Presto-Chango: A Very Weird Cat Date Gone Wrong

If you're looking for something logical, look elsewhere. Presto-Chango is for the people who enjoy that jittery, early animation style where every object seems to have a heartbeat.

It’s a great watch if you have five minutes and like cats. It’s a terrible watch if you hate repetitive music and shaky lines.

The whole thing starts with these two cats on a date. They go to a Chinese restaurant, which is drawn with some surprisingly nice details for such a short film.

I love the way they handle the chopsticks. One cat looks like he’s really struggling, and honestly, I relate to that more than I should. 🥢

The vibe is pretty chill for about two minutes. Then, out of nowhere, these kidnappers show up and the whole thing turns into a frantic mess.

There isn't really a 'why' here. The movie just decides it is time for a chase scene, so a chase scene happens.

The movement reminds me a bit of the physical gags you see in The Strong Man. Everything is very bouncy and slightly over-the-top.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Presto-Chango (1929) through its definitive frames.

One of the cats has this expression when he gets grabbed that is actually kind of creepy. His eyes just sort of... float away from his face for a second.

I wonder if the animators were just making it up as they went along. It feels very spontaneous, like a dream you'd have after eating too much spicy food.

The backgrounds are a bit darker than I expected. It gives the restaurant a slightly moody feel before the chaos starts.

It's definitely more energetic than something like The Doll. It doesn't sit still for even a second.

There's a moment where a cat hides behind a curtain and you can see his tail twitching. It's a small detail, but it made me chuckle. 🐈

I wish the ending felt a bit more earned. It just kind of stops, like the film reel ran out or the artist got tired.

But hey, that's early animation for you. It’s raw and weird and doesn't care about your feelings or 'plot arcs.'

If you enjoy seeing how people used to draw animals before everyone got obsessed with realism, check it out. It’s a fun little fever dream from a time when cartoons were just plain bizarre.