Why Ko-Ko's Harem Scarem is still a weirdly fun watch

If you have seven minutes to spare and like seein a cartoon clown get into trouble, Ko-Ko's Harem Scarem is a fun little trip. It’s mostly for people who appreciate the weirdness of early animation from back in the day.

If you hate black-and-white silent stuff or things that don't have a "message," you should probably skip it. I always loved how Dave Fleischer starts these Out of the Inkwell shorts.

The inkwell just sits there on the desk until the characters literally climb out of the liquid. It makes the cartoon feel like it's happening right in front of the artist.

Koko and his dog Fitz end up in a sultan's palace this time. There are these girls dancing around, which I guess is the "harem" part, but it's mostly just an excuse for Koko to act like a total goofball.

The sultan has this huge, round belly that looks like it's made of pure rubber. One part that really stuck out to me was when the ink spills on the paper.

It’s not just a mess; the ink actually turns into the floor of the palace. It’s clever in a way that modern CGI rarely is because you can feel the hand-drawn effort behind it.

Fitz the dog is honestly the highlight here. He has this way of walking that looks like his legs are made of soggy spaghetti.

At one point, he just stares at the camera. It feels like he’s judging me for watching him, which is a bit creepy if you think about it too much.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ko-Ko's Harem Scarem (1929) through its definitive frames.

The humor is very physical and fast. Lots of running around and hiding behind curtains or under rugs.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Cocoanuts, even though that's a live-action movie with real people. There’s a moment where Koko tries to hide and his big shoes keep sticking out.

It’s a classic gag, but it works every time. I did notice the background looks a bit shaky in a few shots, like the paper was moving under the camera.

But that’s just part of the 1920s charm, I guess. If you've seen things like The New Babylon, this will feel like a total 180-degree turn.

It’s not trying to be high art or a political statement. It’s just trying to make you chuckle at a clown in a baggy suit 🤡.

The ending is pretty abrupt. They just kind of go back into the inkwell and that’s the end of the show.

I wish it was a little longer, but maybe the joke would have worn thin if it went on. Anyway, it's a neat piece of history to look at when you're bored.

Go watch it if you want to see how they did "meta" humor a hundred years ago. It's surprisingly satisfyin to watch even now.