Who Wears Short Shorts??? Animated Shorts at a Glance

Short films - or 'shorts' for short - are films that are designed to be usually no longer than 20 minutes in length. You rarely see them in a theatre with an extended engagement, although there have been times where shorts will often be played before the movie. Usually, these films end up on T.V. as filler, or being played at festivals where a ton of artists attend, but no one who will pick you up to direct his next mega-blockbuster.

Here are some of the most classical and thought provoking shorts I have ever seen.

This was the short that really started it all. Mickey Mouse's first appearance, as well as Minnie, and I would assume Pete.

In it, Mickey tries to have fun despite his captains efforts to the contrary. Then they all play Turkey in the Straw, thus ensuring you will have a craving for ice cream, and the movie ends!

Basically, were it not for this film, Walt Disney may never have been the same. Disney might not have even survived this long! The magic isn't in Disney, it's in fond works such as this gem here.

This Betty Boop Classic also has one of my other favourite things in it: Big Band Music. Specifically, Cab Calloway and his Orchestra performing the hit "Minnie The Moocher." The lyrics were a little racy even for it's time, and the story plays out kind of like a cautionary tale. Listen to your parents, ad don't run away from home, or you could end up in a haunted cave, or worse, being like Minnie.

The song is about a tramp named Minnie who is taught how to "kick the gong around" by some guys. The double entendre is kind of obvious, and is also a commentary on life in the 30's.

And have you ever wanted to name your dog Bimbo?

Daffy learns the hard way not to be disrespectful to an animator.

This legendary gem has kept me entertained over many a Saturday Morning and has even become part of today's pop culture in the form of a Nintendo DS video game!

The uniqueness of the concept still amazes me, and this is one of the few gems that never dies. Arguably the best short Warner Brothers and Merry Melodies have ever put together.

This Tim Burton directed animated short (the style is quite recognizable, is it not?) is about a young boy who has made role models of Vincent Price and Edgar Allen Poe.

It's quite charming, if not a little macabre, and I love all the references to Vincent Price movies. And to cap off this wonderful tribute to Mr. Price, Vincent Price narrated the story himself.

Burton also directed the short film "Frankenweenie" before moving on to bigger and better things, such as Pee Wee's Big Adventure and Planet of the Apes.

This hilarious film by Osamu Tezuka is about what happens when things go wrong in movies. The projector breaks down and the characters drops something or is knocked over, they get caught in a peice of lint on the lens. It's kind of like Duck Amuck (see above) except it's not the animators fault this time, but rather the projector.

Just watch, it's hilarious.

Every Canadian older than 20 had probably seen this at least a thousand times. NFB funded it, and then proceeded to ship it to virtually every major channel north of the 49. Particularly YTV and CBC, as well as many public television stations picked it up.

Log driving was a huge part of Canadian working class culture, particularly along coastal B.C. and the St. Lawrence seaway.

Other great NFB short films include House that Jack Built and The Cat Came Back.

That's right, they not only ruined Disney, but they also make some of the best animated shorts ever!

Basically, an elderly man plays a game of chess against himself, and in typical Pixar fashion, there are two things to look out for:

1. The box for the pieces says "Pixar Shorts"
2. Geri makes a cameo appearance as the toy repairman in Toy Story 2 (1999)

 And that's my take on some of the best and most historical animated shorts of all time. In the words of Porky Pig: "Th-th-th-that's all folks" (Cue merry melodies theme as I dissapear behind a giant circle)