Doggone Tired
"The rabbit's revenge is sleep deprivation!"
Plot
A clever rabbit discovers that a hunting dog named Droopy is planning to hunt him the following morning. Determined to prevent this, the rabbit spends the entire night employing increasingly elaborate and hilarious methods to keep the exhausted dog awake. From playing loud music to creating various disturbances, the rabbit's sleep deprivation campaign escalates throughout the night. The dog grows increasingly desperate for rest while the rabbit's antics become more inventive and chaotic. In classic Tex Avery fashion, the cartoon culminates in a series of rapid-fire gags and visual puns that subvert expectations. The rabbit's efforts ultimately lead to an ironic twist where the hunter becomes too tired to hunt.
Director
Cast
About the Production
This cartoon was produced during Tex Avery's peak creative period at MGM, where he revolutionized animation with his wild takes, exaggerated expressions, and breakneck pacing. The film showcases Avery's signature style of rapid gags, visual puns, and the subversion of cartoon physics. The animation team utilized the then-cutting edge Technicolor process to create vibrant, eye-catching visuals. The production employed Avery's team of regular animators including Preston Blair, Michael Lah, and Grant Simmons.
Historical Background
1949 was a significant year in American animation history, marking the post-WWII boom in theatrical cartoons. The film industry was transitioning from wartime production back to entertainment, and animation studios were experiencing a golden age of creativity and popularity. MGM's cartoon department was competing fiercely with Warner Bros. and Disney for audience attention. This was also the beginning of the television era, which would soon revolutionize how cartoons were distributed and consumed. The late 1940s saw animation becoming more sophisticated in its humor, with directors like Tex Avery pushing boundaries with adult-oriented jokes and faster pacing that would later influence television animation.
Why This Film Matters
'Doggone Tired' represents the peak of theatrical animation's golden age and exemplifies Tex Avery's revolutionary approach to cartoon comedy. The film's rapid-fire gags, breaking of the fourth wall, and subversion of cartoon physics influenced generations of animators and comedy filmmakers. It showcases the sophisticated humor that made MGM cartoons appeal to adults as well as children. The short's emphasis on visual comedy over dialogue demonstrated the universal language of animation. This cartoon, along with Avery's other work, helped establish many comedy conventions still used in animation today, including the wild take, the double-take, and the use of exaggerated physics for comedic effect.
Making Of
The production of 'Doggone Tired' took place during a highly creative period at MGM's cartoon studio. Tex Avery, having left Warner Bros. in 1941, had established his unique style at MGM and was at the height of his powers. The animation team worked in a collaborative environment where gags were constantly being refined and improved. Avery was known for his hands-on approach, often acting out scenes himself to demonstrate the timing and expressions he wanted. The voice recording sessions with Bea Benaderet and Daws Butler were likely done in a single day, as was typical for cartoon shorts of this era. The animators would then work from the recorded dialogue, timing the animation to match the vocal performances. The film's distinctive look was achieved through the use of the Technicolor process, which allowed for the vibrant colors that became a hallmark of MGM cartoons.
Visual Style
The film's visual style showcases Tex Avery's signature approach to animation cinematography. The camera work employs dynamic angles and movements that were innovative for the time. The animation utilizes extreme close-ups for comedic effect, particularly during the characters' exaggerated reactions. The color palette takes full advantage of Technicolor, with vibrant, saturated colors that enhance the cartoon's energetic feel. The visual composition emphasizes clarity and readability, ensuring that even rapid gags are easily understood by the audience. The animation team employed sophisticated techniques for the time, including multiple exposure effects and complex background animations.
Innovations
The cartoon showcased several technical innovations for its time. The animation team employed advanced techniques for creating exaggerated expressions and movements that pushed the boundaries of traditional animation. The use of multiple exposure effects for certain gags demonstrated technical sophistication. The color work took full advantage of the Technicolor process, creating a vibrant visual experience. The timing and synchronization between animation, sound effects, and music represented the peak of cartoon production techniques of the era. The film's ability to maintain clarity and comedic impact despite its rapid pacing was a significant technical achievement.
