Arctic Antics (1930)

A very boring Silly Symphony cartoon where you see a host of arctic animals on ice blocks and shores, screeching and performing to various musical numbers. There's no plot, annoying sound effects, and unremarkable music. Animation was OK and the characters were nicely drawn, but the overall cartoon was a drag to watch.Grade D---

This is just one more of the lifeless efforts put out in the 30's. We are introduced to penguins, polar bears, and walruses, and, of course, a multitude of fish. Mostly, there is lots of dancing and little critical movement by the recurring characters. I guess the principle theme is survival. Once again we have the old food chain thing. Not horrible, but there were numerous similar presentations.

This is a short from the Silly Symphonies series released by Disney. There will be spoilers ahead:In many ways, this short is basically just one of a dozen similar ones, where the short is differentiated by the locale. This is essentially Frolicking Fish in the Arctic with only a few minor variants. The animation is excellent and most of the gags are enjoyable. There isn't a whole lot of novelty here.The short opens with critters (mostly polar bears) frolic on ice floes. There's a polar bear cub which yips like a dog as it jumps from floe to older polar bear and then into the water.Then you see seals and a walrus or two and more dancing, frolicking and music. The best bit here is a seal trying the patience of a walrus enormously by using him as an instrument. We're treated to "singing" as well.We close with penguins, moving mostly in unison, save for one who's rather out of sync. Cute, but nothing special.This short is available on the Disney Treasures More Silly Symphonies DVD set and both this and the set are recommended.

I have always enjoyed Disney Silly Symphonies, and while I did like Arctic Antics I don't consider it one of their masterpieces. It is nice, but not really anything to rave about. It does lack cohesion, if you're willing to forget that polar bears and penguins live on the other side of the world and that polar bears eat penguins you'll be fine, if not then that's my point. The cartoon doesn't really have any story to speak of and doesn't really get going pace-wise until the penguins are introduced and apart from the major set piece it's basically just nice to watch but not much else or new. However the animation is of the fluid and smooth kind, with the way a seal is drawn while underwater, the music is of great energy and sounds absolutely beautiful and the dancing while not as inspired as other Silly Symphonies is well choreographed with some very interesting use of motion such as animals floating in the foreground and others staying put in the background. The characters are very cute too, I especially liked the Mickey Mouse-like polar bear. All in all, not a special cartoon or a masterpiece, but nice all the same. 7/10 Bethany Cox