Ko-Ko's Reward

The little girl wants to go to the street fair taking place outside the window. Max Fleischer, however, has to draw Ko-Ko and Fitz. So to gain her vengeance, the girl spills ink on herself. She shrinks and becomes a cartoon character. Max orders the clown and the dog to find her.

As so often happens in the Ko-Ko series, we get to see parts of the cartoon world that Max has not drawn -- here, the interior of the decrepit house in the picture -- and what is there makes perfect sense, but is never quite what we expected. It's this playful attitude, the sense that there is a whole cartoon universe we see only one panel at a time, is what infuses the series and makes it, along with Felix the Cat, one of the two best animated cartoon series of the 1920s.

This is along the same lines as the Alice shorts Disney did in the 1920s, only the star isn't the live-action little girl but Ko-Ko the Clown, the first animated star Fleischer Studios had. Here, Ko-Ko has a series of adventures with a little girl who shrinks in size and goes with Ko-ko. Very well-executed and the ending is rather charming. At this point in time (up until The Skeleton Dance), it could easily be argued that the Fleischers were Disney's equal and in some ways, his superiors. They were certainly the principal competition until Warner Brothers and, later, MGM leapfrogged ahead of them and Fleischer Studios lost some steam. The Production Code and tunnel vision on their part played significant roles in their slow disintegration. But when they were hitting on all cylinders, they achieved great things. Well worth finding. Most recommended.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. 'Ko-Ko's Reward' for me, like 'Ko-Ko's Haunted House', is one of the best Ko-Ko cartoons, and a great representation as to Ko-Ko's, Fleischer's and Out of the Inkwell's appeal. Shame about the low rating, which is mainly by the looks of it because of not enough votes. It is hugely successful in being deliciously wild, creative and suitably spooky, as well as being one of Ko-Ko's most charming.

The story, as can be expected, is slight but also boasts one of the most imaginative and oddball concepts of a Ko-Ko cartoon. Really though the criticisms are next to none.

Everything else though is done so brilliantly that any issues had with the story don't stay for long. The delight of the character interplay, the creepiness of some of the visuals and the wild fun are just a few things.

One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality, judging by that it's the 20s when animation techniques were not as many, as refined, as ambitious and in their infancy. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, 'Ko-Ko's Reward' is one of the best-looking Ko-Ko cartoons with great eerie visuals that create a spooky atmosphere.

Pacing is lively and the bizarre and wild nature of the humour is done very imaginatively and never less than fun to watch (mostly hilarious even), making the most of a strong concept. Ko-Ko as ever is very likeable and amusing and the chemistry with the girl is extremely charming, just like the girl herself and the overall cartoon.

All in all, wonderful hugely rewarding cartoon. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Max is working and seated beside him is his little girl. She is impatient to get to a park, but he needs a little more time. When Ko Ko and Fitz appear, she decides to use magic ink and join them in the animation world. This allows Fleischer to put the Clown and Dog in a regular film situation. They end up in an amusement park and, ultimately, in a haunted house. The little girl is what they are seeking and they have numerous pitfalls along he way.