Why Hot Dogs (1928) is still pretty funny for a 95-year-old rabbit cartoon

If you have five minutes and want to see a rabbit act like a total brat, you should watch this. It is definitely worth it for anyone who likes old-school animation or just wants to see where Mickey Mouse basically started.

People who hate black-and-white stuff or get annoyed by flickering screens will probably want to skip it. It's grainy as hell. 🎞️

I found this while looking through some old archives and man, Oswald has such a weird energy. He’s much more of a troublemaker than Mickey ever was.

The whole thing starts with him in school. He looks so bored, which is relatable even today, I guess.

He just... leaves. No big plan, he just decides the circus is better than whatever his teacher is talking about.

There is this one shot where he's looking at the sideshow posters. The drawings on the posters are actually creepier than the actual characters in the movie.

The way the barker moves is so fluid. It’s that rubber-hose style where bones don't really exist.

I noticed a weird smudge on the lens or the film in the upper left corner during the circus scene. It kept distracting me because it looked like a tiny ghost following Oswlad around.

Yes, I spelled his name wrong. *Oswald*.

The police officer shows up and the chase is basically the whole second half. It’s fast. Like, really fast.

I feel like animators back then just did whatever they wanted with gravity. The cop’s legs stretch out like he’s made of taffy when he’s running.

It reminds me a bit of the logic in Felix Monkeys with Magic. Nothing really makes sense but you just go with it because the rhythm is so good.

There’s a bit where they run through a tent and the perspective shifts. It’s a little bit clunky, but for 1928, it must have been mind-blowing.

I kept thinking about The Winning Stroke while watching this for some reason. Maybe it’s just that old-timey feeling of people trying really hard to be athletic and failing.

One thing that’s weird is the lack of a crowd. It’s a circus, but it feels kind of empty?

Like, where are all the people? It’s just Oswald, the cop, and a few weirdos in the background.

Maybe the budget didn't allow for more background rabbits. 🐰

The ending is sort of abrupt. It doesn't really have a moral, which I appreciate.

Usually, these things want to teach you a lesson about staying in school. Not this one. Oswald just keeps moving.

It’s a lot more fun than some of the serious stuff from that year like His Own Home Town. That movie feels like it takes a hundred years to finish.

I also love the music. Well, the versions I've seen usually have a new piano track added later.

The one I watched sounded like the piano player was having a minor heart attack during the chase scene. It really added to the chaos.

Sometimes the background trees look like they were drawn by someone who had never actually seen a tree. They’re just... circles on sticks.

It’s funny how we used to accept that as 'outside'.

If you watch All for a Husband, you see a totally different kind of 1920s humor. This cartoon humor is just more visceral and weird.

I caught a tiny frame where Oswald’s ears just disappear for a second. Animation errors in these old shorts are like finding hidden treasures.

It makes it feel human. Like a guy was sitting at a desk late at night just trying to finish this frame so he could go home.

The title "Hot Dogs" is a bit of a mystery since he doesn't eat many hot dogs. I think it was just 1920s slang for something being 'cool' or 'showy'.

I'm gonna start saying that. "That's so hot dog." No, actually, I won't. That sounds terrible.

Anyway, if you need a break from the 3-hour epics that are out right now, this is a nice palate cleanser. It’s short, it’s dumb, and the rabbit is a jerk. What more do you want? 🌭

I think I liked it more than The Brand which I watched last week. That one was way too heavy for a Tuesday night.

Oswald is just better company. Even if he is a delinquent.

The way he hides from the cop behind a thin pole is classic. It shouldn't work. He’s wider than the pole. But in cartoon land, if you can't see the cop, the cop can't see you.

I wish life worked like that. I’d hide behind my lamp every time my landlord knocks.

Anyway, yeah. Go watch it on YouTube or wherever. It’s a piece of history that actually manages to be entertaining and not just 'important'.