The 1931 Ugly Duckling is actually kind of a bummer (until the tornado hits)

If you have seven minutes to spare and don't mind feeling vaguely depressed for six of them, you should probably watch this.

It’s perfect for people who love early Disney history or anyone who likes seeing how rubber-hose animation handles extreme sadness.

If you hate old cartoons where characters cry giant, splashing tears every thirty seconds, you will absolutely hate this.

I watched this right after Oh What a Knight and the jump in how they handle movement is pretty weird to see.

The story starts with a hen waiting for her eggs to hatch, and everything is fine until the last egg pops open.

Out comes this little black duckling who looks absolutely nothing like the other chicks.

The mother hen doesn't even try to be nice about it; she just immediately hates him.

She gives him this look that is so cold it’s actually kind of shocking for a kids' cartoon.

The poor little guy tries to fit in, but he just can't get the 'cluck' right, and his 'honk' sounds like a broken squeeze toy.

There is a specific shot where he tries to walk like the other chicks and he just keeps tripping over his own feet.

It’s painfully cute but also makes you want to reach into the screen and yell at the chicken.

The way he gets rejected is so blunt—the hen just kicks him away like a piece of trash.

I noticed that the background art in this one is really simple, almost like they spent all the budget on making the duckling look as pathetic as possible.

He spends a lot of time sitting by the water looking at his reflection and just… sobbing.

It goes on for a while. Maybe a bit too long.

You start to wonder if the whole movie is just going to be this bird being bullied by his foster mom.

But then, out of nowhere, a tornado shows up. 🌪️

The animation for the storm is actually the best part of the whole thing.

It doesn't look like a 'clean' drawing; it looks like a chaotic mess of swirling ink and gray lines.

Everything starts flying around—fences, houses, and of course, the little chicks who are too small to stay grounded.

The mother hen is completely useless during the crisis, which felt pretty satisfying to watch after she was so mean.

Our little duckling hero jumps into action and starts grabbing the chicks before they get sucked into the void.

There’s a moment where he’s holding onto a blade of grass with his beak while holding a chick with his feet.

It’s physically impossible but the tension is real.

Once the storm passes, the hen suddenly decides she loves him because he saved her biological kids.

It’s a bit of a quick turnaround, honestly. I don't think I'd forgive her that fast.

The ending has them all walking in a line, and the duckling is leading the way with a big smile.

I kept thinking about Boneyard Blues while watching the physics of the characters.

The way their bodies stretch and squash feels very much of that specific 1931 era.

The sound design is a bit scratchy, which I actually prefer for these old shorts.

It makes the 'honks' sound more organic and less like a digital file.

One weird detail: the duckling’s eyes are huge compared to everyone else’s.

It’s a classic trick to make us feel bad for him, and it worked on me, I guess.

I do wish the resolution was a bit more earned than just 'I saved you from a wind tunnel.'

Still, for a Silly Symphony, it has a lot more heart than some of the others from that year.

It’s not as funny as some, but the tornado sequence alone makes it worth the click.

Things I Noticed:

• The hen’s angry face is actually terrifying.
• The way the water ripples when the duckling cries is a nice touch.
• The tornado has a literal face for like two frames.
• Why are the chicks so much smaller than the duck? Scale is all over the place.

It’s a solid little piece of history that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Watch it if you're feeling a bit lonely; it'll either make you feel better or much, much worse. 😂