Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid (1929)

Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid Review

Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid is a 1929 animated short film and the first entry in the Looney Tunes series. It is a solid, but not great start.

It isn’t counted as the first official Looney Tunes, but it was used to sell the series back in 1929. It stars Bosko and we follow the animator Rudolf Ising drawing him and then making him disappear after the guy does a couple of tricks. The plot itself is never particularly inspired, but the animation surely is as it was a blast watching the mix of live-action and animation done this well, so admirable given its age.

Let’s talk about the character himself. This is the first introduction to Bosko and I do not get his appeal, at least not just yet. He is solid and not bad, but isn’t as memorable or as funny. Sure, some of the moments here are amusing, but only mildly. And yes, he is an African-American stereotype, but you have to watch it context and watching it as such, the character has a lot of potential and I hope he will get there eventually.

Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid is weak in terms of plot and humor, but excellent in its animation and sometimes amusing.

 My Rating – 3.5