Big Game (1928) is a weird, bouncy trip into early animation

If you have six minutes and you want to see what people thought was funny before the world went to hell in the 30s, give this a watch. It is perfect for anyone who likes rubbery animation and things that bounce for no reason. If you need a plot that actually goes somewhere, you are going to hate this. It’s just a bunch of stuff happening until the screen goes black.

Farmer Al Falfa is one of those characters who feels like he was born old and grumpy. In this one, he’s out hunting with his dog. The dog is honestly the best part because he looks like he's made of melted licorice. He just flows across the screen.

I noticed early on that the physics are just... gone. When a gun fires, the barrel doesn't just recoil, it kind of wobbles like a pool noodle. It made me laugh more than the actual jokes. It’s much more energetic than something like The Little 'Fraid Lady, which feels stiff by comparison.

There is this one bit with a bear that really got me. The bear is huge, but then it shrinks down to hide behind a tiny tree. It doesn't make sense, but in the world of Paul Terry and Harry Bailey, it’s just the law of the land. 🐻

The background art is super simple, almost like someone drew it on a napkin during lunch. But it works. It keeps your eyes on the characters, who never stop moving. Even when they are standing still, they are somehow vibrating with energy.

I found myself wondering if the animators were just making it up as they went. One scene has a bunch of birds flying in a formation that looks like a bicycle. Why? No clue. It’s just there for a second and then the movie moves on to the next weird idea.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Big Game (1928) through its definitive frames.

It’s got that same frantic feeling you find in A Rare Bird. Just pure, unadulterated nonsense. I think we lost something when cartoons started trying to be logical or teaching lessons.

The music in the version I saw was all scratchy and distorted. It actually added to the vibe. It felt like watching a ghost of a joke from a hundred years ago. It’s way more interesting than sitting through a dry drama like Cardigan, at least for me.

There’s a moment where Al Falfa falls down a hole and his legs just keep running in the air. Classic stuff. You’ve seen it a thousand times in Bugs Bunny, but seeing it here, in 1928, feels like seeing the blueprint for everything that came after.

The ending is kind of abrupt. Like, they ran out of paper or the sun came up and they had to stop. He doesn't really catch anything, which is probably for the best. The animals are way too cute to be trophies anyway.

If you’re into the history of the Van Beuren studio, this is a must. If you just want to see a dog turn into a liquid shape while chasing a rabbit, it’s also a must. It’s definitely more fun than It's a Great Life, though that's a pretty low bar to clear. 😅

Sometimes I think we overanalyze these old shorts. They weren't meant to be art. They were meant to fill time between features in a smoky theater. But there is a soul in the lines here that you don't get with modern CGI stuff. It’s messy and imperfect and that’s why it’s good.

Anyway, it’s short. You can watch it while waiting for your coffee to brew. Just don't expect any deep insights into the human condition. It’s just a man, a dog, and a very confused bear.