Oswald the Rabbit in "Not So Quiet": A Wacky Trip to WWI 🐇💥

Alright, so Not So Quiet, an old Oswald the Rabbit cartoon from way back in 1928, is definitely one for the history books. If you’re into animation history, or just curious about how cartoons were put together almost a hundred years ago, then yeah, it’s worth a watch.

Everyone else? Probably not, unless you have a real soft spot for silent-era slapstick and don't mind a very fast, slightly bewildering pace. If you're looking for modern animation or even something with sound, you'll likely bounce right off this one. It's a quick peek into a different time, for a very specific crowd.

Oswald, our little rabbit pal, is a private in WWI. His big job? Deliver a letter. Sounds simple enough, right? Not in a cartoon from this era.

Everything feels like it's happening at double speed. You kinda just have to let it wash over you.

The gags are often chaotic, sometimes literally. Oswald dodges cannon fire that looks more like puffballs, and zips through trenches. There's this one bit where he's running and the ground behind him just *peels away* like a carpet. It's silly, but it makes you smile.

I found myself focusing on the character design, honestly. Oswald is just circles and lines, but he's got so much personality. His ears can do anything!

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Not So Quiet (1930) through its definitive frames.

They act like hands, or springs, or even propellers. You see the animators having fun with what a rubbery character could do. It's less about the story and more about the _motion_ itself.

The WWI setting? Well, it’s not exactly gritty realism. It's a backdrop for cartoon violence, not serious stuff. The enemy soldiers are blocky, generic guys who mostly just get flattened or sent flying. More like a playground than a battlefield, which is probably for the best.

There's a moment when Oswald tries to cross a minefield. The mines literally pop up and _dance_ around him before exploding! They have little legs, which felt very much like someone just drew whatever popped into their head. And it works. **Pure absurdity.**

The pacing, man. It's just *go, go, go*. No time to breathe. One gag leads into another before you can fully process the last one. It’s like watching a flipbook where someone skipped pages. But that’s the charm, I guess. You’re not meant to think too hard, just watch the chaos.

And no sound, of course. Well, no dialogue. You just know this would've been played with a live orchestra or a pianist going wild. You can almost hear the frantic piano keys trying to keep up. It makes you appreciate how much sound adds to even the simplest moments.

One specific detail made me chuckle: Oswald uses a cannon shell as a pogo stick. It’s so random. Who thinks of that? The shell just bounces him around. Totally disconnected from any real-world logic, which is exactly what these early cartoons thrived on.

So, yeah. Not So Quiet isn't some deep, meaningful film. It's a relic, a very, very fast-paced one. A fun little glimpse into early animation, where imagination ran wild with simple drawings. Don't go in expecting a coherent plot, just enjoy the ride for what it is. A piece of history, with a rabbit who can do anything with his ears. 👍