Bullwinkle J. Moose and Rocket J. Squirrel are taking their act to Universal City.

MCA Inc., parent of Universal Studios, has acquired worldwide merchandising and theme park rights to the slightly bent Bullwinkle cartoon crowd in a long-term deal with the heirs of creator Jay Ward.

MCA expects to have Bullwinkle merchandise in stores by Christmas.

Sources close to the talks said that MCA viewed the Bullwinkle licensing and merchandising agreement as a way to become more competitive with Disney's cast of cartoon legends.