Customer Reviews

Columbia Pictures Cartoon Classics, Vol. 9 [VHS]

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On its own, "Gerald McBoing-Boing"--one of the most influential cartoon shorts ever, along with "Gertie the Dinosaur" and "Steamboat Willie"--would make this set worthy of attention. However, the presence of many other key cartoons from United Productions of America (UPA) makes this set an essential purchase for any serious animation buff.

All but unknown to the general public today, in its 1950's heyday UPA was viewed as the primary challenger to Disney in theatrical animation. Both its highly stylized visual esthetic--emphasizing the suggestive qualities of line drawings rather than their exact resemblence to the real world--and its adult-oriented sensibility were at odds with Disney's "illusion of life" animation and all-ages storytelling.

In these respects UPA showed the way much independent animation would go in the years to come. (John Hubley, one of UPA's founders, went on to pioneer independent animation after he left the company.) UPA's influence extended into early television animation as well, sometimes by way of imitators and sometimes directly, as with the several UPA directors (Bill Hurtz, Ted Parmalee, Lew Keller and Pete Burness) who went to work for Jay Ward on the "Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoon series.

Unfortunately UPA did not last, plagued with personnel problems due to the Hollywood blacklist as well as the financial problems that dogged every American theatrical animation studio of the period. Even worse, UPA's theatrical shorts have only intermittently promoted to the general public since its demise, which is why their work is little-known outside of animation circles today. Until Columbia/Tri-Star (or Sony Pictures Entertainment, or whatever they call themselves these days) sees fit to issue a comprehensive set on DVD, "Columbia Cartoon Classics Volume 9" will remain the best way to access the classic UPA shorts.

In addition to "Gerald McBoing-Boing", the set includes the critically acclaimed "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Unicorn in the Garden", and "Rooty Toot Toot"; "Robin Hoodlum", the first UPA short; the Oscar-nominated "Madeleine"; and two cartoons featuring Mister Magoo, "Ragtime Bear" (the character's debut) and the Oscar-winning "Magoo's Puddle Jumper". Some copies also contain two unannounced bonus cartoons--"Trouble Indemnity", longtime Magoo director Pete Burness's first film with the character, and "Trees and Jamaica Daddy", the last UPA Oscar nominee.

For viewers who can get with the idea of cartoons that aren't cute like Disney's or riotously anarchic like Looney Tunes but aimed at tweaking grown-up artistic and narrative sensibilities, "Columbia Cartoon Classics Volume 9" will be a most rewarding view.