Bosko's Holiday: A weirdly bouncy 1930s relic

So, Bosko’s Holiday. Is it actually worth watching today?

If you are into the history of animation or just want to see how weird things were before Bugs Bunny showed up, then yeah, give it seven minutes. If you hate old-timey crackling audio and cartoons that don't really have a 'point,' you'll probably want to skip this one.

It's basically just Bosko and his girlfriend Honey going for a picnic. But since it is 1931, the car they are driving has a personality and the trees probably want to dance along with the radio.

I noticed right away how much everything in this movie bounces. Every single movement is timed to the music, which is catchy but gets stuck in your head in a way that feels slightly threatening after a while.

Bosko himself is... well, he's a product of his time. He looks like a drawing of a drawing of a minstrel show character, which is always a bit jarring to see when you're just trying to enjoy a cartoon.

There is this bit where he is driving the car and it just feels so loose. The wheels look like they are made of black licorice instead of rubber and metal.

Honey is there too, mostly just to be the 'girl' character. She has these massive eyelashes that look like they could poke an eye out if she blinked too fast.

They get to the picnic spot and things start falling apart pretty quick. It is not even like a big dramatic failure, just small annoyances that pile up until you realize nobody is actually having a good time.

The dog, Bruno, is actually my favorite part of the whole think. He has this vacant look in his eyes like he is seeing through time and space while he's just sitting there.

At one point, Bosko starts singing. He does this thing where his mouth opens wider than his entire head, which is kind of impressive and terrifying at the same time.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Bosko's Holiday (1931) through its definitive frames.

It reminded me a bit of the physical comedy in The Gold Rush. But without the heart, honestly, just more of the chaos.

Everything in this world is squishy. If a rock hit someone, they wouldn't bleed, they would just turn into a different shape for a second and then pop back.

The ending is kind of abrupt. It doesn't really resolve anything, it just... stops.

I found myself staring at the background art more than the characters sometimes. The hills are just these lumpy mounds that look like they were drawn in thirty seconds by someone who was late for lunch.

There is a charm to it, though. It is like looking at a rough draft of what animation would eventually become once people figured out how to tell a real story.

You can tell the animators were just having fun with the fact that they could make things move at all. Sound was still pretty new for them back then.

Sometimes the audio and video don't quite line up perfectly. It gives the whole thing a ghostly, slightly off-kilter vibe that makes you feel like you're watching something you shouldn't be.

If you have seen Children of Dreams, you know how 'staged' early sound stuff can feel. This has that same 'we are figuring this out as we go' energy.

Did I enjoy it? Kind of, I guess.

It is like eating a single piece of old-fashioned candy you found in a drawer. It is sweet for a second, then you're just left with a weird aftertaste and a sticky tooth.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Bosko's Holiday (1931) through its definitive frames.

I will probably forget most of it by tomorrow. Except for that dog.

The dog is definitely haunted. He just stares.

Anyway, it's a short. Give it a look if you're bored and want to see Bosko's weird little life.

Things that stood out to me:

• The way the car's radiator cap moves like a twitching nose.
• Bosko's weirdly long fingers in that one close-up shot.
• The picnic blanket looks like it was literally painted onto the grass.
• That one bird that looks like it is mocking the audience.

It's not exactly a masterpiece like The Gold Rush. But it's a thing that exists and people worked hard on it.

I think I prefer the later stuff where the characters actually have personalities beyond just being 'happy.' But hey, it’s 1931. Everyone was just happy to have a job, probably.

One thing I can't stop thinking about is the sandwich. Why did it look so heavy when he picked it up?

It is a cartoon sandwich, it should be light as air. But when he picks it up, the animation makes it look like it weighs five pounds of solid lead.

Maybe it was just the thick ink they used. Everything looks heavy and wet in these old shorts.

I am going to go watch something else now. Maybe Rose-Marie just to see some actual people for a change instead of rubber people.

If you like rubber-hose limbs and jazz music, this is your movie. If not, maybe just skip ahead to the 1940s where things make more sense.