The Legend of Rockabye Point

I love cartoons. Especially Woody Woodpecker (and Chilly Willy). Don't ask me for technical details, producers, studio's and so on, but I know a good cartoon when I see one. But to give you an idea of the lasting impression this one has made on me: It is the first (and only) cartoon which name I've ever remembered. It's probably the most hilarious cartoon I've ever seen (and maybe will ever see). I've been searching for it for about ten years now. They don't make them like this anymore

. . . weigh 330 pounds--EACH. Yet this nature film depicts them as smallish finned creatures, similar to bluegills, only green. This is what viewers can expect when they're being force-fed misinformation from that source of all deception, Texas. The director of THE LEGEND OF ROCK-A-BYE POINT even identifies himself with the initial 60% of that cursed word. By appointing this very identical baffled bozo as character designer, storyboard artist and writer, it's clear that Universal deviously intended to horrify patrons with the final result of this experiment in prevarication. This is why librarians in normal patriotic loyal states burn any book approved by the Texas School Board.

Chilly Willy's best cartoons were perfect examples of how a potentially one-joke character and concept could end up actually being a perfect mix of the cute and the funny with a lot of colour and good comic timing to go with it.

'The Legend of Rockabye Point' is the second of Tex Avery's two Chilly Willy cartoons after the wonderful 'I'm Cold'. As good as that cartoon was, this is even better, one of the best Avery (an animation genius) ever did and one of his last masterpieces in a long career full of them. As far as Chilly Willy cartoons go, 'The Legend of Rockabye Point' is one of the best, Avery's involvement may have something to do with it.

Animation is the smoothest and most refined yet of the Chilly Willy cartoons in terms of drawing. There are also some lovely colours and handsomely rendered backgrounds, while there are some more imaginative visuals than before. The music is full of lively bounce and character, with luscious orchestration. It not only adds to the action and visuals but enhances them too.

Timing is nigh-on perfect, with Avery on excellent form with the hilarious gags with the funniest moments coming from the polar bear. The best of them are rich in invention and are hilarious, while an idea that is not exactly original is dealt with with so much freshness that that is insignificant.

No denying that Chilly is absolutely adorable without being cloying and has a few amusing moments, but he is more of a supporting character here with the lion's share belonging to the bulldog and particularly the polar bear. Not that that matters, Chilly was one of those characters where just the sight of him was more than enough at times. The chemistry between the three of them is brilliant though, which was essential in the cartoon's success being its driving force.

Overall, exceptional. Avery and Chilly Willy fans shouldn't miss this one. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Tex Avery and Michael Maltese were known to repeat their gags, honing them to perfection.

This cartoon is the epitome of the "sleeping" gag Avery did in several of his Metro cartoons.

This particular cartoon is in my top twenty-five of the best.

After Tex Avery was let go from M-G-M, rather than let his talents as a animation director/animation supervisor (take your choice)go down the tubes by retiring,he went to work for Walter Lanz (Woody Woodpecker,Andy Panda,etc.)at Universal. He managed to produce the usual high quality output of funny,funny material. This is just another shining example. This is a Chilly Willy episode,where Chilly & a rather deranged looking polar bear are both eyeballing a ship filled to the nine's with fresh fish. The only thing keeping both from scoring a booty of fish is a rather scary looking bulldog,guarding the ship from theft. What results is a series of gags where the bear trying to pilfer the fish,with Chilly waking the enraged dog,who bites the bear on the ass,where the bear has to sing 'Rock A Bye Baby', over and over again. This is another one of those laugh until you're sick to your stomach shorts (and I wouldn't want it any other way). It's a damned pity that these animated shorts have become neglected over the years. Perhaps,Cartoon Network's off shoot station, Boomerang will one day get the broadcasting rights to air this stuff from Universal.