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7.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Wild Elephinks remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you like 1930s animation that feels like a fever dream. If you want a story, you'll probably hate this. If you want to see a sailor man fight a whole herd of elephants for no reason, you are in the right place.
Popeye and Olive Oyl float onto this island on a raft, and the movie doesn't waste a second before throwing them into a scrap. The pacing is absolutely unhinged. It’s like the animators just kept drawing new animals until they ran out of film stock.
The elephants here don't act like elephants. They act like boxing opponents. There is this one scene where a gorilla just keeps popping up, and it honestly made me laugh out loud because it’s so repetitive. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Snow-White, though clearly much more aggressive.
The physics are totally broken, but that is the charm, right? Popeye just spins his arms and suddenly he's a propeller. It’s silly, it's messy, and it’s surprisingly violent for a cartoon from that era.
It’s not trying to be The Willow Tree or anything profound. It’s just seven minutes of noise. Sometimes that is exactly what you need after a long day of watching serious dramas. 🐘🥊
I found myself wondering if they ever actually wanted to leave the island. They seem way too busy punching everything to bother looking for a boat. You can tell the animators were just having fun with the motion, not worrying about the continuity or anything boring like that.
It’s a weird little relic. I’m glad I watched it, but I probably won’t sit through it again anytime soon.