Munro

As of this month, we have lost animation legend Gene Deitch, known for embracing abstract animation and design from the 60s onward that heavily utilized minimalism and stylization to their finest. From his charming early television series Tom Terrific, to his disastrously fascinating Tom & Jerry cartoons and his own illustrative adaptations of children's books, the man helped carry on the legacy of minimal animation that UPA left on the world. One such example would be with his Oscar winning short film Munro, written by cartoonist Jules Feiffer and inspired by his time in the U.S. army, albeit exaggerated.

The main synopsis is that a young boy named Munro never did anything he was told, and then he got drafted in the U.S. army despite only being 4 years old. Much of the short revolves around Munro's time in the army, constantly wandering from post to post baring the brunt of military hardships and always having to tell the people above him that he's only four years old. They never even bother to listen though and instead tell the solider to go about his business. In a way, the film cleverly mocks the supposed higher authority can become ignorant to whatever they choose for dangerous positions like the army or even adults. In regards to such depicting higher ranking individuals this way, Jules Feiffer himself stated that, "the best way is to go in the other direction and feign innocence...and particularly when you see the film, you feel your stomach knot up because of the obvious abuse and ignorance of authority." To think that a little boy could be drafted is ridiculous enough, but when not even the ones who did said mistake acknowledge that factor, you know that's when innocence is taken for granted.

As for other key factors, the animation is presented in a simplified and crude abstract style that fits the tone for the story of a little boy in the army, even if this short is made for an adult audience. In fact, because this short is told from the perspective of a child (in spite of narration), the minimally rough character designs and movements feel appropriate for a world where this shy little boy is just thrusted into somewhere he's never seen before, so even the training grounds are indistinguishable in an intentionally vague manner. There are even some shots were Munro is fully colored but others are either completely outlined or have one specific color all around, subtly emphasizing the contrast of the innocent child clashing into the mundane world of adults. On a side note, with the exception of Munro being voiced by one of Gene Deitch's sons at a very young age (which helps the audience sympathize with the little lad more), comic actor Howard Morris does most of the other voices, and the man really knew how to make his range go from whiny and nasally to gruff and haughty.

Is it no wonder this short had the privilege of playing before Breakfast at Tiffany's in theaters in addition to winning an Oscar? Needless to say, not only is Munro an adorably charming and bittersweet short in its own right, but its a fascinating look into where you can take such bizarre concepts in animation. The beauty of the medium is that you can tell stories you could never film in live-action due to the very strange scenarios they may have, like a little kid in the army. No matter how weird of an idea you might have, just remember that the alternative to live filmmaking is often the better road to take.

Just rewatched this Gene Deitch-Jules Feiffer animated short that won the Oscar on YouTube. Deitch was the former UPA-Terrytoons director/supervisor who at this time formed his own company, Rembrandt Films, in order to have more creative control over his work. For one of his initial ventures, he turned to a book by New York cartoonist Feiffer to adapt to film. That book, Munro, told of a 4-year old boy who accidentally gets drafted into the Army! How this results in some basic training and other activities without anyone for the longest time realizing what a mistake this is provides much of the humor, thanks to the way Feiffer's illustrations are animated by Deitch, as well as the voices provided such as Howard Morris' narration and portrayal of the sergeant, Gene's wife Marie doing the female ones, and especially their actual toddler at the time Seth saying over and over again, "I'm only 4 years old!" to constant indifferent response. Don't worry, though, all ends happily though some kind of a lesson is learned. So on that note, Munro comes highly recommended.

Tiny MUNRO - who is only four - has his life profoundly changed when he is sent a draft notice by the Army.

Jules Feiffer's parable about the dangers of a mindless military mentality is accurately presented in this funny little film. The limited animation format is perfectly suited to bringing Feiffer's drawings to life. Howard Morris narrates & voices the various grown-ups.

Winner of the 1960 Oscar for Best Animated Short.

I was never a Fan of Gene Deitch but I appreciate several of his Works and Munro is not the Exception!, many Hate him for having made what many consider "The Worst Tom and Jerry Short Films" but for me that Title is the Television Series from 1980 "The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show" but in another review I will talk about that, this short adapted a Book by an Author I don't remember his name but Gene Deitch Adapted it in a Phenomenal Way!.

The short is about a 4-year-old boy named "Munro" who is not like any child in his city but rather a child who DOESN'T SLEEP, DOESN'T EAT and DOESN'T PLAY, one day his mother receives an letter and when she reads it she tells him surrenders his son and the young Munro is Petrified by what he has just read... yes, the Army recruited him!.

And the rest is how Munro explains to everyone that he is 4 years old but nobody cares and this was a reality decades ago, the armies recruited young people without caring if they wanted to or not, and since the short is from 1960 and in those years The Vietnam War was going on and in it they recruited young people who rejected any possibility of returning and yes... many of them died because of men who only cared about quantity and not about their lives.

Gene Deitch and William L. Snyder received an Oscar Award for this Short Film and the Oscar is well deserved! This short represents the Crude Realities of the Army and it is not how some see it, who according to them the Army is only "Use Weapons and Kill". People" that's not, the Army is to serve your country but with a cost, you can die at any time but if you are brave they give you Medals, MEDALS FOR KILL PEOPLE?, but we are not talking about the army, we are talking about Munro!.

The Animation is Own of "Rembrandt Films Productions" I mean Scarce and very Simplistic but those low budget touches are perfect for Munro since it makes it look more Crude than the Short Film already is, but the Drawings and Backgrounds are Horrendous and very unpleasant to look at.

Stepan Konicek as always makes a quite Bizarre Music but it fits perfectly in Munro's Tone!.

The Voice Acting is not as Disastrous as in Deitch's Tom and Jerry Shorts but it is quite Poor in Quality, the Only Salvage is that of the Narrator and that of Munro.

In itself, Munro is not a Wonder but a Great Short that Deserves its Award!, Despite its Terrible Animation and Bizarre Music, both bad Qualities are Mixed creating a Somber Short Film that Represents the Truth of the Young People who Join the Army and we see how instead of "having fun" being part of the Army is Horrible and only the Fittest Enjoy their stay there, for everything I said Munro receives an 8!

Rembrandt Films is the production company started by Gene Deitch to do some different things in animation. They did some very good shorts (they also did the absolutely worst Tom and Jerry shorts ever), but this short, Munro, is sufficient to justify their entire existence all by itself! The basic premise (a 4-year old is inducted into the army) is wonderful and the adaptation of the source material was done by its author, Jules Fieffer. The whole thing comes off beautifully and I am delighted that it's in-print. The compilation it's on is marvelous, with a good many excellent cartoons. Most highly recommended.