Sep 29, 2012

A Hitch in Time" by Chuck Jones

[A 1955 propaganda short directed by Chuck Jones encouraged members of the U.S. Air Force to reenlist. The cartoon was included last year in the first volume of the Looney Tunes Platinum Collection.

What is most striking about this short is its production value. Layout artist Ernie Nordli and scenic artist Philippe de Gard offer a master class in composition and color.

There is absolutely no reason why such a didactic reenlistment film should look so good, except that the artists who made it knew no other way to do it. They were craftsmen of the highest order and succeeded in turning the most mundane material into something entertaining and beautiful.

Chuck Jones is at the height of his powers as an artist, and the character layouts for the two main characters are a delight. The animation is equally adept. The movement is secondary compared to Jones' overwhelming poses, but it is no mean feat to bring such organic and complex designs to life.

The film is not a classic, but it is a must-see for fans of Chuck Jones and golden era Hollywood animation.

(via Cartoon Retro)

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