DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Arctic Antics remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Alright, let’s talk about Arctic Antics. If you’re looking for a deep narrative or cutting-edge animation, you can probably just keep scrolling. This one's a relic, a little peek into early animation. But if you're someone who loves old Disney shorts, or just wants to see some charmingly animated animals do silly musical numbers, it's a decent watch, maybe with a cup of tea on a quiet afternoon. Anyone expecting fast-paced action or a story that grips you will likely find it pretty slow going.
The whole thing kicks off with a bunch of seals just… being seals. Flopping around, sliding on their bellies. Then they start doing these little bobs and weaves, almost like a synchronized swim team, but on ice. It’s the kind of thing that makes you smile, even if it’s not exactly laugh-out-loud funny. The animation on them is pretty fluid for the era; you really get that sense of their blubbery weight. It’s got a bouncy, almost rubbery quality to it. 🦭
Then the walruses show up. And oh boy, these guys are the true stars of the musical segment. One of them actually uses his tusks to play a bone xylophone. Yes, a bone xylophone! It’s such a wonderfully weird detail. Another one somehow plays a set of pipes with his flippers, puffing out his cheeks. The commitment to the bit is admirable. You can almost feel the animators having a giggle with that one.
There's a moment where a group of walruses are all lined up, and they're *supposed* to be playing instruments, but a few of them just kind of… bob their heads out of sync. It’s not a mistake, I don't think. It just adds to the charm, makes them feel a bit more alive, less perfect.
The polar bears get in on the act too. They’re mostly depicted as these big, lumbering, but surprisingly graceful dancers. One scene has a bear trying to spin a seal like a top. The seal looks utterly bewildered, but goes with it. It's a quick visual gag, and then it’s gone, moving on to the next bit.
Penguins! Of course there are penguins. They do their typical waddle-and-slide routine, but then they form a little chorus line. It’s very cute. Their movements are so distinct, those little stiff walks and then the sudden belly-slides. It’s a classic for a reason. You can just tell how much fun the animators had drawing them.🐧
The music, though. It’s very much of its time. Orchestral, upbeat, and *very* repetitive. You'll probably be humming some version of the main melody for a while after. It’s not going to win any awards for complexity, but it fits the simple, cheerful vibe perfectly. It feels like the whole cartoon is just one long, happy jingle.
What struck me, watching it again, is how much the background elements are just… scenery. The ice floes drift by, and sometimes an iceberg looks a little wobbly. But it’s all about the animals. The focus is squarely on their actions, their expressions, even the little wobbles in their steps. It’s not trying to build a grand world, just a stage for these critters.
There's a brief shot of a baby seal trying to keep up with its mom, and it just slips and rolls a little. It’s blink-and-you-miss-it, but it’s a nice touch. Shows a bit of that natural clumsiness, not everything is perfectly choreographed. These small things, you know?
Overall, Arctic Antics is a cute little time capsule. It's not trying to be anything more than it is: a collection of musical animal vignettes. It's a reminder of how animation used to be, before big stories and intricate plots took over. Just simple fun. If you're into the history of animation, or just need a dose of old-fashioned charm, give it a whirl. But don't go in expecting a philosophical journey. It’s more like a visual nursery rhyme. ✨
You might enjoy it if you liked other early shorts, perhaps something like The Oily Bird or even the much later A White Wilderness for its animal focus, though that one's live-action and way different in tone.
IMDb —
1918
Community
Log in to comment.
