Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Bosko & Cool Cat - Looney Tunes First & Last Stars

Before Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Road Runner, the face of Looney Tunes was Bosko, the kid made out of ink. And in 1930 he was featured in the cartoon short that started it all, Sinkin' in the Bathtub. This was the first official release of the Looney Tunes franchise and opened the door for the vast array of colorful characters that would follow.


In 1969, when the Looney Tunes theatrical shorts officially ended, it would be Cool Cat starring in Injun Trouble that closed the book on the Warner Brothers cartoon machine. Actually that book was pretty much closed in 1964 when the golden age of cartoons ended and were replaced by cheaper looking animation. Not to say that all cartoons after 1964 were bad (although many of them were) they just looked cheaper and seemed rushed.


While both Sinkin' in the Bathtub and Injun Trouble are vastly different, these are perfect examples of the attitudes and animation styles of both 1930 and 1969. Bosko cartoons were nothing more than elaborate sight gags set to music, much like the silent films that came before it, while the Cool Cat shorts were full of quick one-liners spoken by the main character to reflect the hip, changing style of American pop culture.

Yes, a lot changed from 1930 to 1969. And the cartoons of old represent that change. And although it's always interesting to look back, both Sinkin' in the Bathtub and Injun Trouble seem very dated today. However, they are well worth a second look, for through them you will get a glimpse into what was at one time the mind-set of the American public.

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