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A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Happy Hoboes remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an itch for early animation history or just want something short to kill six minutes, sure. It’s not exactly a masterpiece. You’ll probably like it if you enjoy that jittery, rubber-hose style of movement. If you’re looking for a coherent story or actual character depth, you’ll definitely hate it. It’s basically just a series of things happening until they don't.
The whole thing feels like a fever dream you’d have after eating bad cheese. The city wipes out the hobo camp in the opening, which is surprisingly bleak for a cartoon like this. Then, boom, they are on a train. There’s no transition, just *whoosh* and now they’re moving.
The scene with the Chinese cook is... well, it’s a lot. The way the food is drawn is weirdly detailed, like they spent more time on that roast chicken than on the actual character designs. Then hundreds of bums just appear out of nowhere. It’s like a clown car, but for desperate people.
The pacing is all over the place. One second they are sitting down to eat, the next they are flying down a log slide. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in One Wild Ride, where things just happen because the animator got bored.
It’s funny how these old shorts act like being a hobo is just a series of wacky mishaps. It’s not exactly Farewell to Poverty in terms of social commentary. It’s just guys trying not to get hit by things.
I caught myself staring at the background art more than the characters. Some of those forest sketches look like they were done in a hurry, almost like the artist was trying to beat a deadline. It’s messy. But I kind of dig it.
There’s a weird lack of logic here that you just don't see anymore. Characters survive things that should definitely break every bone in their bodies. I guess that’s the charm. It doesn't ask you to think. It just asks you to keep up. 🚂