El gato pájaro

Not one of Chuck Jones' classics, with the cartoon ending on rather an odd note and it's not as razor-sharp or witty as some of his other work. But Go Fly a Kit still an interesting and completely endearing cartoon, and well worth watching, not just for curiosity. The animation is superbly drawn and vividly coloured, Go Fly a Kit also does wonders telling the story through the visuals. The music from Milt Franklyn doesn't disappoint either, being a pleasing mixture of sensitive and energetic, full of character and orchestrated beautifully. While you miss the hilariously witty dialogue that you are used to, there is still some nice subtle humour. The gags are more restrained than usual but timed well and amusing, but much of the best of the humour comes from the facial expressions, Marc Anthony's expression of shock and realisation that he was biting on his own leg is priceless stuff. Go Fly a Kit is more a cartoon this said that takes on a heart-warming, tugging-on-the-heartstrings touch. It does so in a very sweet and moving way, and the cartoon has a lot of heart and warmth and doesn't dissolve into schmaltz too much. The story is told mostly in flashback but is always easy to understand, and while it's not a cartoon that has rapid-fire pacing Go Fly a Kit is never dull. The characters are very likable and carry the cartoon very well, Marc Anthony the bulldog being the most memorable. The voice work is fine, though not the best work of either Mel Blanc or Daws Butler. All in all, very sweet and well-done. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Along with Max Fleischer, former Disney animator David Hand, and Japan's Hayao Miyazaki, Chuck Jones is one of my favorite animators, and this short is one of my favorite shorts from the late 1950s. An elderly mother eagle, in my opinion, raised a sweet-tempered kitten with maternal instincts. He flys by using his tail like a propeller. When he leaves the nest to explore the outside world, he falls in love with a lovely little girl kitten after rescuing her from a vicious bulldog.

I just love the backgrounds with their vivid colors. My favorite scenes are when our hero (The Flying Kitten) wants to join a chorus of blackbirds (tweet, tweet, tweet, meow). But when they see him, they are so frightened that they bump right into each other, even when they fly away. And also, when our canine nemesis tries to pounce on our hero but our hero is too quick for him, during the struggle he uses his propeller-like tail to get away, and the dog finds himself biting his own leg!

All in all, I love every bit of it. It has got tenderness, the love he shares with his adopted mother and his sweetie, and sorrow when he says goodbye when he leaves his first home and when he flies south every fall (being part bird). But every spring, he returns, and his girlfriend awaits him at the airport, as in the myth of Persephone and the origin of the seasons.

A cat who can fly -- can't get more original than that premise. While a lot could be done with the theme, this cartoon tells a story that gets better and better as the story is told, until, at the end, the most satisfying ending imaginable is provided.

Endearing doesn't begin to sum it up.

Adorable story, told through flashback, about a kitten raised by an eagle who grows up with the ability to fly. One day while flying around he spots a female cat being chased by a bulldog and rescues her. The two fall in love and, well, just watch and see. It's charming in every way. Not the funniest Looney Tunes short but it is smart and endearing. One of the many classics from the great Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese. The animation is excellent with well-drawn characters, backgrounds, and action. The colors are bright and lush. Milt Franklyn's evocative, lively score is among his best work. It's a real gem for fans of Chuck Jones; a heartwarmer if there ever was one.

Odd little cartoon, even for Chuck Jones, about a cat, raised by eagles, who flies by whirling his tail around. Sort of like a reversed Pepe Le Pew, full of cute little bits and a large bulldog to torment. A treat for cat lovers.