A few good cartoons · 5:13pm Aug 18th, 2012
Mutiny on the Bunny - 1950
Take your typical Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam cartoon, throw in a theme off of Mutiny on the Bounty and this is probably what you’ll. Hardly a special cartoon, it’s still pretty funny and contains some pretty funny lines (“I was a human being once”).
Three Little Pups - 1953
Once upon a time, Tex Avery decided that he wanted to make cartoon based on the three little pigs with Droopy as one of the pigs…pups. From an indestructible doghouse, some of the more amusing meta humor ever created, and with Daws Butler (who would voice a number of Hanna-Barbera characters like Huck Hound) playing the role of the Dixie-whistling wolf, this is definitely one of the funniest cartoons that Avery created. Producer Fred Quimby was once quoted as saying that “every time the wolf opens his mouth, he brings down the house.” And certainly there’s a big kernel of a truth in that line.
A Dream Walking - 1934
There are a couple series that have quite a number of fans in the cartoon world whose enthusiasm I do not share, and the Popeye series is one of them. Let me explain why first, when these cartoons first came out their isn’t a lot that separates them from what was out of the time besides the use of humans. The whole love triangle between Popeye, Olive, and Bluto isn’t really all that different from what was going on in a lot of cartoons at the time, notably between Mickey, Minnie, and Pete. And while the series might have been somewhat funnier than the mouse, it still suffers from the Fleischer tendency to include a “gag” (I use this in the loosest sense because a Fleischer gag is usually something coming to life that shouldn’t in the real world) in every scene with little set-up or speed (this is partly why the comedy in the Looney Tunes is so good because they have both these factors not to mention better animation). Plus the animated version pales heavily to Popeye’s original vehicle, E. C. Segar’s wonderful Thimble Theater comic strip, which didn’t rely on repetitive formulas as much and included a far more interesting personality for the sailor man (if you haven’t read this, check it out, it’s worth your time).
Having said all that, there are cartoons featuring the sailor man with the spinach can that I do like and A Dream Walking is one of them. For one, Olive isn’t a damsel because of Bluto in this one, instead she’s in trouble because she’s sleepwalking in dangerous places. Because of that even though Bluto is the more violent of the two, it’s harder to hate him compared to Popeye. Two, it’s a little funnier than most (there’s an amusing gag where all three of them start to sleepwalk). And just so you know, this cartoon probably comes the closest to answering a question everyone would like to know, does Olive Oyl have boobs (don’t deny it you all want to know). If you don’t like Popeye, you might want to skip this but otherwise, enjoy.
Tortoise Wins by a Hare – 1943
Bugs Bunny rarely loses; this is so commonly known that cartoon fans have even put together lists of ones were he does fail (admittedly, the definition of fail varies between people). And one character he always lost against was a turtle named Cecil. Appearing in just three cartoons, this character was able to beat the rabbit by messing with his narcissistic side in a series of races. And yet a sad truth remains, most of the cartoons Cecil appears in aren’t really that good. The final one is damaged from and the first one suffers from a lack of good gags. The one good Cecil cartoon is something of a sequel to the first (the first minute and a half is borrowed from that cartoon) and it’s certainly a cartoon worth watching. For one the animation is great (my favorite scene is Rod Scribner’s animation of Bugs watching) which is always a plus (gotta love that acting). Two, the gags are great unlike the other two (the idea that rabbits are built for running and are pretty stupid is hilarious (of course, we all know rabbits are very smart but this is why it’s called fiction)). Finally, I just really like the characterization given to the characters. Bugs is driven to revenge to the point of madness and Cecil remains calm and collected to the end, plus the mafia bunnys fit that nice point between violent and stupid while being somewhat sympathetic (somehow). So enjoy what is probably the best cartoon based on the Tortoise and the Hare.
Another excellent selection here. I think the Droopy one amused me the most, partly due to the wolf character and Droopy's line "Don't ask how we got the TV back". Plus it's Tex Avery. I actually found the one with Cecil the Tortoise to be quite annoying, but that might be because I'm so used to seeing Bugs Bunny as the 'one step ahead' character that he normally is and it's odd to see him outsmarted.
I believe I might just watch you now, so I can get these cartoon posts regularly.
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Glad you enjoyed them.
On the Cecil one, I would rank that as my #9 of animated shorts; I admit, however, that Bugs losing is something that doesn't appeal to everyone for reasons you stated. I liked such moments more as a kid because to be honest, seeing Bugs win all the time with little trouble kind of got a little old, so seeing him outsmarted or tricked was exciting and memorable because it was so different. Plus, 1943 was early in the rabbit's years (it varies who you ask but A Wild Hare from 1940 is the agreed latest date of his first appearance), so he wasn't completely set in stone then.
Wow, I haven't even uploaded a single story and already I have a watcher.
302655 I guessed that it might be an early Bugs cartoon, since he actually looks a lot more rabbit-like in this one than in later shorts. I understand how seeing him fail for once makes him seem like a more real character, but the fact that he's able to inexplicably outsmart all of his opponents (except Cecil) is what makes me find him so funny. Of course, that is basically what makes him funny to anyone but it especially amuses me.
I am only really following you for this blog. I've gone through past entries and enjoyed the cartoons of each one I checked, so I'd like to see more. Although, if you did post a story I would happily give it a try.