Ups 'n Downs: Why Bosko Shouldn't Be Running a Business

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school rubber-hose animation, sure. If you get annoyed by characters who make terrible life choices, maybe skip this one. It’s for the animation nerds who want to see how these things were put together back when people were drawing on transparent sheets until their hands cramped.

Bosko is supposed to be working. He’s got this little hot dog stand, right? But the call of the racetrack is just too strong. He ends up ditching his customers to go play pretend jockey on a mechanical horse.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream. The way the mechanical horse moves is just… weird. It’s jerky in a way that feels like it might snap a spring at any second. There’s this one bit where the horse starts bouncing so high I thought it was going to fly right out of the frame. It didn’t, but it felt close.

Oddly specific details:

• The hot dogs look like little brown sticks. I wouldn't eat one.
• The crowd at the track has this weird, repetitive motion. It's like watching a GIF that hasn't been smoothed out yet.
• Bosko’s ears flap in a way that defies physics. It’s charming, but also makes me think he’s going to take off like a helicopter.

Comparing this to something like Fresh Fish, you can really see how the animators were just throwing everything at the wall. They wanted speed, they wanted gags, and they didn't care if the logic held up for more than ten seconds.

I found myself staring at the background art more than the characters. There’s a lot of empty space that feels slightly lonely, which is a weird vibe for an amusement park. It’s not exactly Unknown Switzerland in terms of scenery, but it’s got a grit to it that most modern cartoons lack.

The sound effects are just loud and crunchy. Every time the mechanical horse does something, it sounds like a tin can being stepped on. It’s not subtle, but it works. 🐎

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a fun little time-waster if you’ve got seven minutes to kill. Just don't expect a deep lesson on the dangers of gambling. Bosko just wants to ride his fake horse, and honestly? Same.