5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Dog Daze remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you either love this kind of old-school, frantic animation or you’ll find it deeply grating. If you have any patience for pure, unfiltered chaos and classic sight gags, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you prefer a movie that actually bothers with a plot, maybe steer clear. It feels like a fever dream that didn't quite get written down properly.
The whole premise is just an excuse to have dogs run around a stage. It’s barely a story, really. Just a series of things hitting other things. 🐶
The moment that sticks out is when the dog gets into that trunk of roller skates. It’s absolute anarchy. The way it crashes through the stage show is exactly the kind of timing you expect from this era, but it somehow feels more desperate than usual.
It’s funny, but it’s also weirdly aggressive. You can almost hear the animators sweating through the screen.
It’s not as polished as some of the other stuff from the era like Dummy Love, but there’s a charm to its messiness. It’s like watching a kid try to perform a magic trick they haven't practiced. You appreciate the effort, even if the results are a bit of a disaster. 🎢
The pacing is a total nightmare, but I guess that’s the point. It just keeps throwing things at you until it ends abruptly. No big finish, just a sudden stop. Feels right for this kind of thing, actually.