William Lava

William Lava (March 11, 1911 – February 20, 1971) was an American composer and arranger, best known for his work on animated cartoons, particularly those produced by Warner Bros. during the Golden Age of Animation.

Lava joined Warner Bros. Cartoons in the late 1940s, initially as an arranger. He gradually took on more composing duties, eventually becoming one of the primary composers for the studio's shorts, along with Milt Franklyn and Carl Stalling. He scored numerous classic cartoons featuring characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and the Road Runner.

Lava's musical style was characterized by its energetic and often frenetic pacing, perfectly complementing the visual gags and slapstick humor of the Warner Bros. cartoons. He frequently incorporated quotations from classical music and popular songs into his scores, often used in a humorous or ironic manner.

After Warner Bros. Cartoons closed in 1963, Lava continued to work in television and film, contributing music to various projects. He died in 1971 at the age of 59. While not as widely known as some of his contemporaries, William Lava's contributions to the soundtracks of Warner Bros. cartoons are a significant part of animation history.