The Stupidstitious Cat

Plot

Buzzy the Crow finds himself relentlessly pursued by a hungry cat in this classic animated short. When Buzzy discovers that his feline adversary is extremely superstitious, he cleverly turns the cat's own fears against him. Through a series of ingenious tricks involving black cats, broken mirrors, ladders, and other common superstitions, Buzzy manages to outwit and frustrate the cat at every turn. The cat's paranoia grows with each superstitious encounter, leading to increasingly comedic situations as Buzzy exploits these beliefs to ensure his own survival. The cartoon culminates in a final showdown where Buzzy's clever use of superstitions proves to be the ultimate defense against the persistent predator.

Historical Background

The Stupidstitious Cat was produced in 1947, during the post-World War II period when America was experiencing significant social and economic changes. The film industry was transitioning from wartime to peacetime production, with animation studios competing for audience attention in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape. This era saw the rise of television as a new medium, though theatrical shorts remained popular. The cartoon's urban setting and street-smart protagonist reflected the growing influence of city culture in American media. The animation industry was also dealing with the aftermath of the 1941 Disney animators' strike, which had led to the formation of new studios and changes in production practices. Famous Studios, as a Paramount subsidiary, was working to establish its own identity separate from the Disney and Warner Bros. animation styles.

Making Of

The Stupidstitious Cat was created at Famous Studios, which had been established by former Fleischer Studios animators after Paramount took over their operations. Director Seymour Kneitel was a veteran animator who had worked on Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons before moving to Famous Studios. The voice work was recorded first, as was standard practice, with animators then timing the character movements to match the dialogue. The cartoon's gags were developed through the collaborative efforts of the story team, who drew inspiration from common superstitions that audiences would immediately recognize. The animation was produced using the traditional cel animation process, with background artists creating detailed urban settings that contrasted with the simpler character designs. The musical score was composed to enhance the comedic timing of each gag, with stinger notes punctuating moments of superstitious panic.

Visual Style

The visual style of The Stupidstitious Cat employs the standard techniques of 1940s theatrical animation, featuring bold character outlines and vibrant colors that were optimized for Technicolor projection. The cinematography follows the conventional approach of the era, with medium shots establishing the characters and close-ups emphasizing reactions and gags. The camera work includes dynamic angles during chase sequences and exaggerated perspectives to enhance the comedic effect of the superstitious encounters. Background artists created detailed urban environments that provided context while remaining simple enough not to distract from the character animation. The film uses limited animation techniques for certain scenes, a cost-saving measure that was becoming standard practice in the industry during this period.

Innovations

While The Stupidstitious Cat does not feature groundbreaking technical innovations, it demonstrates the refined animation techniques that had become standard by the late 1940s. The film showcases effective use of timing and spacing in character animation, particularly in the exaggerated reactions of the superstitious cat. The production team employed multiplane camera effects for certain scenes to create depth in the urban backgrounds. The cartoon also demonstrates sophisticated lip-sync animation that matches the distinctive vocal performances. The color palette was carefully chosen to maximize visual impact on Technicolor film stock, with the black cat providing strong contrast against colorful backgrounds. The animation team's ability to convey personality through limited animation represents an important technical achievement of the era, allowing for efficient production while maintaining character expressiveness.

Music

The musical score for The Stupidstitious Cat was composed by Winston Sharples, Famous Studios' resident music director who created scores for hundreds of their animated shorts. The soundtrack features typical 1940s cartoon music with jazz influences that complement the urban setting and fast-paced action. The music includes stinger chords and comedic motifs that punctuate moments of superstitious panic, enhancing the timing of the visual gags. Sound effects were carefully synchronized with the animation, with exaggerated noises accompanying the cat's reactions to various superstitions. The voice work by Carl Meyer and Jackson Beck was recorded with the theatrical presentation in mind, ensuring clarity and projection in large cinema spaces. The overall audio design follows the established formula of the era, with music driving the pacing and sound effects amplifying the comedic impact.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening chase sequence where Buzzy first discovers the cat's superstitious nature
• The scene where Bucky uses a mirror to create the illusion of seven years of bad luck
• The ladder gag where the cat refuses to walk under it despite needing to catch Buzzy
• The final confrontation where Buzzy combines multiple superstitions to completely overwhelm the cat

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception for theatrical shorts like The Stupidstitious Cat was typically limited to trade publications, with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter providing brief reviews. The cartoon was generally well-received as solid entertainment that delivered effective gags and animation quality consistent with Famous Studios' output. Animation historians have since recognized the short as a representative example of the studio's work during this period, noting its effective use of character-driven comedy and timing. Modern critics appreciate the cartoon as a product of its era, acknowledging both its technical competence and its reflection of 1940s cultural attitudes. The short is often cited in animation studies as an example of how studios used familiar formulas and character archetypes to create reliable entertainment for theatrical audiences.

What Audiences Thought

The Stupidstitious Cat was well-received by theatrical audiences in 1947, who appreciated its fast-paced humor and relatable gags based on common superstitions. The cartoon's urban setting and street-smart protagonist resonated with city audiences, while the universal theme of outsmarting a bully through cleverness appealed to viewers of all ages. Children particularly enjoyed the visual gags and the cat's increasingly frantic reactions to the various superstitions Buzzy employed. The short's effectiveness as entertainment was evidenced by its continued use in theatrical packages throughout the late 1940s. In later years, the cartoon found new audiences through television broadcasts and home video releases, where it maintained its appeal as a classic example of golden age animation.

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