Lost and Foundling (1944)
Lost and Foundling Review
Lost and Foundling is a 1944 animated short film from the Merry Melodies series. It is an absolutely stupendous, beautiful cartoon.
Sniffles the mouse finds an egg which develops into a hawk eventually. He tries to eat him, but can’t and eventually upon finding out that some hawk species with a red spot do not eat rodents, he paints himself a red spot as an excuse not to eat the mouse. Needless to say, that finale was one of the most beautiful moments that I have witnessed in any film in quite a while. It was unexpected and very well done as a twist, and I also bought it as the hawk is so lovely of a character.
Lost and Foundling is typically slower paced for a Sniffles cartoon, but it’s still the best of the bunch owing to such a powerful, timeless story. He’s so good here and reliably endearing plus he talks a lot which is a departure from his previous portrayals. The hawk himself is such a sweet sole and I loved him to pieces. I liked the eating attempts scenes of course, but that beginning with the egg journey was so well done. The animation is gorgeous here.
Lost and Foundling is surprisingly one of the very best Merry Melodies up until this point thanks to a timeless story, lovable characters and a beautiful ending.
