- This article is about the 2005 film character, you might be looking for the 1971 version or 2023 version.
- "Everything in this room is eatable, even I'm eatable! But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies."
— Wonka about cannibalism
Willy Wonka is the owner of the Wonka Chocolate Factory and the infamous figure who runs one of the most famous confectionery companies of all time. He serves as one of the protagonist of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory alongside Charlie Bucket.
He is portrayed by Johnny Depp in the film, and is voiced by James Arnold Taylor in the video game.
Appearance
Willy is a tall slender man with very pale skin after not going outside in many years. He has chin-length brown hair in a bob. He has bluish-purple eyes as an adult for unknown reasons; as a child, he had brown eyes.
He usually wears a plum colored overcoat that goes down to his knees over a black shirt with a W-shaped pin. Tied into his shirt is a long golden chain which seems to be for a pocket watch. He also wears a tall black hat.
While outside the factory, he wears goggles and sunglasses, presumably to prevent his eyes from being damaged by the light after staying indoors for so long.
Personality
Wonka violating Scarlett's personal space.
Willy Wonka is an eccentric and witty man. Due to a lack of love and human interaction in his life, having seemingly little to no contact with much of humanity for the past 20 years, as well as being betrayed by greedy parasitic copycat candy-making cads, he is a bit misanthropic and socially awkward, lacking charisma and requiring cue cards to read from while giving his factory tour. He also exhibits tendencies of people with little socialization, such as getting extremely close to people's personal space, staring at them, etc. Unlike other incarnations, this version of Willy Wonka does not sing.
He also seems to be somewhat sadistic as well, smiling when he watches Veruca Salt being attacked by squirrels. It is unclear if he hates children, if he just dislikes people in general, or if he merely found the situation amusing. However, there is a theory that Wonka designed the tour in such a way to lure and punish the children, evidenced by the choreographed Oompa-Loompa songs.
He sometimes displays a lack of confidence and deeply-rooted psychological and emotional issues, and is shown to act frightened when hugged by children, reacting as if he is being violently attacked, possibly due to receiving little to no physical affection throughout his life.
When thinking of the idea of parents, he acts rather traumatized and has extreme difficulty merely saying the word. Due to his own life experiences with his father, he views the concept of family in an overwhelmingly negative manner, finding family members as chains and burdens which attempt to control and mold people, preventing them from achieving their dreams. Wonka's outlook on family changes by the end, however, when he realizes not all parents treat their children like his father treated him.
Biography
Life with father
Willy Wonka was born from his mother on an unknown date. He was forbidden to eat any candy, because his father, Wilbur Wonka is a well-known dentist who hates candy, especially chocolate, as they can cause cavities. One time, about 30 years prior to the film, Wonka went trick-or-treating with children named Ruthie, Veronica and Terrance, who were presumably his childhood friends. Later, Wilbur threw out all of Willy's Halloween candy into the fireplace as Willy watched in despair. However, while cleaning the fireplace, Willy noticed a small chocolate ball managed to not get destroyed in the fire. Willy ate it, his first piece of candy, and it transformed his life as he yearned for more, even in spite of having braces.
Willy running away from home after having an argument with his father
Willy told his father he wanted to be a chocolatier, but his father sternly said that would not be happening. Willy announced he would run away from home to pursue the candy capitals of the world: Switzerland and Bavaria. His father replied to go ahead, but not expect him when he returned home. After Willy left, he thought he was traveling the world, but only to realize that he was actually walking through a flags of the world exhibit in a museum after being informed by a security guard that the museum is closing for the night. When he returned, his father and even his house was no longer there, leaving him without a guardian.
Rise to fame
Willy Wonka's first store on Cherry street
As a young entrepreneur, Willy attended a school where he passed chocolate manufacturing exams as the youngest student ever to graduate. He went on to create a unique chocolate with an interesting taste, inciting interest from the confectionery industry and making headlines in newspapers. He also managed to create an ice cream that would never melt, even on hot sunny days.[1] Around 20 years prior to the film, Willy started his chocolate business Wonka Candies some time after, and he started a small shop on Cherry street in the center of town where Grandpa Joe worked. The shop's popularity boosted the town's economy and made Wonka very respected among the townsfolk.
Willy opens the chocolate factory
Despite this success, Willy still had bigger dreams and intended to open more stores. With Willy's amazing candy, he soon became a billionaire, and with all that money from the investors, he built his own chocolate factory and his business Wonka Candies transformed into Wonka Worldwide, Inc.
15 years prior to the film, he assisted in creating a chocolate palace in India for Prince Pondicherry, although it melted in the sun.
Downfall
15 years prior to the film, not long after his chocolate factory opened, a group of spies (Arthur Slugworth, Prodnose and Fickelgruber) were jealous of Wonka and stole his secrets. Willy shut down the Wonka Factory after company secrets were leaked, resulting in layoffs. The event greatly disheartened him, making him withdrawn and distrustful to people he once thought were his allies, such as his employees.[2] He announced to everyone he would be permanently closing down the factory forever.
New beginnings
Willy Wonka meeting the Ooompa-Loompas
Despite the hardship, Willy Wonka refused to simply give up. While searching for exotic new flavors for candy, Willy Wonka decided to explore a jungle and found Loompa Land which he felt was a terrible country. There, he met the Oompa-Loompas who craved cocoa beans which was rare where they lived. Because Wonka was used to having a huge supply of beans, he offered them to live in his factory, saying they could have as many beans as they wanted and he would be willing to pay them in beans. The chief agreed and the Oompa-Loompas moved into the factory.
