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6/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. High Up remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, so "High Up" is a real trip back in time, like, way back. If you're into seeing how early animation, especially Oswald the Lucky Rabbit stuff, came together, then yeah, this is absolutely worth checking out today. It's a quick, silly peek at a foundational character. But if you need modern pacing or intricate plots, you'll probably find it a bit… simple.
It’s all set at the circus, which feels pretty standard for these old shorts. Ortensia, Oswald’s girlfriend, is watching this high wire act, and she’s genuinely impressed. Her little eye movements are a nice touch, even back then. 👀
Oswald, being Oswald, decides he needs to show off. He scrambles up onto the wire himself, clearly trying to prove he’s all brawn. It’s a classic cartoon move, isn't it? He just has to one-up everyone.
Of course, the ringmaster is not amused. Not one bit. His face just gets this furious, exaggerated look, and you can practically hear him fuming. Then the chase is on, naturally.
The "high-jinx" part is really just Oswald trying to escape the angry ringmaster on the wire. There’s a certain charm to the way these early cartoons commit to one central gag and just run with it. No complex subplots here, nope.
I noticed a couple of times Oswald’s ears kind of… morph into other shapes to help him out. Like, one minute they’re ears, the next they're grabbers or springs. That rubber hose animation style is just wild. It's not realistic, but it's clever for the time.
Ortensia, she mostly just watches. She’s the audience surrogate, I guess. She’s definitely got more personality than some of the other early female cartoon characters, though. Her reactions are pretty consistent.
The whole thing feels a little bit like a fever dream, with characters stretching and squishing. It’s not about smooth animation, but about getting the gag across. And it does. It definitely gets the gag across.
Honestly, it’s a short burst of early cartoon energy. No deep messages, no big twists. Just a rabbit trying to be cool for his girl and getting into trouble for it. If you've got five minutes and a curiosity for animation history, give it a whirl. It's a neat little piece of where it all started. 🎬