Cinemaniacal

Betty Boop Snow White

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:54:33 +1000

Betty and Bimbo get into all manners of trouble out in the great wide open, being harassed by Trees, Savages, and more. The Royal Samoans perform in a short live-action sequence.

In My Merry Oldsmobile

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:35:40 +1000

This classic advertisement is set to the 1905 Billy Murray song of the same name.

Patriotic Popeye

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:31:13 +1000

Popeye's nephews nearly burn down his house and then themselves in this explosion-filled salute to the 4th of July.

Woody Woodpecker in Pantry Panic

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:17:09 +1000

Though it can't compete with the Fleischer Studios cartoons of the same era (in animation or sound quality), there are enough of good bits in this early Woody cartoon to fill 6 minutes of your time. Who can say no to the classic "STARVATION stares Woody in the face?" or the quote of the film, "You know, I think that pigeon tried to choke me." Not me, that's who. Though the ending is a bit morbid (I mean, really, with the Moose's head in the background?) and Woody is possibly the most unlikable here than in any of his incarnations, it's good fun.

Popeye For President

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:35:32 +1000

Popeye and Bluto's competing presidential campaigns hinge on the last person left to cast a vote: Olive Oyl.

Ancient Fistory

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:58:20 +1100

Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oyl as they might've been in the days of fairytale. This short meshes the fable of Cinderella with the Popeye mythos.

Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:07 +1100

Betty and Bimbo get into all manners of trouble out in the great wide open, being harassed by Trees, Savages, and more. The Royal Samoans perform in a short live-action sequence.

Showdown

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:59:35 +1100

A crook dressed as Superman is committing crimes all around Metropolis. The real Superman aims to stop him and find out who is behind it all.

Poopdeck Pappy

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:55:32 +1100

Popeye's Pappy loves the nightlife, and bites off more then he can chew in a dance hall. Popeye, naturally, saves the day with punching.

Minnie The Moocher

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:36:46 +1100

Betty and her dog Bimbo run away from home, and are chased by ghosts singing the title song. Featuring Cab Calloway.

Goonland

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:51:56 +1100

Popeye is on a mission to rescue his Pappy from the physically intimidating but mentally deficient Goons.

Japoteurs

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:57:46 +1100

Japoteurs is a hard cartoon to watch at times, from our modern perspective. It is a propoganada film, first and foremost, with what is a very unfortunate portrayal of the Japanese, hi-jacking the world's largest bomber (US-made of course) and attempting to take it to Tokyo. Naturally, Superman takes issue with this. This is the first of the Superman shorts produced by Famous Studios, nee Fleischer Studios. You'll notice the lack of the Fleischer name on the credits.

A Day At The Zoo

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:32:04 +1100

Tex Avery directed this very punny romp through the fictional Kalama Zoo (ugh).

Popeye Meets Sinbad The Sailor

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:55:29 +1100

Popeye Meets Sinbad The Sailor was nominated for an academy award but lost to a Disney cartoon. It wouldn't be the last time for Fleischer Studios.

Finding His Voice

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:55:11 +1100

Pioneering producer Max Fleischer teams up with Western Electric to show us how cartoons are made into talkies.

Duck and Cover

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:31:59 +1100

What should you do in the case of a nuclear attack? If you're anything like Bertie the Turtle and have a shell that can block fallout, duck and cover. Otherwise, just sit quietly and die.

Terror On The Midway

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:31:26 +1100

The circus is in town, and as one might expect, things go horribly wrong for the citizens of Metropolis. This short sees Superman fighting a giant ape, which is about the best thing that can happen, ever. NOTE: The quality on this short is awful. If anyone can source a better one, let me know.

Volcano

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:59:56 +1100

Superman defends Metropolis from an active volcano in what may be the best of the Fleischer Studios short films.

Unisphere: The Biggest World On Earth

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:25:16 +1100

A short film produced by US Steel, showing the construction and design of the Unisphere in New York, for the 1964 World's Fair. They Might Be Giants, represent.

