Flip the Frog – Spooks
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Animated film history and criticism, Early Sound, Flip the Frog, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, U.S.A., Ub Iwerks
Producer(s): Ub Iwerks Pat Powers
Release Date: 21/12/1931
"Seeking shelter from a storm, Flip and his horse arrive at a house which, unbeknownst to them, is inhabited entirely by skeletons. Flip sits through a ghoulish dinner with the head of the house before enjoying a bout of dancing with a lady skeleton. ..."
Making ‘Em Move
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Early Sound, U.S.A., Van Beuren Corporation
Release Date: 1931
"A classic 1931's cartoon from Van Beuren Studios, Make 'Em Move depicts a mischievous female character whom stumbles in onto the scene of a cartoon factory bursting with drawings and jazz music. The animals depicted create animation much like themsel..."
The Bandmaster
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Oswald, U.S.A., Universal Studios
Producer(s): Walter Lantz
Release Date: 18/05/1931
"Oswald conducts, and then a slew of seemingly random events ensue. Although at moments narrative causality matters, for the most part spectacle drives the cartoon (for example, when objects seemingly magically transform)."
Silly Scandals
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Betty Boop, Early Sound, U.S.A.
Producer(s): Max Fleischer Adolph Zukor
Release Date: 23/05/1931
"This cartoon marks the origin of Betty Boop (at least the name anyway, the character, or at least one with an uncanny resemblance, had appeared before). Bimbo sneaks into a vaudeville theater to see Betty perform. He is enthralled with her performanc..."
Bosko Shipwrecked!
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Early Sound, U.S.A., Vitagraph Studios
Producer(s): Hugh Harman Rudolf Ising
Release Date: 19/09/1931
"Bosko attempts to steer a boat through a storm to no avail. He then washes ashore only to be hassled by the local wildlife.Bosko and the lion's alternation between movement towards and away from the spectator deserves particular note for its innovati..."
Egyptian Melodies
Filed under: animation , 1930s, Jazz, Musical, U.S.A., Walt Disney Studios
Producer(s): Walt Disney
Release Date: 21/06/1931
"A spider enters the Sphinx in Egypt. Inside he falls down stairs, hides from dancing mummies and witnesses murals come to life. He then runs away, afraid."