Angel Puss

It is interesting to compare this Chuck Jones cartoon with Bob Clampett's Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs (1943), since both were written by Warren Foster and dealt with racial stereotypes. While Coal Black seems to have an admiration for the culture it is ridiculing, and is filled with an exuberance and joy in its portrayal of the characters, Angel Puss seems just mean-spirited. The vain Prince and greedy Queen are the main objects of mockery in Coal Black, but Angel Puss picks on an innocent black child for fun. He is paid to drown a cat but cannot bring himself to do it. While he is arguing with his conscience the cat manages to escape the bag he was kept in. The cat, pretending to be the child's conscience, urges the child to go through with his original plan. The cat then spends the rest of the cartoon pretending to be a ghost and "haunting" the child. This part of the story is just painful to watch. The child obviously doesn't deserve the treatment he suffers through. While many of the Warner Bros. cartoons dealt with a heckling character hassling some milquetoast in a very humorous way, this cartoon seems spiritless, as if director Chuck Jones was just going through the motions. It is interesting to note that this is one of the rare times that Jones worked with Foster, as he usually worked with writers Tedd Pierce and Mike Maltese.

*EDIT* I was mistaken about Warren Foster being the writer of this cartoon. It was actually written by Lou Lilly.

Not all the "Censored 11" cartoons are bad, and some of them are not that racist or offensive today and are actually pretty tame.

Some of the racism and racial stereotyping in other cartoons is much more blatant, including 'All This and Rabbit Stew' and 'Jungle Jitters'. From memory, the worst and most offensive of the lot was this, 'Angel Puss'. On re-watch, it is an opinion that this opinion still shares.

Not just blatantly racist, with stereotypes that makes one squirm, and parts that are not for those easily offended and much of it was offensive, but 'Angel Puss' is also a poor cartoon in its own right.

The only good things about it are some of the animation, which is unmistakable Chuck Jones and has some imaginative detail, with exception of the very poorly drawn and uncomfortably exaggerated main character, reminding one of the hunter character in 'All This and Rabbit Stew', and the vibrant and lively music score.

However, 'Angel Puss' is sorely lacking in laughs, instead being stupid and ridiculous. The story is far too sadistic in places, especially the suffering of the main character via the cat, is dull and constantly uncomfortably weird. The main character is bland and irritating, and the cat evoked the same reaction that the story did. Dialogue is unfunny and stilted.

Don't expect the usually brilliant Mel Blanc to save it. He does in all fairness have poor material but he doesn't do anything with it and is more annoying rather than exuberant, never has he voiced so poorly than here.

Overall, of the "Censored 11" cartoons 'Angel Puss' is the worst and the one that makes one feel uncomfortable and offends the most. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Those people who go on about political correctness gone mad will highlight this film as something mildly offensive that has been denied to the general public by self appointed censors.

Angel Puss is a racist cartoon short. I was shocked by the racism.

It makes me sad that Chuck Jones was involved in making this. An Oscar winning legend in the world of animation. I shudder to think what views he had of black people during the 1940s.

The tale is of a young, lazy, dumb black boy called Sambo who plays up to the stereotype and who has been told by his boss to drown a cat.

Yes a children's cartoon where someone is forced to drown a cat. However the cat is no innocent and at one point whites himself up.

Mel Blanc (White in French) should also be singled out for his voice work that plays with the stereotypical nature of the characters.

There are good reasons why this cartoon are part of eleven that Warner Brothers have withdrawn.

Great cartoon back when they made wonderful, animated shorts. The quality is there. The story is there. And it's uber realistic. It's funny too, without being offensive.

The main character is exactly as you'd expect and so on the money. The cat is a wee bit silly but its used as a convention to get the main point across and it works.

The quality of my print wasn't that great, but it didn't matter, the quality of the concept came through loud and clear. Probably one of the best cartoons Warner ever developed. Mel Blanc was a voice over genius.

It's a laugh out loud extravaganza that will hee-hawing in the aisles. A must see and a collectible!!!!!

This short is nothing terribly special. It's an okay cartoon, nothing more or less. But it is unlikely to see the light of day until or unless it reaches public domain, because of racial stereotypes that are no longer acceptable. While I can see their point (and the short is by no means a masterpiece), there are shorts equally mundane and inconsequential shown every day. This should be available at least for historical purposes, although I can see a point to not airing it for broadcast. Worth watching at least once. Recommended due to its scarcity for completists.