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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Pet Shop remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for really early animation quirks. If you need a tight plot or modern pacing, skip it. But if you like watching how stories used to be told in just a few minutes, you’ll probably get a kick out of this.
The Pet Shop is basically just a slice of life—if your life involved constantly being chased by guys named Vonsey and Oopie. Those two are total jerks, by the way. They’re the kind of cartoon villains who don't even have a good reason to be mean; they’re just bored and have nothing better to do than mess with a kid and his dog.
The whole thing feels very handmade. Sometimes the movement is a little stiff, almost like the characters are fighting against their own frames. I found myself staring at the background details more than the actual characters at one point. There’s a shop sign that hangs a little crooked, and it’s just bothering me, but in a good way.
It’s not trying to be The Cheat or some high-stakes drama. It’s just a kid and his dog. Yet, you can tell the people who made this were having a bit of fun with the bully dynamic. Vonsey and Oopie are almost like a prototype for every schoolyard menace that came after them.
There’s this one sequence where the dog does something so simple, like tilt its head, and it’s weirdly expressive. Then the scene cuts, and it’s like the editor just got bored and wanted to move on to the next gag. It’s jarring, but also kind of honest.
If you enjoy this kind of vintage stuff, it feels a bit like watching Mrs. Plum's Pudding—it has that specific, dusty energy. It’s not perfect. Sometimes the timing feels like it’s skipping a beat. But honestly? Who cares. It’s cute. 🐶