I remember doing a post way back when I started the exploration blog in August of 2024, I did two posts of my favorite cartoons, I since deleted it because I changed my opinion nowadays, and also most of the shorts I didn't really had enough thought to say that they were "masterpieces". I just sorta liked them, and that stems from what I had to say what were my biggest inspirations from over a million posts like how I stated musicals are supposedly better than other genres where I just like more or so the inventiveness and dancing not specifically the singing or anything else.
These choices feel more clear to me. There will be some familiar cartoons if your a big huge fan of my blog ever since I created it.
The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946)
Still my favorite Looney Tunes cartoon, I love the colors, the designs of the Dick Tracy inspired characters, Daffy's facial expressions are amazing, the action is some of the best in classic animation history. I absolutely love this short ever since I first saw it a few years ago. It was just unlike anything I ever saw.
Heavenly Puss (1949)
My favorite Tom and Jerry cartoon period. It just nails the Heaven and Hell imagery so well, it's challenging but very intriguing, the backgrounds are some of the best I ever seen. It's almost realistic in a way like when Tom enters the Heaven Gates. It's short but it's no exception.
Who Killed Who? (1943)
I was re-visting some old Tex Avery shorts and while I now have different opinions on his work, this is still my favorite out of his MGM shorts. It has everything I want to create myself. It has necessary live action scenes, incredible focus on the environment, and incredibly funny gags while having a mysterious ambience to it. It makes it more mature than the regular ol' comedic appeal and to that I really enjoyed it.
The Last Hungry Cat (1961) and Birds Anonymous (1957)
Normally, I don't watch Sylvester and Tweety cartoons as much. I'm more of a variety viewer, but there is still good moments in their cartoons, but there was 2 shorts from this classic duo that I had to mention.
The Last Hungry Cat is a parody of Hitchcock specifically Alfred Hitchcock presents. I have watched the 1st episode, but you may have known that I enjoy his movies, like ALOT. The whole short is just Sylvester himself completely paranoid that he somehow killed Tweety, there is some incredible backgrounds, some neat camera angles, and is honestly straightforward for the most part. It's honestly a brilliant move for Freleng to direct this and is truly one of the last greats of the classic Looney Tunes repertoire.
On the other hand, Birds Anonymous is probably one of my favorite Looney Tunes shorts story-wise. It's not going for zany energy, and repeated elements, it's literally all about Sylvester trying to quit being addicted to eat Tweety, and it builds up to some of the most underrated acting I seen in a cartoon. It's just got a gentle and emotional feel to itself and it deserved an Acamedy Award honestly. It was truly original, and was a charming short film altogether.
Trombone Trouble (1944)
I have mixed feelings with Donald Duck's cartoons. He's still a classic and likeable character, but when it comes to directors like Jack King, he can make some of the darkest but most imaginative Disney shorts ever. This is just great and underappreciated. I love the animation, the environment, the scenes of Donald using superpowers, it's just incredible and I highly recommend to give this at least one watch.
The Goddess Of Spring (1934)
I have posted a full review of this specific cartoon back last July, and yeah, it's still a very massive and ambitious short film that honestly has quite importance especially when it comes to Persephone, it actually helped create one of the most iconic animated films of all time, Snow White, but all that aside, this short film is just beautiful. The natural environments feel alive and the animation with the storm and the imps jumping around is just some intense stuff.
Pluto's Judgement Day (1935)
Pluto mostly has his heartwarming and tolerable cartoons but this one is just masterful. Disney shorts this era have never been so eerie and fearsome without being too scary for all audiences. This has some great designs, and colors that ooze the dreaded feel of The Underworld. It's kinda disciplinary and I love it.
Scaredy Cat (1948)
This was one of my favorite Looney Tunes shorts ever since I first watched it. It just had an excellent premise and Chuck Jones never disappoints. He was incredibly talented during this period of the Looney Tunes era, and the gags, and intensity crafted in this short still continues to inspire me to this day.
As I got older the more I appreciate this film's message and poignant tone. This film mainly focuses on the imagery of war and gaining world peace. They even mention a Bible verse in this short which is amazing since I'm considered a Christian. This short should be easily seen at least once, it's my favorite cartoon for a reason.
Bimbo's Initiation (1931)
I easily enjoy Fleischers work. I don't think I liked most of the 1920s output for cartoons except for the awesomeness that was Out Of The Inkwell, such a great series of cartoons. I also think Fleischers 1930s shorts specifically the orchestrated era were easily the best from the Golden Age as well. They just bloom with energy, and the songs are absolutely catchy and fit the vibe of the rubber hose animation but my favorite is Bimbo's Initiation. This is a very funny but intense cartoon and the ideas are all impeccable.
Duck Amuck (1953)
It's Duck Amuck, I mean what can I even say? It's a masterpiece. The gags, the timing, the energy, the acting I could literally remember more than 75% of the lines from this short. I keep on coming back to this one because it's just got that simple toned-down Chuck Jones charm that I absolutely admire, but also giving off Tex Avery relation to breaking the 4th wall.
Cheese Chasers (1951)
All I got to say for this one is it's ending where "IT JUST DON'T ADD UP!"
I always appreciated the Hubie and Bertie shorts and I often related to Claude Cat in the past. Just a great cartoon and incredibly drawn facial expressions too.
And finally just any of the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons. They are all perfectly watchable and have funny moments in them. That "loudmouthed schnook" will always be one of my favorite cartoon characters.
And that is my list of my favorite classic cartoons. I have piled all of them onto my Letterboxd. If anyone would to interview me ever about this topic this would be useful, you'll never know!
No comments:
Post a Comment