The Penguin Parade

If you know what sorts of gags Tex Avery's cartoons contain, just insert members of the family Spheniscidae* and you have "The Penguin Parade". It portrays a gigantic musical performance in Antarctica featuring penguin celebrity caricatures such as Bing Crosby. Among the scenes are hot jazz melting the instruments, and...well, I don't know how much I can tell you without giving away the really funny parts. But I will say that this is one cartoon that you're sure to like. Above all, it just goes to show that there will probably never be a genre of cartoons like these in our lifetimes. Really great. Available on YouTube.

PS: writer Ben "Bugs" Hardaway drew the Bugs Bunny prototype.

*That's the taxonomic family to which penguins belong.

This is one of my favorite Tex Avery cartoons. It's Tex in full stride and typical of his Warner Brothers work. It even has Tex doing voice work (appropriately, because he was a big man) as a walrus. There are celebrity caricatures sprinkled here and there, but the music is what sets this apart. Just a bit of trivia: Warner's caricatured many famous stars, most of whom didn't seem to mind terribly, at least not out loud. But Bing Crosby did mind and once apparently talked of suing. I doubt he would have. Likely, he would have lost and he would have come off looking more than a bit foolish. Great cartoon and a very rapid-fire, almost manic delivery. The closing line is a scream! Most definitely worth tracking down and watching. Most recommended, particularly for anyone who likes Avery or swing/jazz (and we do mean you!).

Penguin Parade is a classic Tex Avery musical comedy, with sassy anthorpormorphic animals who run a nightclub up in the frozen arctic short.

Here's your concept. Penguins who run a night club. A genius idea that is pulled off very well. The penguins look like famous celebrities, i.e. Bing Crosby, Durante (I think) and a few others.

Most of the details are a little foggy, since I haven't seen it in a while, but the last few moments are unforgettable. I won't give them away. All I will say is that this movie gives the word "screwy" a new meaning. See if you can find this film. It's really, really, really worth the effort. 8/10

I certainly am a penguin fan, as well as one of Tex Avery, and I did find The Penguin Parade a treasure. One of my personal favourites from Avery, that's for sure. Okay maybe Avery has better cartoons technically, but the visuals are still quite attractive and charming. I adore the soundtrack, Carl Stalling's scoring has his trademark orchestral liveliness and infectious energy, and the musical numbers are really catchy. The humour is very manic especially with the scats, and is delivered in a very fresh and witty way. A definite standout was the closing line, which is just priceless. The caricatures are right on point as well with nothing coming across as questionable. The penguins are both endearing and very funny. Both Avery's and Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations are brilliant, they've never put a foot wrong as far as I'm concerned.

In conclusion, a treasure for anybody who loves animation, penguins or both. 10/10 Bethany Cox