Chow Hound (1951)

 

This week has been hard, and I progressively gotten way more stubborn and judgemental than I thought. 

I have forgotten all about this cartoon. It's probably the best short I seen as of now. I remember loving it when I first watched it, just because of how hilarious the writing was and the horrific ending punchline.

Yes it does have some side of cruelty, but in the best possible ways. It's one of the more manly adult cartoons you'll see.

The reason why I felt like I didn't talk about this one that much before it's because people might think I'm crazy for loving abuse, and dark comedy in a hard time we're living in.

The dog is like Charlie Dog if he drank cans of Red Bull and ate Thanksgiving food on a regular basis. 

I also like the posing throughout this cartoon. It's some of the best you'll ever see and honestly needs to be studied by animators. 

Usually I'm not a fan of mean-spirited cartoons like Life With Feathers and Fresh Airedale, but I think it's because in a strict sense I didn't like the dragged out pacing, and nonsensical plot lines. 

What makes this one such a legendary  masterpiece is that the dog and cat aren't generic and the improved animation from the animation crew makes it fit the feeling and emotion alot more.

The backgrounds are really stunning. If this scene took place in the daytime that would be a little weird, given that at the night hour, people are more drawn to be doing tough stuff.

This isn't going for a sweet and sappy Casper The Friendly Ghost format. It's the opposite, and what I came here to see. Normally I don't like when people get smacked in the face but something about it being in a 75 year old cartoon feels different.

The plot is also genius. It's really hard to nail something this masterful as a dog asking for gravy.

Still-poses can be really expressive. Chuck's animation crew mastered that type of movement back in the early 50s. I tend to not like alot of his work by that time, but hey the animation was still solid and expertly crafted.

This was 1951, and Chuck Jones made some very good cartoons. Drip-Along Daffy, Rabbit Fire, and A Bear For Punishment are also among my favorites.

Man, I love those tiny book scenes. 

Some of my favorite cartoons take place in the nighttime. The Great Piggy Bank Robbery, the final act of Katnip Kollege, Kitty Kornered, all those hit me with more experience since I don't usually go outside at nights. 

The human reactions are hilarious and definitely ahead of it's time. I also like them completely faceless. Since I tend to dislike how Jones's human designs looked back in the 50s to 60s.

This would be my type of cartoon to show to people whenever they think of my drawings. It blends comedic action, and humanity to the whole thing.

I have to mention John T Smith's perfect acting in this cartoon. I also love the mouse. He's desperately pleading for mercy.

The funny moments are also sensible and doesn't add a bunch of unnecessary observant chatting which is why I grew up watching shorts more than movies. 

It gives you more of a focus on what your actually seeing. Given time to sense what the characters might be doing next, taking a time to breathe, and exploring different routes. 

 

Yeah, don't ask. There is one concerning scene that last a few seconds of a mouse portrayed as an african villager, but I seen worse. Also within it's shear context, the fact that it's a mouse instead of a human makes it less offensive and just a little moment in particular.

But that being said, we get on to the most memorable part of the cartoon, the muscular dog sees all the meat in the butcher shop and for a such a healthy and stable animal, he seems to have an interest for indulging. Bizarre.

I love the cheaply animated jump cycle in this scene.

For me being an animation observer no one talks about the serious lighting effects with some of these dark and twisted cartoons. 

Surreal animation can be decently enjoyable but can be hard to relate. Porky In Wackyland was only fascinating because of how unique it was. I didn't really enjoy alot of the alienated energy because it felt too unsettling and nonexistent.

Another animated frame showcase, I love the lip-syncing when the cat says "This time, we didn't forget the gravy."

 

This ending punchline was unexpected because I suspected that the cat character was silent all this time and he was just a quiet housepet, but now thinking about it, he really stood up for himself.

The final 10 seconds, is the dog suffering to drink all that gravy. Man, that is such an unforgettable and dark way to end it off.

This cartoon was a big change for animation medium itself. You can make something so cruel, so amusing, and yet funny at the same time.

This cartoon masters not being afraid to make something this mean but appropriate for audiences, yet alot of people seem to like it. You don't have to be a bad person to admire this cartoon. That's why this is becoming one my favorite cartoons. I seriously didn't give enough credit to it.