The Katnips of 1940: A Weird, Rubbery Slice of Classic Cartoon Chaos

If you have seven minutes to spare today, yes, you should absolutely watch this. Anyone who loves old, rubbery cartoons where physics don't exist will have a blast.

But if you can't stand screechy audio or nonsensical plots, you'll probably turn it off in thirty seconds.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Katnips of 1940 (1934) through its definitive frames.

The whole thing starts with Krazy teaching a group of clowns how to dance. But here is the thing: the clowns are wearing tight leotards and high-heeled pumps.

Why high heels? The movie never explains it, and honestly, the sight of these lumpy cartoon guys trying to balance is deeply weird.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Katnips of 1940 (1934) through its definitive frames.

Then this Swedish girl with spiral hair wanders in from next door. She is desperate for a job and starts doing these wild demonstrations of her "talents."

When she sings, her voice is so loud it literally blasts Krazy backward. It’s that classic, aggressive cartoon humor that feels a bit like Mickey's Charity, where the physical comedy is just a tiny bit violent.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Katnips of 1940 (1934) through its definitive frames.

To get rid of her, Krazy literally cranks up a movable balcony she is standing on and leaves her stuck at the top. Talk about workplace hazards.

My favorite part is when the actual fancy soprano arrives in her big car. The Swedish girl falls off her high balcony and lands right on top of the soprano, squishing her flat.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Katnips of 1940 (1934) through its definitive frames.

The soprano gets up, but her body is completely deformed and her voice is ruined. She just walks away in shame, which feels incredibly mean but I couldn't help laughing.

So, of course, Krazy has to put the Swedish girl in the show instead.

The actual show at the end is just a blur of fast dancing and weird costumes. They do a whole routine, and then suddenly the lights flash and they are dressed as Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty. 🇺🇸

It makes absolutely no sense in context, but that’s 1940s cartoon logic for you.

Things I jotted down while watching:

• Those clown outfits are going to haunt my dreams.
• The Swedish girl's spiral hair looks like a giant piece of fusilli pasta stuck to her head.
• The soprano getting squished flat like an accordion is peak classic animation.
• Why the patriotic ending? Did they just have those assets lying around?

It’s short, it’s chaotic, and it doesn't try to teach you a lesson. Sometimes that is all you need on a Tuesday afternoon.