A Tale of Two Kitties

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:42:44 +1100

Babbot and Catsetllo (beautiful, I know) are after a tasty-looking little bird, but are thwarted at every turn by the little guy, who would later become Tweety. He's naked, here, and I'm sure the censors would have had a huge problem with that, now.

Fresh Hare

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:06:03 +1100

Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd have one of their classic confrontations in a new setting: The snowy wasteland of Canada. This cartoon is notable for it's very funny chase scene, as well as the regrettable use of blackface in the finale.

Falling Hare

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:06:03 +1100

Bugs Bunny meets one of his most deadly foes: the Gremlin. After (probably) sneaking his way onto an airfield, Bugs is lead to the brink of destruction by the little guy, before being saved by a little bit of deus ex rationing.

Electric Earthquake

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:41:56 +1100

Hey, you got your social commentary in my Superman! Hey, you got your Superman in my social commentary! That's right, kids, a heapin' helpin' of Native American anger goes into this one. Come for the stellar electricity effects, stay for the non-stereotypical portrayal of the antagonist.

The Magnetic Telescope

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:26:57 +1100

Well, for once, the scientist isn't Mad, but that doesn't mean Superman won't have his work cut out for him as a magnificent magnetic telescope attempts to pull doom upon Metropolis from the sky itself. This was apparently in the dark and horrible days before Supes could just punch comets back into deep space, playing target practice with Darkseid's giant noggin' from a few thousand light-years away. Nonetheless, an interesting bit of political commentary from writers Dan Gordon and Carl Meyer. The Scientist isn't necessarily responsible for this one: it's the misguided aggression of Metropolis' boys in blue that nearly dooms us all.

The Bulleteers

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:19:12 +1100

Superman's fists can pretty much wreck any plans you might've had about your face, the state of your organs, or which direction you thought you wanted to travel. Proof positive of this is Supes punching the hell out of a giant bullet-shaped car that can apparently fly. The nefarious Bulleteers, living high above Metropolis in a cave and dressing kind of like nuns nearly bring Superman to his comeuppance, but are foiled partially by Lois Lane beating their incredible bullet-car with a wrench. I am woman, hear me smash.

The Arctic Giant

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:27:30 +1100

Kryptonians and Dinosaurs are natural enemies in the wild, a little known fact, and one which was not lost on this episode's writer, Tedd Pierce. Mr. Pierce went on to write a lot of animation, all the way up through the 80s, when he worked on that cinematic triumph of clip show goodness, Daffy Duck's Quackbusters.

The Mechanical Monsters

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:42:24 +1100

Robots! Finally, we get Superman beating the hell out of some big robots, which was really the highlight of any Superman story in the 40s, let's be honest. It's always struck me as odd that the robot master just stood there and watches Superman destroy his (probably super expensive) robots, instead of getting the hell out of there. I'm not sure what he expected to happen. Add a madman with a mountain headquarters and amazing visuals that include exploding robots and you've the quintessential Superman short.

Billion Dollar Limited

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:50:27 +1100

Dames with machine guns. It's not a new thing, really. Why, back in the 40s The Fleischer Brothers had Lois Lane unloading on bad guys from the front of a runaway train. It's true. The video doesn't lie. This was the third of the Fleischer Studios shorts, and you have to wonder if movie-goers of 1941 were starting to question the intelligence of the Metropolis criminal scene. How long was it going to take for them to realize that bullets don't hurt Superman? The answer is, apparently, 60 years and counting. Maybe Supes should devote some of his time to the local school systems.

The Mad Scientist

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:50:20 +1100

In this, the first Superman short produced by Flesicher Studios, we quickly get the origin of 1940s Superman, which is a bit different from the current canonical one. No Ma and Pa Kent, no Luthor (though the titular Mad Scientist does just as well in his stead), but plenty of action (displays of super strength and a badass energy cannon) and the beautiful fluid animation that Flesicher Studios is known for. Nominated for an academy award in 1942, but lost to a Disney short about dogs and mice. No justice, man.