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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
I was digging through some old silent shorts and found Bull-Oney. It is a Walter Lantz cartoon from 1924 and man, things were different back then.
If you love animation history or just weird old stuff, it’s worth the five minutes. But if you can't stand shaky, grainy footage that looks like it was dragged through a hedge, maybe skip it.
The whole thing is basically a spoof of bullfighting. It’s got that very early, very wiggly animation style where everything feels like it’s made of wet noodles.
Tom Palmer and Lantz wrote this, and you can tell they were just trying to see what would stick. There is a moment where the bull gets angry and his steam comes out of his ears, but it looks more like white paint just appearing.
The bull’s face changes shape constantly. One second he looks like a monster, the next he’s just a sad dog with horns. 🐂
I really liked the part where the matador tries to act tough but his knees are literally knocking together. It’s a classic gag, sure, but it’s done with so much energy here.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Hot Heels, even though that’s not a cartoon. Just that 1920s 'go go go' vibe.
The background is just... nothing. It’s mostly white space with maybe a single line for the floor.
It’s kind of funny how they didn't care about logic. The bull can basically turn into a pancake if the scene needs him to.
I noticed one frame where the bull’s tail just disappears. Just poof. Gone.
Nobody was checking for continuity back then I guess. It makes it feel more human though.
It’s definitely not as polished as Manon Lescaut or something big from that era. But it doesn't try to be.
The ending is super abrupt. Like they ran out of ink or just decided they were done for the day and went home.
I actually laughed when the bull sat down. He didn't just sit, he sort of deflated like a balloon. 🎈
It’s a bit like Hick Manhattan in how it just feels like a series of sketches thrown at a wall to see what sticks.
If you’re looking for a deep story, you’re in the wrong place. This is just pure, 100% silliness.
I’ll probably forget most of it by tomorrow, but that one shot of the bull's bulging eyes will stick with me. It’s actually kind of a nightmare if you look too close.