Magic Fluke (1949)

Magic Fluke Review

Magic Fluke is a 1949 animated short film from Columbia. It is a very good Oscar nominee.

The Fox and the Crow have a successful swing band gig until the Fox gets an offer to lead a symphony orchestra and turns his back on his old friend. This is a very interesting take on the Hungarian Rhapsody that is very fun and electric throughout. It features a terrific premise of a friendship gone bad that unfortunately did not get to be developed as much as it should have been.

Both of the animal characters are memorable, but more development for them both would have made this movie an instant classic. Still, the ending worked and the music was incorporated flawlessly into the plot with the narration also being surprisingly effective here. The animation is fantastic with the character designs and meticulous detail being the highlights. The mature tone to telling this story was a delight.

Magic Fluke needed better characterization, but its premise is great while the music is perfectly incorporated into the lovely animation.

My Rating – 4