Es la hora de acostarse, Sniffles

It's Christmas Eve, and Sniffles the mouse is going to wait up to see Santa Claus making his rounds. Only problem is, the little guy didn't realize just how tired he'd get - or how appealing his bed would look - waiting up that late. For all the hundreds of animated shorts WB put out over the years, this is one of the very few that is Christmas-themed, and I've never figured out just why that is. ("The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives", being black-and-white, doesn't get much air time nowadays.) Sniffles only appeared in about a dozen shorts in the late 1930's and 1940's, and the fact that this little classic is played every year at Christmas time is probably the only reason he didn't fade into obscurity.

"In about 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 47 seconds, Santa Claus will be here!" So says Sniffles, a cute mouse from Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) during the '40s. He's trying to stay up late waiting for the bearded man in the fat red suit by drinking coffee, listening to the radio, etc. Will he succeed? Chuck Jones, the one animation director during this period of Looney Tunes-Merrie Melodies that didn't go for straight gags, takes his own sweet time in finding various ways to get Sniffles' attempting to stay awake as entertaining as possible for the next 6 minutes. Nothing hilarious here, just some mild chuckles but Jones succeeds in his goal. I was especially amused by one magazine ad that reminded the mouse of sleep that had a boy toddler in nightgown holding a candle with the slogan, "Time To Re-Tire" which was an actual one for the now-defunct tire company Fisk (there was still one in the Baton Rouge area when I first moved there in 1975). For fans of both Christmas cartoons and those made by the folks at Termite Terrace, I highly recommend Bedtime for Sniffles.

Taking a slight break from their usual stuff, the Chuck Jones crowd made this short about mouse Sniffles trying to stay awake on Christmas Eve so that he can meet Santa Claus...if he can. There have been so many overly sugary Christmas stories that it's neat to see one that functions as sort of a time capsule. "Bedtime for Sniffles" portrays the titular character listening to the radio, and it's clearly one of those 1940s broadcasts.

Anyway, it's an OK way to pass time. You probably won't have any kind of religious experience, but it doesn't pretend to be that kind of cartoon. I wonder if Sniffles appeared in any other cartoons.

Haxwell Mouse...Ha!

Chuck Jones is widely considered one of animation's finest directors/animators and for very good reason. When he was at his best, his cartoons were masterpieces of animation, comic timing, characterisation and wit.

The Sniffles cartoon series were very early efforts for Jones, and, while they are interesting from a historical perspective, it is safe to say that from personal opinion they really don't see him at his best. There is somewhat of a still finding his feet feel here, with the humour once he became a regular director for the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons becoming much funnier, more constant and wittier and the characterisation far more interesting.

Not all the Sniffles cartoons have worked for me, though none of them are unwatchable. 'Bedtime for Sniffles' is one of his better ones, and it is not just because it is a Christmas-themed cartoon. There is nothing exceptional about the story, in terms of structure and predictability, and the cartoon could have done with more kick in places.

However, 'Bedtime for Sniffles' is charming and heart-warming, although there is a sweetness it's not too saccharine and it doesn't despite the theme try as hard as other Sniffles cartoon to be too cute. The amusing doppelganger stuff and that Sniffles has grown and evolved in personality since especially his first cartoon helps avoid that trap. The Christmas theme is handled with a lot of charm and heart without being too sentimental.

'Bedtime for Sniffles' animation is very good. It is lush and vibrant in colour and meticulous and beautifully drawn in detail. The character designs are fluid, well drawn and distinctive Jones, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).

In summary, lovely cartoon and one of the better Sniffles ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Among the many Warner Bros. cartoons shown on television, this particular short is one that all the baby-boomers remember. The story tells of Sniffles the mouse who is trying to stay awake to see Santa Claus. An expert blend of comedy and sentiment with Carl Stalling's musical adaptations and score most effective. Watch this with your little ones (especially if it is their first viewing).