Snuffy's Party

'Snuffy's Party' (1939)

Opening thoughts: A vast majority of Walter Lantz's work ranges between well worth seeing and must watches, even if some theatrical series are better than others (not unexpected as that is true of pretty much every animation director). He was responsible for some misses, especially in his later work which saw lower budgets, tighter time constraints and old premises repeating themselves, but on the whole he hit more than he missed. With some of his best work being excellent.

1939's 'Snuffy's Party' is very average, watchable but pretty forgettable. Due to being such familiar territory, with following an already done to death formula to the letter. As said, 'Snuffy's Party' is far from terrible, a long way from being one of Lantz's worst, and it does have good things. There just isn't anything special and Lantz definitely has been capable of better.

Good things: There are most definitely good things here. The best thing about it is, somewhat predictably (not meant in a derogatory way), the music, which is fantastic throughout the entire cartoon. Even when the story is uneven in pacing the energy and character in the music are consistent and in a great way. It is just so infectious and clever. The animation is lush and colourful with very rich attention to detail in the backgrounds and well drawn characters. One of the main interest points of the cartoon is the anthromorphic visuals for the water.

It did take 'Snuffy's Party' a while to gain momentum, but it does come to life in the energetic and tense climax. The outcome is never in doubt, but that was expected. Voice acting is fine, Mel Blanc was a voice acting god and delivers despite not having much to work with.

Bad things: However, there is quite a lot wrong. It contains a very slight story that contains no energy or surprises. As said too, it follows an already done to death formula to the letter with no freshness. There are too few gags, none of them funny.

Furthermore, the characters have very little personality, with a protagonist that is very bland and difficult to root for with the way he acts in the early stages. The message is well intended but is too rehashed and could have been delivered with more subtlety.

Closing thoughts: In conclusion, watchable but nothing out of the ordinary.

5/10.

Snuffy Skunk is throwing a birthday party, and all the animals come by the rickety dam, wearing gas masks....then throw him out, nail up the windows and doors so he can't get in, roll up the rug, and start dancing.

How rude! But their comeuppance will come up, because this is another of those 'useful idiot' cartoons, in which someone who is despised turns out to save everyone's neck. Even though his utility is a matter of fantasy, no one seems to care. No one ever does, and no one seems to care. I suppose that's why they continued to make them throughout the 1930s.