Toy Tinkers

It's Xmas in July as Bobsheaux said. Part of the classic Disney Xmas special that is shown every year on Danish TV for decades. Well deserved Oscar nomination.

Toy Tinkers (1949)

*** (out of 4)

Donald goes into the forest and cuts down a Christmas tree, which is witnessed by Chip and Dale who in return sneak into Donald's house to steal some walnuts. After they're caught the two sides battle with various ornaments and toys. This film has a lot in common with DONALD'S SNOW FIGHT, which featured Donald doing battle with his two nephews and I think you can also see that this film had an influence on PLUTO'S Christmas TREE, which had Pluto doing battle with Chip and Dale after they got into his home. This middle film isn't nearly as great as the other two but I think there's enough here to keep people entertained. I think the highlight of the movie is a sequence where the chipmunks are on a train and have to try and steal the walnuts from Donald who has a few tricks of his own. Throughout the film the animation is top-notch and there's no question that there's enough action for two movies.

Like quite a lot of Looney Tunes episodes and even some Disney Mickey Mouse and Friends episodes, this has quite a lot of slapstick, but luckily a lot of witty humour to top it off.

Basically, Chip and Dale are woken up at night-time when Donald Duck chops down a tree for his Christmas tree in their forest. When Chip and Dale see his house (to where he is going) they decide to follow him and come up to his house chock full of toys and sweets. Chip and Dale become very excited and start triggering their "stealing mood"...

A cute, well-done cartoon, also very funny, this is a lovely Christmas short that many will like. This is recommended for fans of the cute little chipmunks, people who are excited to find out what happens next (if they have read the eye-catching blurb above) and people who also like Donald Duck having his revenge on Chip and Dale and how he does it/tries.

Enjoy "Toy Tinkers"! :-)

With "Donald Duck" safely ensconced at home with his freshly chopped tree preparing for Christmas, the mischievous "Chip" and "Dale" peer through his window at the alluring selection of treats on his carpet and thanks to their powerful incisors, are swiftly helping themselves to his seasonal nuts. Once their host cottons on to their thievery, though, there seems little likelihood of a truce between what rapidly become two warring parties making full use of an array of toys and confectionary - even an Howitzer - but will there be a victor or perhaps some pipes of peace? This is an enjoyably colourful and lively cartoon with the chipmunks always an affably good foe for a "Donald" whose squeaky and increasingly frustrated dulcets always made me smile. There's plenty of tit-for-tat and a jolly score to help it along, too. The Christmas spirit is definitely alive and well with this!

In the last Disney cartoon released in the 1940s, Donald is out cutting a Christmas tree. This attracts the attention of Chip and Dale. They follow him to his cabin, where they observe him decorating the tree, contemplating his toys, and then they spot the immense bowl of walnuts. They must have it!

Of course it starts out simply, and grows in complication as more and more war toys are used the the increasingly frenzied battle between good and evil .... which side you come down on. Will there be dynamite?