Short animated western

Thank You Mask Man (1971): Cast & Plot

Name: Thank You Mask Man
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Western
Released: 1971-09-28
Duration: 7 min
Cast: Lenny Bruce

Thank You Mask Man is a 1971 short animated western directed by John Magnuson, starring Lenny Bruce as The Lone Ranger / Various (voice). It runs 7 minutes.

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Read the plot summary

Released: September 28, 1971
Runtime: 7 min
Director: John Magnuson
Genres: Animation , Comedy , Western
Original language: English
Studio: Imagination
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Thank You Mask Man About?

The premise of Thank You Mask Man without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Animation pairs Lenny Bruce’s monologue with scenes of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Townspeople protest the Ranger’s refusal to stay after a deed. He stays, enjoys their “Thank you, mask man” chant, then makes a final request that outrages the crowd. John Magnuson noted audiences objected to perceived “fag‑bashing,” yet piece uses that language to critique hero worship.

Thank You Mask Man Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags

for grown ups animation
satire comedy
parody comedy
mask
dark comedy
ends with a ride into the sunset
western spoof
parody
spoof
satire
superhero
masked hero

+18 more

masked superhero
cowboy hat
cowboy
strong language
old west
horse
midnight movie
native american
homosexual
gay
gay slur
cult film
american indian
adult animation
based on standup comedy
lone ranger spoof
independent film
title spoken by character

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Cast & crew

Thank You Mask Man Cast & Characters

Lenny Bruce plays The Lone Ranger / Various (voice) in Thank You Mask Man. Directed by John Magnuson.

Director John Magnuson

Lenny Bruce as The Lone Ranger / Various (voice)

From the director

Thank You Mask Man Plot Summary

What happens in Thank You Mask Man from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lenny Bruce voices The Lone Ranger and a host of characters in a tale that reimagines a frontier savior as a deeply human figure stretched between gratitude and power. The story begins in a small town that has relied on a masked hero for years, only to find that no amount of clean rescues has earned the lasting thanks he craves. Each time he saves the day, the residents mutter a quiet thanks and move on, leaving him feeling both essential and unseen. The Mask Man’s longing for appreciation becomes a defining trait, coloring every victory with a need for acknowledgment.

Full summary

The whole story of Thank You Mask Man, scene by scene

Read the full summary