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5.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. I Love a Parade remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for really old animation or if you’ve got about seven minutes to kill and want to see some truly bizarre stuff. If you’re looking for a plot, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a hula-dancing hippo, you’ve hit the jackpot.
There’s something about these old shorts that feels like a fever dream. I Love a Parade is basically just a string of gags tied together by a catchy tune. It doesn't bother with a narrative arc, and honestly, it’s better for it. It just moves from one circus act to the next without asking for your permission.
The siamese twin pigs were... a choice. I’m not sure what the animator was going for there, but it definitely sticks with you. The whole thing feels like a weird, jittery memory from a childhood you never actually had.
It’s nowhere near as cohesive as Alice's Knaughty Knight, which at least tries to have a bit of a story. This one just hits you over the head with noise and movement.
The pacing is all over the place. One second you’re looking at a snake charmer, the next you’re watching a high-wire act that feels like it’s being played at 1.5x speed. It’s not graceful, but it’s relentless.
I caught myself staring at the background art for a bit. The amount of detail they shoved into these tiny frames is actually kind of impressive, even if the characters themselves look like they were drawn by someone who hadn't slept in three days. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s weirdly charming in that “this shouldn't exist” kind of way.
If you're expecting the technical precision of modern stuff, stay away. Go watch The Fighting Heart if you want something that feels like it has a pulse. This is just a cartoon circus doing its best to stay upright.
It’s not good, but it’s not boring. Sometimes that’s all you can ask for. 🎪
