All’s Fair at the Fair: a utopian view of materialism, seductive advertising, over-consumption and futuristic trends
Dave Fleischer, “All’s Fair at the Fair” (1938) Best known for their Popeye and Betty
Tag: Short films
The Land Beyond the Sunset: a very moving and thoughtful film on achieving happiness and peace
Harold M Shaw, “The Land Beyond the Sunset” (1912) Made in 1912 – the same
The Beautiful Leukanida: early animated fable of love, jealousy, war and annihilation in an insect universe
Wladyslaw Starewicz, “The Beautiful Leukanida / Prekrasnaya Lyukanida” (1912) In a long career spanning some
French and French-language Films
The Mascot: a puppet dog’s mission of self-sacrifice results in an amazing masterpiece of stop-motion animation
Wladyslaw Starewicz, “The Mascot / Fétiche Mascotte ” (1933) An amazing and brilliant short work
The Cameraman’s Revenge: the camera as a mirror of human behaviour as performed by insect puppets
Wladyslaw Starewicz, “The Cameraman’s Revenge” (1912) A deftly crafted and delightful animation short, this silent
Feline Follies: the folly of falling hard in love with no regard for consequences in a dark suicidal cartoon
Otto Messmer, “Feline Follies” (1919) By no means a great cartoon or even a mildly
The Little Pest: beaten up, walloped, drowned – what’s a pesky baby brother to do?
Dick Huemer, “The Little Pest” (1931) Chiefly remarkable for its depiction of sibling-on-sibling violence, this
Balloon Land: a fantasy fairy land where life is fragile, death is close by and a serial killer is on the rampage
Ub Iwerks, “Balloon Land” (1935) For sure this cartoon with the Hansel-and-Gretel morality fairy-tale plot
Blue Cat Blues: a Tom and Jerry cartoon comments on materialism, capitalist society and the class divide
William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, “Blue Cat Blues” (1956) With dark themes of depression, substance abuse
Swing You Sinners! – horror morality story goes to extremes in imaginative animation
Dave Fleischer, “Swing You Sinners!” (1930) A bizarre little cartoon short, filled with the most