Item: Honeyland
Rating: 6.3
Author: Archivist John

Is it worth the 8 minutes?

If you have a soft spot for those old cartoons where every single thing on screen bounces to the rhythm of the music, then yes, put this on.

Kids will probably like the colors, but anyone who hates high-pitched 1930s singing will probably want to mute the TV after about three minutes. 🐝

I found this while looking for something short to watch, and it’s honestly a lot more detailed than I expected for a random MGM short.

It’s part of that 'Happy Harmonies' series which was basically MGM trying really hard to do what Disney was doing with Silly Symphonies.

The whole thing starts with these bees working in a hive that looks like a high-tech factory.

They aren't just making honey; they have little machines and assembly lines for everything.

One bee is literally using a hammer. Why does a bee need a hammer? I don't know, but it looks cool.

There is this one scene where they are processing the nectar and it feels weirdly industrial for a cartoon about nature.

It reminded me a bit of the slapstick energy in Wrong Again, even though that’s a totally different kind of comedy.

The main 'plot' kicks in when a boy bee and a girl bee—who I guess are engaged?—get into trouble.

Actually, they are just singing a lot. So much singing.

The Rhythmettes do the voices and it’s that very specific, fast-paced harmony style that makes you feel like you’re vibrating.

Then the spider shows up.

Cartoon spiders from the 30s are genuinely nightmare fuel.

This guy has this huge, bloated body and a face that looks way too human in a way that’s just... off.

He captures the girl bee and takes her back to his web, which is basically a neon-lit death trap.

I noticed the background art here gets much darker and moodier than the rest of the film.

It’s a weird contrast to the bright yellows and reds of the meadow.

The rescue mission is where the action happens, and it gets pretty chaotic.

The bees use their stingers like little swords and they even have a 'stinger sharpener' machine back at the base.

I love that specific detail. It’s so unnecessary but it makes the world feel real.

It’s not quite as emotional as something like Little Pal, but for a cartoon about insects, it tries its best to make you care.

The way the bees fly in formation like a military unit is pretty impressive animation for 1935.

I did find myself wondering why the spider didn't just eat her immediately, but I guess then we wouldn't have a movie.

There is a moment where the old 'Grandpa' bee gets involved and he’s basically a war general.

The music swells and everything becomes this big rhythmic battle.

Sometimes the characters move a bit too fast and it’s hard to see what’s happening.

The colors are the real star here, though. That early Technicolor just hits different.

Everything looks like it was painted with thick, wet ink.

It’s not a deep film, obviously. It's a cartoon about bees fighting a spider.

But there’s a charm in how much effort went into the small stuff, like the way the honey drips or the texture of the spider's web.

If you're into animation history, you'll see a lot of tropes that would later be used in much bigger movies.

I’ve seen a lot of these shorts lately, including some heavier stuff like The Sparrow, and it’s nice to just have something bright and loud for a change.

The ending is exactly what you think it is. No spoilers, but the bees aren't exactly the losing team here.

One shot of the spider falling is actually kind of funny because of the sound effect they used.

It’s a bit of a relic, but a fun one. 🍯