1933 Animated Short Oscar Analysis
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1933 Animated Short Oscar Analysis
1933 was a very strong year for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film category and much stronger than the previous year. It encompassed not only the entire year of 1933, but also the latter half of 1932. Once again we got two Disney flicks in the slate (one Mickey Mouse entry and one Silly Symphony) and the third spot this time went to an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short interestingly enough. All three films are pretty good and I do not mind either of them being nominated.
My Ranking of the Nominees:
3. The Merry Old Soul
Despite landing on this last spot, The Merry Old Soul is still a pretty good animated short. Yes, it is messy as it has way too many characters and plot points, but most of them work really well so it still ended up being a quality cartoon. Oswald himself is likable, the comedians are particularly well parodied of all the celebrities here and the ending with the villain and the awaking is particularly good. The animation is also terrific. I just wish that they settled with a more simpler approach and storyline.
2. Building a Building
This Mickey Mouse short is a very deserved Oscar nominee as it truly is one of the best entries from the series up to this point. Pete abducts Minnie on a construction site and it is up to Mickey to save her. But Minnie herself fought here and is thus refreshingly not helpless. Mickey is a terrific hero and Pete is fantastic as the villain here. The animation and score are superb too. Despite a weaker opening and ending, the middle section is superb and filled with a lot of great gags and action sequences leading to such a fun cartoon.
1. Three Little Pigs
What is there left to say that hasn’t already been said about Three Little Pigs? This film is my personal favorite animated short of all time and a flawless cartoon pretty much on all fronts. The animation is stellar and wonderful, the characterization is so strong and even groundbreaking and the main musical number is a classic by now. The villain is fantastic, the action is great and of course its message about hard work is important for all children to get across. It’s a wonderful, timeless Disney flick and the most deserved Oscar winner of them all.
Films That Should Have Been Nominated:
The Mad Doctor – This Mickey Mouse short was shamefully Oscar snubbed as it is most definitely better than the one short that was nominated. It is a phenomenal horror entry with a stupendously conveyed creepy atmosphere, amazing animation and one pretty effective and memorable villain. It’s one of the most memorable Mickey Mouse cartoons.
Wild Elephinks – A phenomenal early Popeye the Sailor entry, Wild Elephinks features a fantastic use of both Olive and Popeye and some outstanding action at display. It has a bunch of terrific gags with the highlight being the animal skin ending. It was snubbed for an Oscar because generally the Academy ignored this wonderful series which is such a shame.
Mickey’s Gala Premier – Another strong Mickey Mouse entry in a terrific year for the mouse, Mickey’s Gala Premier is a very early celebrity parody short which features a bunch of memorable faces and some great gags. The Merry Old Soul is good, but this is a better crafted celebrity parody and thus it should have been nominated instead.