After a thorough investigation, Wonka Factory reopened but no longer hired human workers, instead using Oompa-Loompas. However, Willy avoided the public eye and became a recluse. Even in spite of growing competition, Wonka Candies was able to maintain its sales after they increased their chocolate varieties from 14 to 25.[3]
The Golden Tickets
Wonka Factory in the current day
Despite his vast amount of wealth, his distrust of humanity and reclusive nature began to make him ponder over the meaning of his own existence. This was amplified when he saw his first grey hair, making Willy Wonka contemplate his mortality. He decided he wanted to pass down his factory to a worthy heir, as he had no children of his own, and desired to find a child with a pure enough heart whom he could train.
As such, he came up with the idea of five Golden Tickets to send to people throughout the world. However, there is a notable theory that Willy Wonka had an eye on Charlie Bucket, a boy living in a run down misshapen house across from his factory, and that Wonka may have intentionally given him a ticket. Supporting this theory is that the Golden Tickets were supposed to be delivered throughout the world, yet one remained in the town of Wonka's factory despite all odds.
The Willy Wonder Tour
Willy Wonka leads the tour
With the Ticket finders and their parents, Wonka was a bit nervous, and he was unable to stop the children from disobeying his orders, causing Augustus Gloop to fall into the chocolate river, Violet Beauregarde to turn into a gigantic blueberry, Veruca Salt to get tossed into the rubbish chute, and Mike Teavee to be shrunk into the size of a hand. But Charlie Bucket remained and Wonka revealed that his grand prize was to inherit his factory and Charlie won because he was the "least rotten" of the five children and Charlie was eager to accept until Wonka revealed that he would have to leave his family behind as Wonka believed that families would only restrict him. However, Charlie (knowing leaving his family is the wrong thing to do) preferred to stay with his family, so he left. Willy Wonka was soon depressed, and as a result, his candy production started to go down.
Confronting the past and reunion with his father
Wonka secretly met with Charlie while he was shining his shoes, and asked Charlie about what makes him happy when he feels terrible. Charlie replies that his family makes him happy, to which Wonka responds saying "Ew". Charlie then asks Wonka what was his problem against his family, and Wonka says that families tell their kids what to do and what not to do, which he claims won't conducive a creative atmosphere, so Charlie tells him that families do that because they love their children. But when Willy refuses to believe him, Charlie suggests to Willy that he should go see his father and ask him, but Wonka disliked the idea of reuniting with his father alone, due to his childhood reasons. Charlie asks Willy if he would like to accompany him, and Wonka agrees and the two to see Wonka's father's house. He made an appointment with his dentist father, and Wilbur Wonka recognized his son while examining his teeth, remarking Willy hasn't flossed after all this time.
They both share a hug, and Wilbur feels tearful because of having learned a painful lesson about accepting his son for who he is and not what he does for work. Afterwards, Willy repeats his offer to Charlie, who then accepts on one condition - that his family can come too. This time, Willy agrees. Charlie and Willy then arrive at home in time for dinner. The Bucket house is now inside the factory. An Oompa-Loompa narrates that "one thing was absolutely certain - life had never been sweeter".
Wonka's song
Wonka has a short song sung by animatronics.
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka
The amazing chocolatier
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka
Everybody give a cheer!
He's modest, clever, and so smart
He barely can restrain it
With so much generosity
There is no way to contain it
To contain it, to contain, to contain, to contain
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka
He's the one that you're about to meet
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka
He's a genius who just can't be beat
The magician and the chocolate 'wiz
The best darn guy who ever lived
Willy Wonka here he is!
Quotes
- "Good morning, starshine! The Earth says hello!"
- "I don't care." (to Violet)
- "Moms and dads. Dad? ...Papa? ...Okay then, let's move along." (repressing trauma)
- "Oh, my dear boy, of course they can't. You can't run a chocolate factory with a family hanging over you like an old, dead goose. No offense."
- "You smell like... old people. And soap. I like it."
Trivia
- In the original 1964 book, Wonka is said to be short and has a small and sharp pointed black beard. He is also said to have a high and flutey voice.
- In the book, Wonka calls Veruca's mink coat pretty and says she looks lovely in it. However, in the script for the 2005 film, when Veruca mentions she has a Brazilian mink coat, Wonka is disgusted and sarcastically says, "Well, I'm sure they're much happier on you, than playfully romping through the forest with their families and loved ones."
- Although Wonka makes gum, he strongly dislikes it because he finds it gross.
- There are chocolate bars packaged as Wonka Bars that have been sold in the real world.
- Johnny Depp said his portrayal of Wonka was inspired by his idea of George Bush being incredibly stoned.
- In the video game, Wonka is voiced by James Taylor, who is also the voice actor of Tidus from Final Fantasy X. This is ironic casting as both Wonka and Tidus have issues with their father who they haven't spoken to in years.
- Wonka is also parodied in the 2007 film Epic Movie, portrayed by Crispin Glover.
External links
Gallery
| Characters |
|---|
Golden Ticket winners
Augustus Gloop (1971) Families
GLOOP: Mrs. Gloop (1971) • Mr. Gloop (1971) Other characters Arthur Slugworth • Fickelgruber • Lofty • Mr. Turkentine • Mr. Wilkinson • Noodle • Oompa-Loompa • Prince Pondicherry • Prodnose • The Shopkeeper
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- ↑ https://propstore.com/product/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/wilbur-wonka-christopher-lee-framed-newspaper-cutting-non-melting-ice-cream/
- ↑ https://propstore.com/product/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/wilbur-wonka-christopher-lee-framed-newspaper-cutting-wonka-closes-chocolate-factory/
- ↑ https://propstore.com/product/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/wilbur-wonka-christopher-lee-framed-newspaper-cutting-wonka-avoids-the-public-eye/