Stop That Noise: Betty Boop vs. the world's most annoying bugs

Is it worth a watch?

Honestly, if you have seven minutes to spare and want to see someone lose their mind in the woods, sure. It’s perfect for fans of vintage cartoons who like their humor a little bit manic. If you’re looking for a relaxing nature documentary, you’ll probably hate it. It’s essentially a panic attack set to a jazz soundtrack. 🎷

Betty just wants a nap. That’s all she wants! But the city is loud, so she takes a train to her country shack. It’s the kind of place where everything is slightly crooked.

The transition from the city noise to the country “peace” is great. Then the bugs show up. And they are mean.

I found myself squinting at the screen during the scenes with the mosquitoes. They aren't just buzzing; they are like little mechanical dive-bombers. The way the animators made them lean into their attacks is oddly specific. It felt like watching a tiny, buzzing war movie.

There’s this one sequence where the insects start playing music. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Bull Tosser, where everything just builds and builds until you’re exhausted. Except here, it’s a chorus of grasshoppers or whatever those things are.

Mae Questel’s voice work is, as always, the glue holding the whole thing together. Even when she’s just shrieking, it’s got that specific rhythm that makes these old shorts feel alive. Without her, this would just be a bunch of drawings flapping around.

The pacing is relentless. There is no “slow moment” once the bugs start acting up. It just accelerates. It’s a bit like watching someone try to swat a fly while their house is on fire.

Maybe it’s just me, but the background art in this one feels a bit more claustrophobic than usual. The country house feels just as trapped as the city apartment. It’s a nice little touch, intentional or not.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a fun little time-capsule of cartoon frustration. Sometimes you just need to watch a character get pushed to the edge by something as tiny as a cricket. 🦟

It’s nowhere near as heavy as something like In the Shadow of the Machine, but it’s got its own kind of dark, buzzing energy. Just don't watch it if you're already feeling jumpy about pests.

• That one mosquito with the drill bit nose.
• The way Betty’s hair never gets messy, even when she’s fighting for her life.
• The music is surprisingly catchy for something that’s meant to be annoying.