Cubby's Stratosphere Flight: A weird, icy trip

Is it worth it?

Look, if you are into vintage animation that feels like it was put together by someone who just discovered the concept of a party, then sure, watch Cubby's Stratosphere Flight. It’s got that specific, scratchy charm that makes you wonder what was going on in the artist's head. If you need a coherent story or realistic bear behavior, you are going to be miserable. Stay away.

It starts off with Cubby doing his thing up at the North Pole. The cold doesn't seem to bother him at all. Honestly, he seems way more excited than a bear should be about sub-zero temperatures. 🐻

The vibe is just off

There is this moment where the party really kicks into gear and the music just... keeps going. It’s relentless. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in North Pole, Ahoy! where everyone is just moving because they have to, not because they have anywhere to be.

I found myself staring at the background art more than the characters. There’s a tree that looks like it’s melting. Was that intentional? Probably not, but it’s the most interesting thing in the frame. The way Cubby dances is kind of hypnotic in a 'please stop doing that' kind of way.

It’s nowhere near as dramatic as the stuff in La chanson de l'adieu, obviously. But it’s not trying to be. It’s just a bear in the stratosphere, which is a sentence I never thought I’d type.

• The animation frames skip like a stone on a lake.
• The sound design is mostly just tinny rattling.
• Cubby has a weirdly aggressive way of smiling.

I’m not sure what the deal is with the stratosphere part. He gets there, he parties, he comes back. It feels like a fever dream you’d have after eating too much cheese before bed. Not exactly a masterpiece, but I’ve seen worse things in The Fighting Fool, where the pacing was just as chaotic.

Anyway, it’s short. Thank god it’s short. You’ll be done before you realize you’ve wasted any real part of your afternoon. ❄️