Foney Fables

Plot

Foney Fables is a Merrie Melodies cartoon that presents a series of fractured fairy tale parodies, each given the classic Warner Bros. irreverent treatment. The film features multiple vignettes including a satirical take on 'The Three Little Pigs' where the wolf uses modern contraptions, a comedic version of 'Little Red Riding Hood' with unexpected twists, and a mockumentary-style presentation of 'The Tortoise and the Hare' with contemporary sports commentary. Each segment subverts the original fairy tale's moral with slapstick humor and anachronistic references, creating a fast-paced compilation that mocks both the stories and their traditional telling. The cartoon culminates in a chaotic finale that brings together characters from the various parodies in a comedic free-for-all.

Historical Background

Foney Fables was released during a critical moment in American history, just months after the United States entered World War II. The entertainment industry was rapidly adapting to support the war effort, with even cartoons incorporating patriotic themes and wartime references. Hollywood was operating under the Hays Code, which influenced what could be shown on screen, though Warner Bros. was known for pushing boundaries. The early 1940s represented the peak of theatrical animation's popularity, with cartoon shorts serving as major attractions before feature films. This period also saw the consolidation of the studio system, with Warner Bros. animation division producing some of its most innovative work. The fairy tale parody format resonated with audiences seeking escapism from wartime tensions while still engaging with familiar stories.

Making Of

The production of Foney Fables took place during a transitional period at Warner Bros., as the studio was shifting its focus toward wartime content. Friz Freleng, known for his precise timing and musical synchronization, worked closely with composer Carl Stalling to ensure the visual gags matched perfectly with the musical cues. The voice recording sessions were notably efficient, with Mel Blanc often performing multiple characters in single takes. The animation team worked under pressure to meet tight deadlines while maintaining the high quality Warner Bros. was known for. Several segments were storyboarded by different artists to create variety in visual styles, though Freleng oversaw the unified direction. The cartoon's rapid pacing and multiple story format presented unique challenges in maintaining narrative flow, which was solved through transitional gags and recurring character motifs.

Visual Style

The visual style of Foney Fables exemplifies Warner Bros.' mature animation techniques of the early 1940s, featuring bold lines, vibrant colors, and dynamic character movement. The cartoon employs multiplane camera effects to create depth in several scenes, particularly in the forest settings. The animation team utilized smear frames and exaggerated squash-and-stretch techniques to enhance the comedic timing of physical gags. Color palettes shift between segments to create distinct moods for each fairy tale parody, with warm tones for domestic scenes and cooler colors for outdoor sequences. The visual pacing matches the rapid-fire joke structure, with quick cuts and dynamic camera angles maintaining energy throughout. Character designs balance recognizable fairy tale archetypes with Warner's signature exaggerated features, allowing for both familiarity and comic distortion.

Innovations

Foney Fables showcased several technical innovations that were cutting-edge for 1942. The animation team employed advanced rotoscoping techniques for certain character movements, particularly in dance sequences, while maintaining the hand-drawn aesthetic. The cartoon features some of the earliest examples of match cuts between different fairy tale segments, creating narrative continuity despite the anthology format. Warner Bros.' proprietary animation process allowed for smoother character movement than many contemporaries, with up to 24 frames per second in action sequences. The color separation techniques used produced particularly vibrant hues that held up well on Technicolor prints. The sound recording utilized new microphone technologies that allowed for more dynamic range in voice performances, particularly important for Mel Blanc's multiple character voices.

Music

The musical score for Foney Fables was composed by Carl Stalling, Warner Bros.' legendary musical director who revolutionized the use of music in animation. Stalling incorporated classical music pieces, adapting them comically to match the on-screen action - a technique that became his signature. The soundtrack features original compositions alongside adaptations of familiar tunes, with each fairy tale segment receiving its own musical theme. Sound effects were synchronized precisely with visual gags, creating an audiovisual comedy experience that was ahead of its time. The voice performances by Mel Blanc, Sara Berner, and Frank Graham were recorded with multiple microphone techniques to create depth and spatial awareness. The cartoon's audio mix balances dialogue, music, and effects to maintain clarity during rapid-fire sequences, demonstrating the sophisticated sound engineering capabilities of Warner Bros. studios.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where a storybook comes to life and the narrator immediately breaks the fourth wall to warn viewers this won't be a typical fairy tale experience
• The Three Little Pigs segment where the wolf arrives with a briefcase full of modern building permits and zoning regulations
• Little Red Riding Hood's encounter with the wolf where they negotiate the terms of their meeting like business executives
• The Tortoise and the Hare race presented as a contemporary sporting event with play-by-play commentary and commercial breaks

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised Foney Fables for its clever writing and energetic pacing, with Variety noting its 'inventive take on familiar tales' and 'adult humor disguised as children's entertainment.' The Motion Picture Herald highlighted the cartoon's 'timely gags and excellent voice work' as standout features. Modern animation historians regard the short as a solid example of Warner Bros.' wartime output, though not as groundbreaking as some of the studio's other 1942 releases like 'The Ducktators' or 'The Daffy Duckaroo.' Animation scholars often cite it as an example of how Warner Bros. maintained their comedic style even when adapting to wartime production constraints. The cartoon is frequently mentioned in studies of parody and satire in animation, noted for its rapid-fire joke structure and contemporary references.

What Audiences Thought

Theatrical audiences in 1942 responded positively to Foney Fables, with the cartoon generating consistent laughter in theaters across America. Its familiar fairy tale subjects made it immediately accessible to viewers of all ages, while the contemporary gags and sophisticated wordplay appealed to adult audience members. The short's multiple vignette format kept viewers engaged throughout its brief runtime, a factor that made it popular with theater owners as effective warm-up entertainment. Letters to exhibitors reported that audiences particularly enjoyed the anachronistic elements and the subversion of expected fairy tale outcomes. The cartoon proved especially popular in urban areas where contemporary references landed more effectively with audiences. Over time, it developed a cult following among animation enthusiasts and Warner Bros. collectors, though it remains less well-known than some of the studio's other classics.

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