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7.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. I Heard remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you love old, creepy cartoons that make absolutely no sense, you need to watch this right now. It is perfect for anyone who likes 1930s jazz and weird drawing styles, but people who want a normal story will probably hate it.
I watched this late last night on a whim. The whole thing is only about seven minutes long, but it feels like a fever dream you cannot wake up from.
It starts with these miners working at a place called "Never Mine." That joke alone made me chuckle, even if it is a bit silly.
Then they all rush over to Betty Boop’s tavern for lunch. Betty is barely in this, which is kind of funny since her name is usually all over these things.
Instead, we get Bimbo. He goes back down into the empty mine all by himself.
This is where the cartoon gets really bizarre.
The elevator just keeps going down, way deeper than it should. It is like he is entering another dimension entirely.
Suddenly, there are all these ghost-like creatures and skeletons singing. It's music is honestly so catchy.
But the visuals are what keep you staring. One skeleton turns into a giant musical instrument, and another creature just sort of melts.
It reminded me a bit of the strange vibes in Song Impressions, though this one is much more spooky. Some of these early animations had zero rules, and you can really feel that freedom here.
There is a moment where a lump of coal starts talking. It does not really add anything to the plot, but it is just there.
I love how the animators did not care about logic. They just drew whatever popped into their heads, like a glove that has a mind of its own.
If you have seen other weird shorts from this era, like Sweet Papa, you might know what to expect. But I Heard still managed to surprise me with its dark underworld scenes.
The ending is super abrupt too. Bimbo just runs away, and then the cartoon ends.
It is not a masterpiece, but it has this raw energy. You can tell real people sat at desks and hand-drew every single weird frame.
Some of the backgrounds look incredibly detailed. Especially the tavern scenes at the beginning with the crowded tables.
If you have ten minutes to spare, go find this online. It is a great little slice of history that is still pretty creepy today. 👻
IMDb —
1915
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