Bobby Bumps Adopts a Turtle

Plot

In this delightful 1917 animated short, young Bobby Bumps and his faithful puppy encounter a turtle during their outdoor adventures. The curious boy decides to adopt the slow-moving creature, leading to a series of comedic mishaps as the puppy and turtle fail to get along. Bobby attempts various methods to help his new pet and dog become friends, each attempt resulting in increasingly chaotic situations. The turtle's natural defense mechanism of retracting into its shell becomes a running gag throughout the film. Ultimately, Bobby learns a valuable lesson about respecting the differences between animals and their natural behaviors.

Historical Background

1917 was a pivotal year in both world history and cinema. The United States had just entered World War I in April, and films were increasingly used for both entertainment and propaganda purposes. The animation industry was in its infancy, with pioneers like Winsor McCay, Earl Hurd, and Max Fleischer experimenting with new techniques. The Bobby Bumps series represented a shift toward more character-driven animation, moving away from the trick films and novelty acts that dominated early animation. This period also saw the establishment of the first animation studios, professionalizing what had previously been the work of individual artists.

Making Of

Earl Hurd created the Bobby Bumps series while working at J.R. Bray Studios, the first dedicated animation studio in America. The production team was small, typically consisting of Hurd as the primary animator with one or two assistants. The cel animation process, which Hurd co-patented, involved drawing characters on transparent celluloid sheets and placing them over painted backgrounds, eliminating the need to redraw backgrounds for every frame. This innovation dramatically reduced production time from weeks to days. The voice of Bobby was not actually recorded in this silent era; instead, intertitles conveyed dialogue. The animation was shot on a modified rostrum camera built specifically for animation work.

Visual Style

The film utilized black and white cinematography with occasional hand-tinted color elements. The animation was shot at 16 frames per second, standard for silent era films. The camera work was static, as was typical for early animation, with all movement created through the drawings themselves. The use of cels allowed for more complex layering of characters and backgrounds than earlier cutout animation techniques. The visual style featured clean lines, simplified character designs, and detailed backgrounds that created depth despite the technical limitations of the time.

Innovations

The primary technical achievement was the use of cel animation, which Earl Hurd co-patented with John Randolph Bray. This process involved drawing characters on transparent celluloid sheets, allowing animators to reuse backgrounds and create more fluid motion with less work. The film also demonstrated early attempts at character consistency and personality animation, moving beyond the mechanical movement of earlier cartoons. The production pipeline established at Bray Studios for this series became the model for future animation studios.

Music

As a silent film, no original soundtrack was recorded. Theaters would typically provide live musical accompaniment, either with a pianist, organist, or small orchestra. Distributors often provided cue sheets suggesting appropriate music for different scenes - typically upbeat, playful music for the comedy scenes and more dramatic themes for moments of tension. The music would have been drawn from popular songs of the era or classical pieces adapted for silent film accompaniment.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening scene where Bobby and his puppy first encounter the turtle in the grass, showcasing the character designs and establishing the outdoor setting
• The sequence where the puppy repeatedly tries to play with the turtle, only to have it retreat into its shell each time, creating a comedic rhythm
• The climax where Bobby attempts to teach the animals to get along, resulting in chaotic but harmless mayhem

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews in trade publications like The Moving Picture World praised the Bobby Bumps series for its clever animation and wholesome entertainment value. Critics noted the series' improvement in quality with each installment, with particular appreciation for the smooth character movement and detailed backgrounds. Modern animation historians recognize the series as technically innovative for its time, though the simple plots and limited animation by today's standards are viewed as products of their era. The film is now studied as an example of early American animation and the development of character-based cartoons.

What Audiences Thought

The Bobby Bumps series was popular with theater audiences of 1917, particularly children and families. The shorts were regularly booked as part of theater programs, indicating strong audience demand. The character of Bobby Bumps became recognizable to regular moviegoers of the era, making him one of the first animated stars with audience recognition. The combination of a relatable child protagonist, animal comedy, and simple moral lessons resonated with contemporary audiences seeking light entertainment during the difficult war years.

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