark and creepy this version seems, the dark hair and patterned suit is a nice touch, and I think perfectly blends some of the horror elements that I feel Wonka has going on.
9. The Golden Ticket – Opera Wonka (2010)
The Opera version is in 9th, this version somewhat blends the two movie versions together but has it’s own spin to it so it feels fresh.
8. Broadway French
The French version takes 8th, Now this version is quite derivative of the 2005 Johnny Depp look, but it changes enough and adds a splash of colour which helps to make it feel more fun.
7. Swedish Wonka (1983)
Landing in lucky number seven is the hard to find Swedish Wonka, I like how short this Wonka is like the novel, and how his hat is so tall to compensate. And from the clips that survive he seems like a nice but kinda creepy Wonka, which I like.
6. Broadway Norway
The Norway Broadway Wonka is going to take 6th place. He looks basically like the Riddler which is fun, and while it’s maybe not the most original design ever it’s different for Wonka and the bleach blond hair pops against the green outfit.
5. Wonka (2023
Coming into the top 5 is 2023’s Wonka, this is a little bit more of a scuffed looking deisgn but I like how it seems like he pieced it together over the years, and certain things don’t fit as well as they should and it’s a little messy, but for this take on a Wonka it works very well. It also helps that Timothee Chalamet adds a certain whimsy that hasn’t been seen in the other versions so much.
4. Broadway Wonka (Book Look) – (2012)
The original Broadway design is at number 4. This design is mostly a take on the book and because that hasn’t really been done it almost seems fresh to see it here, although a lot of the subsequent musical versions mostly seem to follow this design, but it works well in live-action so I can see why.
3. Nestle Wonka (1990s)
Now let’s get into the Top 3 with the 1990s Nestle Wonka, which I’m just gonna lump in all the variants here including the stop-motion and UK one since they basically follow the same look. And while it does somewhat feel like a Gene Wilder spin on the character I think it does enough of it’s own thing to make this a classic look for Wonka, and quite nostalgic when I remember the commercials playing between episodes of Beast Wars and Digimon.
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
In second is Johnny Depp’s Wonka from the 2005 film. Not only do I like this movie a lot I think Depp’s take is super interesting. The look is sometimes compared to Michael Jackson, but I think it works as a Howard Hawkes type shut-in mixed with a kids game-show host type persona, which is what I believe Depp and Burton were going for. It’s also a modern darker look for his outfit and does things so differently from the 1971 version that it’s hard to compare, but I like the streamlined nature and the added dash of red and blacks.
1. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
But coming in at number 1 is Gene Wilder’s 1971 look. It’s just iconic, the purple and browns and flowery shirt add a lot while not being too flashy. But it’s really how Gene plays the character that puts this take at number one, there’s something both warm and alluring, but also deeply frightening.
So that is my ranking of the Willy Wonka designs, well most of them, feel free to leave your own ranking below or tell me what your favourite or least favourite is, and if you haven't seen it check out the newest videos on Tell It Animated going through Willy Wonka’s Evolution, and until next time, I've been Aaron, and I'll tell you something later!