Willy Wonka is a character in the classic Roald Dahl children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. He is the founder of the Wonka Candy Company and the inventor of candies such as Wonka Bars and Everlasting Gobstoppers.
He proves an unparalleled genius in confectionery development, inventing seemingly impossible products that capture the world's imagination, like ice cream that never melts, and small candy eggs that hatch chocolate chip birds that move and chirp. From his factory, his products are shipped and sold worldwide.
However, other chocolate makers become jealous and start sending spies to find out Wonka's recipes. In fear of being ruined, Wonka closes the factory and fires all of his workers. Several years later, the factory once again starts running, secretly staffed exclusively by Oompa-Loompas, a race of dwarves from Loompaland who relish the taste of cacao beans. His business resumes its dominance. Wonka's journey to Loompaland was for the purpose of finding new exotic flavours for his candy. The gates of the factory remain locked, to prevent any more spies from stealing his recipes. They didnt suceed!
Eventually Wonka, now old and not having any children to inherit the business when he died, felt the need to arrange for a successor for his business, if only to provide a home and work for the Oompa-Loompas. However, he wanted to groom one from childhood to guarantee they would keep with his methods and spirit. To that end, he announces a contest with five Golden Tickets randomly placed in his products promising a tour and a lifetime supply of his products to the winners for starters. Five children find the tickets, including Charlie Bucket, and they go on the tour of the bizarre factory. During the course of the tour all the children except Charlie misbehave, and find themselves in terrible predicaments that result in their being removed from the group. When only Charles remains, the delighted Wonka reveals his plan and his offer, which Charlie eagerly accepts. He and his family move in to live and work in the factory.
A musical film adaptation of Dahl's book Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, was released in 1971. It was originally a box office flop, but has since become a cult classic, hailed a children's classic by critics and has attracted a worldwide audience.
Another film version of the tale was released in 2005. Titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it was a comedy directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.
Tim Burton's 2005 version added a history of the character: Willy Wonka is the son of dentist Dr. Wilbur Wonka, D.D.S. (played by Christopher Lee). Wonka had a traumatic childhood: his father forbade him to eat candy and forced his son to wear large and unsightly orthodontic headgear. Eventually, he tastes chocolate and starts getting ideas for other candies. When he becomes an adult, Wonka opens his own candy store, with Grandpa Joe being one of Wonka's first employees; Mr. Teavee was hinted to be one as well. A number of movie critics, including one from the New York Times, criticized this Freudian backstory for being both unnecessary and out of the spirit of Dahl's original novel.
Additionally, in Burton's film, Wonka initially refuses to allow Charlie to bring his family to his factory. An eventual reconciliation between Wonka and his father causes Wonka to change his mind and allow Charlie's family to move in with him as well.
