02.06
Sorry this is so late, but between the list and things going on in my life, I haven’t had the time to update this series. Here’s my monthly set.
Hawaiian Holiday (1937)
This actually showed up twice in my calendar this month, and it’s one of the few cartoons so far that I have a clear memory of watching as a child. Numerous times, in fact. I distinctly remember going to one of the hotels at the Walt Disney World resort, and having them play this cartoon on a big-screen TV. That was a good time.
The story of the cartoon is pretty basic, since it just lives u p to the title. Mickey and the gang chill out in Hawaii, in typical cartoony fashion. Goofy tries to surf, but fails miserably. Mickey tries to play the ukulele, but gets his fingers stuck, while the rest of the gang find their own antics.
Overall, it’s a cute cartoon. Nothing too special, but there are some classic music cues and a few gags worth writing home about. I’ve seen this cartoon a lot of times in my life, and it’s still one of my favorites featuring Mickey and his pals. And the ending is precious.
Orphan’s Benefit (1934)
In this short, Mickey runs a show for a local batch of orphans, which Donald attempts to steal for his own. This is what happens when you give him a standing ovation for reciting children’s poetry…
I think that this cartoon is fairly basic overall. Light on laughs and story, but makes up for that with great animation. The attention to visual wordplay is stunning, and Donald isn’t the only one to have some truly fluid stuff go on. All the other supporting characters in the cartoon, like Goofy and Clara Cluck, have their shining moments as well during their parts of the show. It’s just a shame that the rest of the cartoon is fairly forgettable.
Playful Pluto (1934)
Pluto lives up to the title of the cartoon in this one. After a bath, Pluto goes on a mini-rampage and ends up swallowing a lightbulb. Scared out of his life, he runs all around Mickey’s house.
The animation in this short is surprisingly rubbery. Disney has traditionally tried to have its cartoon characters stick to model, which makes how bouncy Pluto looks throughout seem surprising. That makes for some funny animation, however, which is a good thing. The rest of the cartoon is somewhat basic stuff, with Pluto being his playful pup self. There’s nothing wrong with that, and some good laughs are present, but it’s a tad hollow overall.
Originally posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.