4.7/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 4.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Spring Is Here remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much you like cartoons that look like they were sketched in a whirlwind. If you enjoy the frantic, rhythmic energy of Schoolday Love, you’ll probably find something to grin at here. If you prefer a story that actually goes somewhere, you might feel like you’re waiting for a bus that never arrives.
It’s barely a movie, really. It’s more of a mood board for what animation looked like before it became a polished, corporate machine. Everything bounces. Seriously, I don't think a single character walks in a straight line for more than three seconds without doing a little shimmy.
It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Soft Boiled, where the chaos is the whole point. You aren't watching for the plot. You’re watching to see how many times a squirrel can fall off a tree before it stops being funny. Spoiler: it stays funny for about two minutes, then you just kind of accept the madness.
There isn't any dialogue, just music that feels like it’s constantly trying to catch up to the screen. Sometimes the music gives up entirely, and you’re just left with the sound of the projector hum. That’s probably the best part, honestly. It grounds you. It reminds you that this thing is nearly a century old and somehow survived in a digital file.
The animation style is incredibly loose. It’s messy. Sometimes a character’s hand just disappears into their body for a frame. I don't think they cared. It’s refreshing, in a way. Modern stuff is so calculated. This? This is just people drawing until their wrists hurt.
Don't look for deep meaning. Just watch the trees sway and wait for the inevitable slapstick collision. It’s a short, weird little relic. 🐸