Music
The musical score was composed by Scott Bradley, MGM's resident composer for cartoon shorts. Bradley's music perfectly complemented Avery's visual comedy with its jazzy, energetic style and precise timing. The soundtrack featured original compositions that matched the frantic pace of the on-screen action. Sound effects were carefully synchronized with the visual gags, creating an audio-visual experience that enhanced the comedy. The voice work by Bea Benaderet and Daws Butler provided the characterizations that brought the animated figures to life. The overall audio design demonstrated the sophisticated sound capabilities of MGM's studio facilities.
Famous Quotes
Various sound effects and vocalizations rather than dialogue, typical of Avery's visual comedy approach
The rabbit's triumphant laughter
The dog's exhausted groans and pleas for sleep
Memorable Scenes
- The rabbit's increasingly elaborate methods to keep the dog awake, including playing loud music, creating physical disturbances, and psychological torment
- The dog's increasingly desperate attempts to sleep despite the rabbit's interference
- The final ironic twist where the hunter becomes too exhausted to hunt
- The series of rapid-fire gags in the third act that showcase Avery's signature style
Did You Know?
- This cartoon features one of Tex Avery's recurring rabbit characters, distinct from his more famous Droopy series but sharing similar animation sensibilities
- The dog character, while not Droopy, exhibits some of the same characteristics that made Avery's canine characters famous
- Bea Benaderet, who provided voice work, was also known for her roles in 'The Flintstones' and 'The Beverly Hillbillies'
- Daws Butler would later become famous as the voice of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and many other Hanna-Barbera characters
- The cartoon was released during the golden age of theatrical animation, when shorts were a standard part of movie theater programs
- MGM's cartoon department was considered one of the 'big three' animation studios alongside Disney and Warner Bros. during this period
- The film's title 'Doggone Tired' is a play on words combining 'doggone' (an expression of frustration) with the dog's exhaustion
- Tex Avery was known for pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in cartoons, often including adult humor that went over children's heads
- The animation techniques used in this short were considered groundbreaking for their time, particularly the exaggerated expressions and physics
- This cartoon was part of a series of Avery-directed shorts that focused on predator-prey relationships with comedic twists
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised the cartoon for its inventive humor and energetic pacing. Animation magazines of the era highlighted Avery's unique approach to comedy and the technical excellence of the animation. The Academy Award nomination reflected the critical recognition of the short's quality. Modern animation historians and critics consider 'Doggone Tired' a prime example of Avery's MGM work, often citing it in discussions of the greatest cartoon shorts ever made. The film is frequently included in retrospectives of classic animation and is studied by animation students for its timing, gag structure, and visual comedy techniques.
What Audiences Thought
Theatrical audiences in 1949 responded enthusiastically to the cartoon's fast-paced humor and visual gags. As part of MGM's regular short program, it played before feature films to positive reception. The rabbit-dog dynamic was familiar to audiences but given fresh treatment through Avery's unique comedic sensibility. Over the decades, the cartoon has maintained popularity through television broadcasts and home video releases. Animation enthusiasts continue to celebrate the short as a classic example of Golden Age animation, with particular appreciation for its inventive gags and energetic pacing.
Awards & Recognition
- Academy Award Nominee for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) - 22nd Academy Awards
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Classic chase cartoons
- Tom and Jerry series
- Looney Tunes style comedy
- Silent film slapstick
- MGM cartoon house style
This Film Influenced
- Later Tex Avery cartoons
- Hanna-Barbera television cartoons
- Warner Bros. later animation
- Modern animated comedy series
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Film Restoration
The film has been preserved as part of MGM's cartoon library and is available through various home video releases and streaming services. The original Technicolor elements have been maintained and restored for modern viewing. The cartoon is part of the Warner Bros. library (which acquired MGM's film library) and has been included in several DVD collections of classic animation.