1942 Animated Short Oscar Analysis
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1942 Animated Short Oscar Analysis
1942 was unfortunately a weak year when it comes to the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and not just in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality as the 1941 nominees are overall much stronger. There isn’t much of variety here as most cartoons on the list are WWII-inspired and rather overt in that, but at least the list is diverse when it comes to the studios/directors with Warner Bros, Disney and also Paul Terry, Tex Avery and Walter Lantz being present.
My Ranking of the Nominees:
6. Juke Box Jamboree
Juke Box Jamboree is a musical short coming to us from Walter Lantz. It’s a film that has solid animation and particularly energetic, fun Latin music, but other than that, it’s rather uninspired and bland in every regard. It’s one of those shorts that were dated even for its time as they felt like they came from the 30s to me with its non-existent plot and underdeveloped characters. That is why it is in my opinion obviously the weakest nominee of this bunch that never should have been nominated.
5. Blitz Wolf
There is a much better ‘Three Little Pigs’ parody much further down this list. Blitz Wolf was directed by Tex Avery for MGM and that caliber I honestly could never see in the finished product. The animation is absolutely terrific, especially in the backgrounds, and the score and direction are solid. The first half’s also pretty good. However, the second half is so much weaker where the movie literally became a World War II short with too many such references and not enough parodying happening in it.
4. Tulips Shall Grow
Tulips Shall Grow is another World War II short which isn’t as direct in those references, but again it was pretty obvious to me that the villains were meant to resemble Nazis. I found the animation somewhat monotone in its overly yellow colors, but still it is a fine stop-motion flick with solid character designs and a good score. I also really appreciated its Dutch influences in terms of storytelling and setting, but I wanted much more from it as it’s just charming and never particularly memorable or inspired.
3. All Out for ‘V’
This movie follows a bunch of animals working and making stuff, helping the American people in their own way during World War II. That’s obviously very problematic as it’s an inherently patriotic American WWII product and it’s very aggressive and annoying in that regard. But the reason why it ranks higher for me than the above two entries, at least a big higher, lies in its execution. It’s a grand, fun musical with charming animation and one particularly amusing, memorable musical number.
2. Pigs in a Polka
Pigs in a Polka is a Merry Melodies classic from 1943 so it didn’t belong in this list of nominees, but at least it was nominated and I am glad for that. It’s only one of the two deserving nominees this year that is short in runtime, but iconic in its superb mix of classical music and great animation that ranks among the finest works from Warner Bros. I liked the characters and their designs and I found the movie hugely entertaining and polished. It’s a terrific ‘Three Little Pigs’ parody in the end.
1. Der Fuehrer’s Face
What is it with the Academy nominating two 1943 movies for their 1942 lineup? Still, Der Fuehrer’s Face is a clear winner from this slate and I am so glad that the Academy agreed as it eventually won its Oscar. This is a classic Disney movie that is a propaganda done right as Donald Duck is so hilarious and perfect for this type of role. His nervous breakdown was so well portrayed here and you feel for the poor guy. The ending is problematic, but the cartoon is otherwise very funny, fun and polished in every regard.
Films That Should Have Been Nominated:
Fine Feathered Friend – This one is an absolute classic that ranks among the greatest Tom and Jerry films ever produced and the year’s finest short for sure. It’s hilarious and perfect in its plot with the titular chicken and I found its over-the-top violence simply unforgettable as the movie is hilariously gruesome and Tom here really got it.
Case of the Missing Hare – In this short, a magician angers Bugs Bunny so much that the rabbit eventually pays him back by humiliating him entirely in his magic show. This is one of those cartoons where Bugs dominates throughout and he proved how clever and tough he is as he really humiliated this dude.
A Tale of Two Kitties – Babbit and Catstello are two cats, one fat and the other skinny, obviously influenced by Abbot and Costello. They attempt to catch Tweety the bird to various failed results. This is a strong Merry Melody that really works thanks to strong humor and quite amusing characters.
My Favorite Duck – Daffy Duck tells Porky Pig that it’s not hunting season and he shouldn’t shoot him and then proceeds to harass the poor pig throughout the cartoon. This pairing was odd at first, but then it turned out great. The action is amazing, there are a couple of unforgettable scenes here and the ending is quite memorable.
The Dover Boys – This Merry Melody follows the misadventures of a bunch of college men from the 1890s. It’s by far one of the finest and most authentic entries in this series where the animation is different and unique and the humor is stupendous. The stupid, campy villain is the standout how ridiculous and foolish he is.
