Pigs in a Polka

When Disney did the first The Three Little Pigs, I wonder if he knew he was starting a cottage industry at the very least and The Animators Lifetime Employment Act at most. I suspect more different animators have taken a turn at the Pigs than any other characters in the history of animation. There have been military takes (Blitz Wolf), Pigs as con artists (a meeting with Bugs Bunny) and musical takes, like this one. This is one of the better uses of classical music tied to animation (the best short to do so is Rhapsody in Rivets), with the action on screen fitted to the corresponding musical scoring. This was nominated for an Oscar and periodically plays on Cartoon Network. Recommended.

"This is our interpretation of the familiar tale of 'The Big Bad Wolf And The Three Little Pigs.'" An announcer is telling this to an audience, of which we are privy. He adds this story "is set to the delightful music of Joann Brahm's 'Hungarian Dances.'"

So that's what we get: this fairy tale set to music. The announcer, butchering Brahms' name, is funny, but not a lot of other things are in here. In fact, that might be it. What you mainly have here is a cartoon in which the actions of the people, from walking to dancing and prancing to the wolf chasing the pigs all is set to the music.

Maybe it's just me, but I prefer humor in my cartoons. This was not something I'd watch again.

'Pigs In A Polka (1943)' is a 'Merrie Melodies' short set to the tune of 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' by Johannes Brahms, with each on-screen movement timed perfectly to the classic piece of music. Its story is that of the three little pigs, and it follows that well-established narrative pretty much to a tee. Although it's amusing to see the smooth animation speed up and slow down as dictated by the score, the film lacks strong comedic gags and feels a little bit standard when it comes to its slapstick. It's not bad, by any means, but it does feel a little bit lacking when compared to the zany freneticism usually associated with 'Merrie Melodies' and 'Looney Tunes'. It's a solid short overall, however, and its animation is consistently good.

Dressed in a tuxedo, the Big Bad Wolf presents the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. The first Pig builds his straw house quickly and relaxes. The second Pig builds a house from matchsticks and it crumbles. The third Pig builds a house made of bricks.

Generally, this is the standard three little pigs story except for the last house. The first half is fine and unsurprising. There are one fun joke, but it is mostly nothing special. The brick house is the big change and I'm not sure that I like it. The two pigs are too dumb to live. I don't know if I'm rooting for these pigs. The ending is the ending and it ended.

Once again, the two shortsighted pigs manage to survive, only with the help of their smart and thoughtful brother. After the wolf announced what was going to happen, I expected him to be sitting down with a plate full of pork chops, the third brother watching from a distance. It is a well done but weak story. However, the animation is excellent. It is colorful and full of action.