Happy You and Merry Me: A Fever Dream of Candy and Kittens

Is this worth your time?

If you have exactly seven minutes to spare and want to see Betty Boop deal with a sugar-crazed kitten, sure. It’s light, it’s bouncy, and it’s arguably less stressful than watching Ingeborg Holm, which will definitely ruin your entire week. If you’re looking for a plot that makes sense, keep walking. 😺

The whole thing kicks off with a stray kitten finding its way into Betty’s house. Of course it does. The cat finds a stash of candy and goes absolutely to town on it. I’ve seen kids at birthday parties act the same way, but with more screaming.

The animation here has that classic Fleischer rubber-hose energy where limbs move like they’re made of cooked noodles. There’s a moment where the kitten looks absolutely miserable after the sugar crash, and honestly, the way the eyes droop is a little more expressive than it has any right to be.

Pudgy the pup is there too, looking confused. It’s almost like watching a deleted scene from So Quiet on the Canine Front, minus the war stuff and replaced by house pets. The chemistry between Betty and her animals is just… fine? It’s Betty Boop. You know what you’re getting.

The solution to the kitten’s sickness is apparently catnip. It’s presented with the kind of musical fanfare that makes you think they just discovered penicillin. It works instantly, and suddenly we’re back to dancing and singing.

It’s not as heavy or dramatic as Little Man, What Now?, but it doesn't try to be. It’s just seven minutes of ink and paint doing weird stuff. I think I liked it, but maybe I was just tired.

Quick notes from the couch:

• The sound of the kitten eating candy is somehow both cute and slightly grating.
• Betty’s voice acting is exactly what you expect, though it starts to loop in your brain after a while.
• The transition from 'sick kitten' to 'cured kitten' is so fast it’s practically jarring.
• I still don't understand why there was that much candy just sitting out on the floor.

It’s a breezy watch. Don't overthink the cat’s sudden recovery or the lack of a vet. Just watch the squiggly lines move and enjoy the nonsense. It’s a nice palate cleanser if you've been watching heavier stuff lately. 🍬